Who was Emmitt Till and why is his murder remembered?

Emmett Till was a 14-year-old African American boy who was brutally murdered in 1955 while visiting relatives in Mississippi after being accused of offending a white woman. His death, and the subsequent acquittal of his killers, became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement as it highlighted the pervasive racism and injustice faced by Black Americans. The open-casket funeral held by his mother, Mamie Till, drew national attention and outrage, making Till a symbol of the struggle against racial violence and discrimination. His story remains significant in discussions about racial inequality and justice in the United States.