Mahoning Valley Sojourn to the Past and the Williamson College of Business Administration will screen the movie “Till” at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 27 on the campus of Youngstown State University. The film will be shown in the Williamson auditorium.
Following the movie, Keith Beauchamp, researcher, co-writer, and co-producer of the film, will speak and answer questions. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required.
Beauchamp has researched the Emmett Till story for over 10 years and interviewed many of Till’s family members, including Simeon Wright, who was in the bed with his 14-year-old cousin when J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant kidnapped Till in the middle of the night.
Beauchamp encouraged Wright to author his story since he had first-hand information about what transpired both at Bryant’s Grocery & Meat Market in Money, Miss., and on the night of the kidnapping. Others could only provide secondary information, and often that information was incorrect.
Till came from Chicago to visit relatives in Mississippi. He was kidnapped and brutally murdered for wolf-whistling at Carolyn Bryant at her store. Emmett’s mother was determined to have an open casket so the world could see what happened to her son.
Simeon Booker, who grew up in Youngstown, broke the Emmett Till story in Jet Magazine. His death was the catalyst that started the Civil Rights Movement. The story of Emmett Till still resonates with young people today.
Beauchamp will speak at Chaney and East high schools earlier in the day. To prepare, students have been reading Wright’s book, “Simeon’s Story.”
For tickets, call 330-207-4467 or contact the Williamson College of Business Administration. Parking will be available at 20 W. Wood St. in the Rayen Early College parking lot.
For more information email Penny Wells at
pe*********@sb*******.net
or call 330-207-4467.
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