Women of the Movement

This was a superbly made drama with a superbly ensemble cast who acted outstandingly! Adrienne Warren as Mamie Till Mobley played her role with deep emotional sensitivity and power; and you truly felt her pain throughout!

I was 9 months old when this horrific, barbaric racist murder was committed, by 2 white trash southern united states morons, and now at 67 I was heartbroken and given over to tears; as I tried to comprehend how full grown men could do this to a 14 year old child.

This is a drama that should become part of American history lessons in schools, to show the proof of what many southern rednecks in America did and still do. The justice system is still abused and stacked against people of colour in the USA; much of it being done by law enforcement Klu Klux Kops.

America try's to cover this sort of thing up, so its good to see these racist true life events, of racial brutality, being aired to the nation and the world. Its a powerful and disturbing drama (though it does not show, or tell, the real brutally horrific horror of what happened to the 14 year old Emmet Till) that will open eyes!

I was 8 years old when Emmitt Tills body was on display in the church on State Street in the 40th hundred block on State Street. My best friends father was a fire fighter in Chicago with 6 daughters. He put his daughters and myself in his 1954 Chevy and took us to the viewing. We stood in line and waited. I was to short to actually see him, so he lifted me up to get a full view. Ms. Mamie stood at the head of her sons casket and wailed continually wailed "Look what they did to my son." I will go to my grave with that picture imprinted on my brain and in my soul which has directed my life. My husband was a student at the school Emmitt attended. His death left a lasting impression on my generation. She was a inspiration in our community. We shared the same barber she was a force to be inspired by. God rest their souls and we need to to act with the strength she displayed.

Most of us know the 50 ft level story of Emmett Till. I am very thankful for this televised event that provided us with more intimate details as to what led up to his horrific death and the aftermath. While I am glad that this story has been told, a few things. It is way too long. At most, it should have been a 2 night event. And that's being generous. This is a powerful story that tells itself. The strumming violins and overwrought acting ironically diminishes its value. We all know tragically how the story ends. So we don't need the heavy-handedness of the directing and the music. What we needed was better editing and more nuanced storytelling. The most troubling part for me of all is Mamie Till herself. Adrienne Warren is a very good actress, but you can almost see her acting. She doesn't really inhabit the spirit of Mamie so much as she looks like a dressed up character. I hope some understand what I mean by that. If you don't, Angela Bassett and What's Love Got to Do with It. I was also deeply troubled that we never really saw her grieving before they jumped to showing the stereotypical strong Black woman who's always strategizing. It's important to show the humanity of Black women including our frailty when we experience extreme trauma and tragedy. It is almost unbelievable to think that a woman would look at her child's brutalize, mangled body and immediately start thinking strategy for the cause. I did not like that at all. If anything, they should have spent at least half a night focusing on her grief and remembrance of her child, not her immediate flip the switch to "the movement." All that said, I think it was still necessary and worthwhile to have this story told and I'm very glad to have been able to see it.

Over the years I had come across the narrative of a black teenager who was killed for interacting with a white woman in the 50s and each time I was incredulous that this had happened. And now, after all this country has been through, it is important to understand the long-standing roots of this behavior. Bravo to ABC for bringing this important story of racism to its viewers. Kudos to the actors for their brave performances. Not everyone grieves by wailing over a casket, some do so by taking action. Don't expect the tears to come when you expect them to.

A lynching I have known of all my life but this narrative just brings a fresh perspective to a new generation. The horror experienced and the strength an older generation had to endure to just survive.