New owner to open Mississippi barn where Emmett Till was killed as a memorial site

A Rural Mississippi Barn Set to Become Memorial Site for Emmett Till's Victims

The owner of a rural Mississippi barn where 14-year-old Emmett Till was brutally tortured and killed plans to turn it into a "sacred" memorial site ahead of the 75th anniversary of his lynching in 1955. The purchase price of the barn, located outside the city of Drew, was facilitated by a $1.5 million donation from television producer and writer Shonda Rhimes.

According to ETIC Executive Director Patrick Weems, opening the barn as a memorial site is crucial for healing and justice. "We think that where the worst harms have happened, the most healing is possible," he said. The center aims to encourage people to ask questions about America's dark past and whether society has made sufficient progress in protecting human rights.

The story of Emmett Till's abduction and murder is a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights movement. Till was accused of whistling at a white woman in a rural grocery store, leading to his abduction by two white men who tortured and killed him in the barn. His mother insisted on an open casket at his funeral, which shocked the nation and galvanized public outrage.

The Emmett Till Interpretive Center plans to install 24-hour surveillance cameras, floodlights, and security measures to ensure visitor safety. The property will also have a historical marker, replacing the third one that was vandalized multiple times since its installation in 2018.

The barn purchase marks an emotional milestone for Weems, who noted that November 23rd – the day of Till's mother's birthday – was a particularly significant date. Mamie Till-Mobley was a civil rights activist after her son's death and passed away in 2003.

Weems hopes that the memorial site will serve as a catalyst for reflection on America's past and its ongoing struggle to uphold human rights and justice. As he asks, "Have we done enough? Is there justice yet?" The answer remains uncertain, but the opening of this rural Mississippi barn is a step towards acknowledging the dark chapters in American history and striving for a more equitable future.

I feel like this is such an important move forward for the community, you know? It's like we're finally starting to confront these painful parts of our past . The idea that 24/7 surveillance cameras are being installed so visitors can safely process their emotions is just...wow, really powerful . I'm also curious to see how this will help spark conversations about human rights and justice in America . It's not gonna be easy, but if we want to keep moving forward as a society, we gotta acknowledge the hurt that's been inflicted on so many people over the years .

️ *GIF of a pig being tortured*

*Screen shot of Wikipedia's Emmett Till page*

*GIF of money flying into a barn*

* GIF of a black and white photo of Emmett Till with the American flag in the background*

*GIF of Shonda Rhimes talking to ETIC Executive Director Patrick Weems*

that's so cool that Shonda Rhimes stepped up to help create a memorial site for Emmett Till... I mean it's about time we acknowledge those dark moments in our country's past . It's amazing how much progress has been made since then, but there's still work to be done . The fact that this barn is going to have 24/7 surveillance and security measures is a good start, I guess... it just makes me wonder what other 'hidden' sites are out there that need attention . Can't wait to see how this center unfolds and if it helps spark some real change

I just read about this and I'm so moved . Like, can you even imagine being 14 and having your life taken away from you because of something as stupid as whistling? It's crazy that it took an open casket at the funeral to make people realize what was really going on. And now they're trying to turn a place like this into a memorial site... I think it's so important for us to remember the past and learn from it . We need more places like this where we can talk about these kinds of issues and try to figure out how to do better in the future .

lol what's up with this Memorial site idea ?? I mean I get that it's meant to be somber and stuff, but 24hr surveillance cameras? like you're trying to prevent people from committing a crime or something in the middle of nowhere ...and floodlights? really gonna draw attention to the whole "this is sad" vibe ...I just feel like they're trying too hard to make it all about safety and security instead of actually confronting what happened .

This is about time someone does something to honor Emmett Till's memory . I mean, can you even imagine what his mom went through? Her dedication to justice is still an inspiration today. I'm all for this memorial site, it's a step in the right direction . We need more of these conversations about our dark past and how we've grown (or not). The fact that they're putting up cameras and security measures shows they care about visitor safety too . It's definitely a milestone for the Civil Rights movement, but is it enough? That's what we gotta keep asking ourselves .

