25% Off Pre-Order Books with Code: PREORDER25 for Premium & Reward Members Shop Now

Simeon's Story: An Eyewitness Account of the Kidnapping of Emmett Till

Add to Wishlist

Simeon's Story: An Eyewitness Account of the Kidnapping of Emmett Till

Paperback(Reprint)

$14.99

View All Available Formats & Editions

Paperback(Reprint)
$14.99

View All Available Formats & Editions

SHIP THIS ITEM

Qualifies for Free Shipping
PICK UP IN STORE
Check Availability at Nearby Stores

Available within 2 business hours

Want it Today?
Check Store Availability

Related collections and offers

Want it Today?
Check Store Availability

Overview

Skipping Stones Multicultural & International Awareness Books Honor Award

No modern tragedy has had a greater impact on race relations in America than the kidnapping and murder of Emmett Till. A 14-year-old black boy from Chicago visiting relatives in Mississippi in 1955, Till was taken from his uncle’s home by two white men; several days later, his body was found in the Tallahatchie River. This grotesque crime became the catalyst for the civil rights movement.

At age 12, author Simeon Wrightsaw and heard his cousin Emmett whistle at a white woman at a grocery store; he was sleeping in the same bed with him when Emmett was taken; and he was at the sensational trial. This is his gripping coming-of-age memoir.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781569768198
Publisher:	Chicago Review Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	09/01/2011
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	160
Sales rank:	249,127
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Simeon Wright is a popular public speaker at schools, churches, and cultural institutions throughout the country.

Herb Boyd has published 20 books, including We Shall Overcome; he is managing editor of The Black World Today.

Foreword Herb Boyd ix

Acknowledgments xv

1 Life in Mississippi 1

2 My Family 15

3 At Home with Mom and Dad 25

4 The Abduction 41

5 The Trial 67

6 Fear and Flight 81

7 InArgo 91

8 Reopening the Case and Exhuming the Body 105

9 Bobo on My Mind 115

Epilogue: The Till Bill 123

Appendix: Lies, Myths, and Distortions 129

Index 139

What People are Saying About This

John Lewis

"Simeon's Story is one that must be heard and never forgotten. In simple, plain language, Wright describes an event that shocked the conscience of the nation and gave birth to the modern-day Civil Rights Movement in America."--(John Lewis, U.S. congressman)

Al Sharpton

It is my hope that [Simeon's Story] renews our efforts to deal with the nation's lingering inequities, particularly the hundreds of unsolved murder cases from the civil rights era. (Rev. Al Sharpton, president, National Action Network)

From the B&N Reads Blog

Page 1 of

Editorial Reviews

Gr 6–10—Simeon Wright was 12 years old when his cousin Emmett "Bobo" Till came from Chicago to visit relatives in Mississippi. Spunky and bold, Till amused everyone with his comedic timing. It was his desire to get a laugh that led to his demise. One hot August night in 1955, Till whistled at a white female store clerk, setting off a chain of events that left an indelible mark not only on our nation's history, but also on the cousin who witnessed Till's gaffe and eventual kidnapping. Wright's story is chilling, and his honest account will hook readers from the beginning. His description of growing up in Mississippi under Jim Crow laws provides the necessary background for teens to understand what transpired in the time between Till's deadly mistake and the discovery of his body days later. Wright also details the toll the murder took on his family, his eventual move to Chicago, and his unsuccessful search for justice for Emmett Till. An appendix entitled "Lies, Myths, and Distortions" serves to discredit many of the misconceptions surrounding Till's death. It ends, "If you want an accurate account of any story, go to the primary sources. They know what really happened." Truer words were never spoken.—Kelly McGorray, Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn, IL

School Library Journal

Primary-source historical texts are an increasingly important genre in today's literature for young adults. Simeon Wright, the cousin of boy martyr Emmett Till, begins his story by transporting the reader into the conditions for African Americans in the Jim Crow South through a series of anecdotes. He balances accounts of harsh oppression with high-interest details about the daily lives of the people in the Mississippi Delta. Wright then recounts his family history and their heritage of land ownership, circuit preaching and social justice. During the summer of 1955, the young Mississippi native looked forward to the impending arrival of visiting relatives from the northern city of Chicago, including his jovial cousin Bobo. "We didn't know Bobo's first name was Emmett until he was killed," Wright remembers. From that point, his childhood stories makes a rendezvous with history-the boys' long-anticipated visit to the nearby town of Greenwood ends in one of the most well-known tragedies of the civil-rights movement. The author's strong characterization of his cousin makes this a compelling read. (Memoir. 12 & up)

Kirkus Reviews

“Fascinating. . . . Simeon Wright is just the latest in a long line of writers who find the Emmett Till story compelling, but his perspective and proximity are critical to a full understanding.” —Chicago Tribune
“Crystal clarity and blistering prose. . . . [A] powerful, important memoir. Simeon’s Story is a story you must read.” —Savannah Morning News
“Wright’s story is chilling, and his honest account will hook readers from the beginning.” —School Library Journal
“Simeon’s Story is one that must be heard and never forgotten. In simple, plain language, Wright describes an event that shocked the conscience of the nation and gave birth to the modern-day Civil Rights Movement in America.” —John Lewis, U.S. congressman
“A compelling read.” —Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

Simeon's Story: An Eyewitness Account of the Kidnapping of Emmett Till

Simeon's Story: An Eyewitness Account of the Kidnapping of Emmett Till

Paperback(Reprint)

Paperback(Reprint)

Related collections and offers

Overview

Product Details

About the Author

Table of Contents

What People are Saying About This

Customer Reviews

Related Searches

Explore More Items

Related collections and offers

Overview

Product Details

About the Author

Table of Contents

What People are Saying About This

Related Subjects

Customer Reviews