Death of Innocence : The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America (9781588363244) (51 page)

Franklin McMahon felt the touch. He is the artist who was assigned by
Life
magazine to produce courtroom drawings of the 1955 murder trial in Sumner. It was his first assignment, a transforming experience. As a result, he wound up spending much of the rest of his career covering the civil rights movement and political campaigns. Drawing on the human spirit. He often would take his children with him to the marches and demonstrations. White kids, who would grow up knowing the struggle for full racial equality was their cause, too.

Willie Reed felt the touch. He told me, as he had told Mother Mobley, that he was moved by her courage. He never forgot it. He never will forget it. On the morning of January 6, Willie Reed called in sick. He was not feeling up to going into work that day at Jackson Park Hospital. Later that afternoon, his wife called out to him. There was a report on the news that Mother Mobley had been pronounced dead at Jackson Park Hospital. It hit Willie, hit him hard. He thought about the last time he had seen Mother Mobley, at her home the summer before, how they had talked and laughed and eaten Chinese carryout, how he might have seen her one more time if he had not been ill that day and had been able to go into work. He thought about what he might have said to her if he had seen her that one last time.

“That she’s a beautiful person, a kind person, and a lovely person,” he told me. “I would say, you know, I would tell her, I just love her.”

And she would say she loves you, too, Willie.

Motherhood is about love. Motherhood is about sacrifice. Mother Mobley knew about motherhood. She knew about motherhood cut short. She came to see Emmett as a sacrificial lamb. But the sacrifices for her did not end with his death. She sacrificed her own privacy in permitting the solemn experience of her mourning to become a public event, and in giving up the comfort of being the ordinary person she thought she was to become the public figure we came to know. In the end, you can’t help but think there also was the sacrifice of her own life. She knew, she had to know, that she was pushing herself beyond her own physical capabilities.
But she couldn’t say no. She had a job to do. She had been able to mine her grief for meaning and a mission, one she had vowed to serve until the day she died. There was no task too big, none too small. She once urged Abe to drive her up and down Seventy-first Street, Emmett Till Road. She wanted to count the street signs honoring her son, to make sure the city of Chicago had kept its promise to post those signs on the entire seven-mile stretch. As far as she was concerned, every single sign carried a message, and every city block presented an audience for that message.

In every way, she was true to her vow to devote a lifetime to service, as the Reverend Wheeler Parker noted during one of two funeral services for Mother Mobley. “She died with her boots on,” he told the huge crowd at the homegoing service. “How do you plan to die?”

The same way—that’s my answer. The same way she lived. On the move. That is her challenge to all of us. I made my commitment to her to meet the challenge. And my life will never be the same for the experience. It will be so much better, because of what I have learned. Lessons of a lifetime, lessons from my favorite teacher: Live a committed life, a purposeful life, and make each moment count. If there is something you have to say, say it now. If there is something to do, don’t wait: not a month, or two, or ten, as I had urged interviewers calling on Mother Mobley. I see now what she saw back then, one day in December. Ten months can be a lifetime.

C
HRISTOPHER
B
ENSON

Chicago
                 

May 1, 2003
           

 W
e have been truly blessed with loving support from so many dedicated people who wanted this book to be published, and who helped in countless ways to make it a reality.

For that, we are indebted, and so very grateful to:

Melody Guy, our editor, for your perfect vision, your steady hand, your unwavering enthusiasm for this project, and for being so good at what you do. To Melody’s assistant, Danielle Durkin, for handling all those critical production details and absorbing so much of the pressure. And to the entire Random House family for its support.

Manie Barron, our agent and collaborator, a true believer, for knowing just what this book would need, and knowing how to get it; for your hands-on involvement, and for never letting go.

Attorney Lester L. Barclay, for being a great advocate, for your determination to have this story told, and for going to such lengths to safeguard the legacy.

Reverend Wheeler Parker, Jr., and Simeon Wright for the important roles you played in this story, the vital roles you played in the telling, and for never forgetting Emmett.

Crosby Smith, Jr., Bertha Thomas, and Abe Thomas for rising to the occasion, always answering the call with advice and materials, and doing so much to make sure that everything was handled to keep this project moving forward.

Reverend Wealthy and Euphemia Mobley, Lillian Gene Jackson, and Thelma Wright Edwards for your constant availability, your high level of support, and your eagerness to share so much of yourselves.

Ollie and Airickca Gordon, Anna Laura Williams, Priscilla Sterling, and
Deborah Watts for everything you’ve done to keep the family story alive and well.

