The Murder of Emmett Till: A Graphic History

by Karlos K Hill, Dave Dodson

Incorporating the latest research, The Murder of Emmett Till is the first text to present this shocking crime--which still powerfully reverberates--in a graphic history format. Historian Karlos Hill and illustrator Dave Dodson provide a riveting narration of the events surrounding the murder of young Emmett Till in a graphic format. Hill's meticulous research provides readers with both the context to place the crime in its wider historical setting and the primary sources to analyze the case in detail. Suggestions for how to effectively use the graphic history in the classroom make The Murder of Emmett Till an ideal text for courses in American and African American history.

Genres: Graphic Novels, History, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels Comics

192 pages, Paperback

Published July 24, 2020

Reviews

[akacya ❦]

An informative read on the week leading up to Emmett Till’s murder, the murder itself, and what’s happened since.

[Mary S]

This title in the Graphic History Series published by Oxford University Press is full of primary source material, including trial testimony, newspaper reports, records of lynchings, and timelines of events. The graphic format makes the story of this horrific lynching accessible to those with only a cursory knowledge of Emmett Till. Even if you feel well informed of the history, you’ll find something more to learn here. Includes suggestions for use in the classroom as well as discussion questions. We must never forget!

[Hannah]

The first third of this book is a graphic novel that brings the story very close. But during the last 2/3rds of this book, where Hill has compiled the recovered trial transcript and newspaper clippings of the time, there are some articles from the Greenwood Morning Star (the local Mississippi newspaper) that make up the most remarkable part of this book. It's incredible to read the same phrasing being used in 1955, presented with one or two less degrees of encoding as today.

GMR before the trial - "The meddling of outside agitators in the Till murder case has created a number of ugly problems, and there is growing resentment against those who seek to use the affair to create strife and ill feeling.... There are plenty of officers to take care of all situations and there is absolutely no danger or need for civilians to arm themselves.... We sum up the whole thing by giving the warning that the agitation is inspired by Communists or by persons who have become unwitting victims of the Communist plan to stir up trouble where possible. The way to combat the situation is to handle this situation with cool heads and firm hands."

GMR after the trial - "Those who were expecting anything but a fair and impartial trial... were disappointed with the manner in which the Milam-Bryan case was handled... This was one of those cases where the radicals and NAACP sympathizers were hoping that Miss. would give them occasion to lambaste our state because of its being a segregation stronghold... but Miss. people rose to the occasion and proved to the world that this is a place where justice in the courts is given to all races."

Infuriatingly little has changed and Emmett's story is still pressing. As seen with the George Floyd case just this past summer, the majority of white people still either approve of these kinds of lynchings "or else don't disapprove enough to risk giving their enemies the satisfaction of a conviction."

[Sonya]

EXCELLENT! Every American should have to read this book- this murder of a child happened not that long ago and looks a lot like a snapshot of some of the events that we are seeing happen now. This crime should have had justice years ago and the story needs to be told and never forgotten this is African American history and this is American history.

[Laura]

I wish the quality of the writing and illustrations were a bit higher because graphic novels are a powerful way to tell history, especially for students. Humanizes the history much better than a dry textbook. The historical context and primary source documents are really good inclusions for anyone wanting to read more than just the graphic narrative.

[stephanie cassidy]

Should there be a book to companion with the film Till, this is the one. It's where some of the gaps are filled in, it bears witness, and makes a compelling addition to the history of the struggle for Black freedom, Black rights, human rights, human dignity, and how nobody as the right to take those freedoms and rights away from another.

[Jackie Manz]

This is a wonderfully illustrated and fully researched graphic novel depicting the events leading up to, and after, the death of Emmett Till. It includes documentation of resources in the back for the reader who wants to go more in-depth.

[Alexis]

I had to read this book for a class and I thought that it was good. I enjoyed the graphic novel portion of the book although I think that it could have been longer/more detailed. It was very interesting and I did enjoy the unique format of the book.

[Teresa]

Brilliant graphic novel with copies of the historical documents and really great historical context. I'm not a huge fan of the art style, but it's effective in its rendition. A must-read.