Did u no that 75% of Americans think we ain't made enough progress on human rights since Emmett Till's time? That 1 in 5 African americas still experience police brutality is straight up disturbing! A $1.5 mil donation from Shonda Rhimes is a good start but we need more The Emmett Till Interpretive Center might be the first step towards healing but what about the other atrocities? Let's look at some stats: 93% of us believe that systemic racism still exists, and only 21% think we're doing enough to address it

I'm just thinking about how far we've come since Emmett Till's time... it's crazy to think that a memorial site would be needed 75 years later . I'm all for it, though - it's like, you can't truly move forward until you confront the past and learn from it, right? The fact that this barn is being turned into a symbol of hope and healing is really beautiful . And it's not just about Emmett Till himself, but about all the other victims of systemic racism who didn't get the justice they deserved... we need to keep pushing for progress and making sure everyone feels seen and heard .

idk why ppl still hav 2 relive thru trauma n pain but i guess its good 4 america 2 confront da dark past . til's story is so sad & senseless, but we shud b proud of all the ppl who fought 4 justice & equality after his death . 24/7 surveilance cameras r a must tho lol, dont wanna nobody get hurt while thinkin bout til's story . its cool dat mamie till-mobley got to see her son's story turn into somethin positive in da end . lets hope dis memorial site inspires ppl 2 ask questions & keep pushin 4 human rights & justice

I think it's so cool that Shonda Rhimes is using her wealth to help turn this painful piece of history into something positive The idea of having 24-hour surveillance cameras, floodlights, and security measures around the barn is super practical but also super important for making sure people can visit safely I love how we're finally talking about this dark chapter in America's past in a more open way. It's like, yeah, we gotta confront our mistakes and use them as an opportunity to learn and grow The fact that November 23rd is a special day for Weems because it's the anniversary of his mom's birthday is so touching I'm really hoping this memorial site becomes a place where people can reflect on what happened to Emmett Till and how we can work towards a more just society

I don’t usually comment but... I think it’s really cool that someone like Shonda Rhimes stepped up to help fund the purchase of that barn . It's crazy to think about how far we've come since Emmett Till's time, but it's also super important to acknowledge the progress we still need to make . The idea of a memorial site being able to facilitate healing and encourage people to ask questions about America's past is really powerful . I'm just hoping that this project can help bring more light to the dark moments in our country's history, rather than just focusing on the negativity . Can you imagine how emotional it must be for Patrick Weems to have his dream of a memorial site finally become a reality?

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this ... I mean, it's like we've come so far as a nation, but there's still so much work to be done . This Emmett Till memorial site is like, totally needed, you know? It's like we need a space where people can come and think about the harm that's been done, and how we can do better . I'm not gonna lie, it gives me chills thinking about what happened to Emmett ... but at least this means his story won't be forgotten . And I love that Shonda Rhimes is behind this - she's all about amplifying voices and telling the hard truths . It's like, finally, we're having a conversation about our country's past and how it shapes our present ... even if there's no easy answers, at least we're talking about it .

just saw that they're turning a barn in MS into a memorial site for Emmett Till its crazy to think about what happened there 75 yrs ago but idk if it's the right way forward? maybe its better to have somethin that really represents the pain and struggle of that time rather than just a pretty barn also dont wanna be insensitive but hasnt this been done before? like, there was that museum in Chicago or somethin? anyway, i guess its a step in the right direction... 1.5 million from Shonda Rhimes is some real talk https://www.etonline.com/news/21621...rn-to-be-converted-into-sacred-memorial-site/

I mean, a whole memorial site just for Emmett Till's victims? That's really thoughtful of Shonda Rhimes to foot the bill . I'm sure it'll be super emotional walking through that barn knowing 14-year-old Emmett went through all that trauma there. Can you imagine not being able to walk into a grocery store without being scrutinized for every little thing? Anyway, I guess it's better than nothing, and the surveillance cameras will definitely make visitors feel safer... or less likely to get lynched .

Ugh, what's the point of some rich celebrity like Shonda Rhimes dropping a bunch of cash on a random barn to turn it into a memorial site? I mean, I get that Emmett Till was an important figure in the Civil Rights movement, but come on, it's not like this is gonna bring him back or anything. It's just another way for people to feel good about themselves while still ignoring the real issues of systemic racism and inequality. And what's with the 24-hour surveillance cameras? Like, we're really that paranoid now? And don't even get me started on the fact that they had to replace three historical markers already because they were vandalized... it's just a sad commentary on how society still can't even take care of its own history.

This is insane! Turning a place where some of our darkest moments are made into a memorial... it's like rubbing salt on wounds. I mean, what's next? A museum dedicated to all the other unsolved murders that happened in the same area? It feels so... voyeuristic. And $1.5 million from Shonda Rhimes? That's just a slap on the wrist. My heart goes out to Mamie Till-Mobley and her family, but this is gonna be a super difficult thing for people to visit. Will it bring closure or just more pain?