Earlene Greer and Shep Gordon for unceasing devotion and loving care.

The many loving family members and friends who are such a cherished part of this story.

Rosa Parks, a woman of courage, conviction, and compassion, for the loving embrace of friendship, and for pointing the way.

Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., for committed friendship and never failing to find the perfect words for the perfect sentiment.

Ollie M. Williams, a true friend for life, for always being there at just the right time.

Dr. Ann Brickel, a dear and faithful friend, for constant inspiration and guidance.

Elaine Eason Steele, keeper of the flame, for uncommon devotion and support.

Willie Reed, for your courage and your determination to reveal the truth in the face of such great odds.

Maria Johnson, for the bond only two mothers can share, for showing such strength and dedication in overcoming so much to continue moving forward.

David Barr for the many things you did to get this project started. It wouldn’t have happened without you.

Odel Sterling III for daring to dream and showing so many others how to make dreams come true.

Alice Elzy and Clifton Anthony Goins, for your indispensable help and spiritual support.

The wonderful members of Evangelistic Crusaders Church of God in Christ for the many years of loving support, and for sharing the blessings.

Doris Saunders, for so much advice, insight, positive energy, and for being a tremendous resource.

Robert Miller, Michael Flug, and Tammy Hampton of the Vivian Harsh Collection at the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library in Chicago, for outstanding research assistance, and the high level of devotion to this project that made all the difference.

John H. Johnson for sharing the Emmett Till story with the nation and keeping it alive over the years. And to Linda Johnson Rice, for making it possible for Chris Benson to work on this project.

Simeon Booker for being the reporter other reporters want to be and for sharing so much insight on this and other important stories over the years. And to the other dedicated people who courageously covered the
1955 murder trial and who were so willing to relive the experience: Clotye Murdock Larsson, Moses Newson, Franklin McMahon, and Ernest Withers.

William Parker, Milton Parker, Tillman Mallory, Tyrone Modiest, Sam Lynch, Donny Lee Taylor, and Lindsey Hill for the laughter and the memories in the back of the Esquire Barbershop in Argo, and to Roosevelt Crawford for all that you added to the story.

Stephanie Parker-Weaver, for taking care of business in Mississippi and keeping track of all the important details.

Vernon Jarrett, for the compelling historical perspective and the encouragement to tell important stories.

Dr. Bennie Goodwin, Jr., for the most special blessing.

Annyce Campbell and Audley Mackel, Jr., for the significant recollections of Dr. T.R.M. Howard and Mound Bayou.

Col. Eugene Scott,
Chicago Defender
, for your generous support and willingness to help.

Lois Walker,
Chicago Defender
, Deborah Douglas,
Chicago Sun-Times
, and Sandra Spikes,
Chicago Tribune
for recognizing the importance of this story, and for providing invaluable assistance leaving no stone unturned in digging up such significant photographs.

Geoff Brown, Brenda Butler, Raymond Thomas, and Charles Whitaker for early and enduring support, and for the faith, confidence, and encouragement that meant so much.

Keith Beauchamp and Alvin Sykes for your dedication to fighting the good fight.

Renny Cushing, for unceasing advocacy, keen insight, and valued assistance.

Gary Flowers, John Mitchell, and Marnie Trotter, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, for your relentless efforts on our behalf.

Charles and Alice Tisdale,
Jackson Advocate
, for the vital Mississippi information.

Penny Weaver, Southern Poverty Law Center, for your eager support and never-ending assistance.

Karen L. Blackwell, for uncommon generosity.

Wini R. Benson for all those colorful “Bronzeville” memories, and to Pauline M. Clark for that important Atlanta connection.

Kaye C. Benson for the feedback, the candid critique and advice, and all the love you put into those perfect transcripts.

Additional appreciation to Trish Phipps, University of Virginia Press; Barbara Lanphier, Strahorn Library, Illinois Railway Museum; Joan Harms, Denver Public Library; Peggy Price, McCain Library and
Archives, University of Southern Mississippi; Writer’s House, New York; Harpo, Inc., Chicago; Optimus, Chicago; and Lab One, Chicago.

The following sources were very helpful in providing insight and context, and refreshing the memory:

Books

Articles

Unpublished

Documentaries/Television

Newspapers/Periodicals

Amsterdam News

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Baltimore Afro-American

Chicago American

Chicago Defender

Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Tribune

Jackson Advocate

Jackson Clarion-Ledger

New York Post

Pittsburgh Courier

The Crisis

The New York Times

The Washington Post