The 1955 murder of 14 year old Emmett Till has garnered renewed interest with the recent revelation that Carolyn Bryant, the woman who accused Till of making advances towards her, lied about the entire incident.
Till was killed by two white men, J.W. Milam and his half-brother Roy Bryant, who were later acquitted of the charges after a court hearing in which Carolyn Bryant told, under oath, that Till grabbed her and made verbal and physical advances.
Milam and Roy Bryant would later admit in a Look Magazine interview that they abducted Till three nights after the store ‘incident’ and beat him to death.
The terribly disfigured body of Till was displayed in an open casket during his funeral for all to see and the horror of which is credited with influencing and renewing the push for civil rights for African-Americans.
According to an article in Vanity Fair, Tyson reveals in his new book, “The Blood of Emmett Till” that in a 2007 interview with a then 72-year-old Bryant, she confessed that she had fabricated the most sensational part of her testimony.
Bryant stated, “It was 50 years ago. You tell these stories for so long that they seem true.”
Many Jackson State University students were outraged after learning of Bryant’s confession, 62 years later, to author Timothy Tyson.
“Although most black Americans knew the truth, because she’s admitted that she lied and caused his horrible death she should be punished by the death sentence. It’s only right for the damage she’s done to his poor family,” said Jorrie Jones, a senior English education major from Tulsa Okla.
Aniecia Brewster, a graduate student majoring in sports science from Belleville, Ill., believes Bryant should face criminal prosecution.
“I feel like she should be prosecuted because she’s the real reason behind his death. If she wouldn’t have lied, Emmett Till would probably still be alive today,” said Brewster. “She only admitted it now because she felt guilty, but she needs to pay for the pain and suffering of the family.”
Halima Marion and Magic Lambert both believe that Bryant should face criminal punishment.
“I think that she should be on trial because an innocent kid lost his life for doing absolutely nothing,” said Marion, a junior interdisciplinary studies major from West Point, N.Y.
Lambert, a sophomore biology major from Memphis, Tenn. said, “Justice should be dealt with accordingly. Falsely accusing a boy for something knowing the conditions of the times, it shouldn’t have happened. She needs to go before a judge seriously.”
Alexandria Taylor feels that too much time has passed to punish Bryant.
“Bryant is 80+ years old and has lived her life, she probably wouldn’t last long in jail anyway so it defeats the purpose,” said Taylor, junior English education major from McComb, Miss.
Cameron Stringer, a junior English major from Terry, Miss., disagrees.
“The pain that that lady caused to the Till family should be given to her. I don’t wish death on anyone, but it isn’t fair that she has lived her life and he didn’t get a chance to live his. Till was robbed from any and everything he wanted to be; all because he was black,” said Stringer.
As the debate wages on, Bryant, now 82 years old, remains in seclusion in a secret location.
Brittany Bullock contributed to this story.
