09/03/2026
A HEARTFELT THANK YOU FROM THE EMMETT TILL LEGACY FOUNDATION
71 Years Later, We Remember With Purpose, Reflect With Courage and Continue the Work
As we reflect on the 71st Anniversary Commemoration of Emmett Louis Till on August 28-30th, 2026, the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation extends our deepest gratitude to everyone who joined us in Mississippi this weekend.
As Executive Director and Co Founder of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, and as a cousin of Emmett Till and Mamie Till Mobley, I am deeply grateful to the Civil Rights Era and justice impacted families, Civil Rights leaders, legacy families, community leaders, elected officials, speakers, organizations, institutions, volunteers, educators, students, journalists and legacy partners who stood with us throughout this important weekend. Your presence mattered. Your stories mattered. And your willingness to stand together to remember, educate and continue the work mattered.
Mississippi is ground zero and is where Emmett Till's story became a national turning point. This weekend, Mississippi again became the place where his name was spoken, his legacy was examined and the next generation was called to action.
Emmett Till's family, Civil Rights leaders, impacted families, Civil Rights Era families, organizations, Mayor, elected officials and speakers gathered in Jackson to honor a 14 year old boy whose life was stolen and whose story changed America.
But this weekend was about more than remembering one moment in history. It was about recognizing the families and individuals whose lives were forever changed by racial injustice and honoring those who had the courage to stand up, speak out and fight for change.
TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS ERA AND IMPACTED FAMILIES
To the families who lived through the Civil Rights Movement, sacrificed, organized, marched, fought, prayed and persevered, thank you for allowing us to stand on the shoulders of your courage.
To the impacted families who continue to carry the pain and consequences of injustice, thank you for trusting us with your stories and for having the courage to stand with us in this sacred space of remembrance and truth.
Your presence represents a powerful intergenerational connection between the history of Emmett Till and families who continue to experience the devastating impact of injustice.You remind us that history is not simply something that happened in the past. History lives in families. History lives in communities. History lives in us.
When these families stand together, we are reminded that the work of truth, justice and accountability did not end with the Civil Rights Movement. It continues today.
HONORING MAMIE TILL MOBLEY
This weekend also honored the extraordinary legacy of Mamie Till Mobley, a native Mississippian who transformed unimaginable grief into a national demand for justice and inspired generations to speak truth and pursue change.
In 1955, Mamie Till Mobley opened her son's casket and opened America's eyes.Her decision transformed personal grief into a national demand for truth and justice. But Mamie's story also reminds us that one woman's courage can shape generations.
Mamie did not allow tragedy to define the limits of her life or her son's legacy. She became an educator, advocate and voice for young people, helping inspire generations to understand their history, value their voices and become leaders.That part of Mamie's legacy remains deeply important to the work of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation. She showed us that remembrance must be accompanied by action, education and empowerment.
FROM HISTORY TO A LIVING EXPERIENCE
From the Mississippi State Capitol Mississippi State Capitol and The Patton House & Gallery to with the daughter of Medgar and Myrlie Evers, , the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and, Mississippi Museums
/Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and the Mississippi Delta, the weekend brought history to life through the people and places that continue to shape America's understanding of the Civil Rights Movement.
Guests experienced the historic Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument and connected the stories of two Mississippi families whose courage helped change the course of American history.
Guests were also welcomed to tour the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum and further explore Mississippi's pivotal role in the American Civil Rights Movement and the courageous individuals who helped shape our nation's history.
The Till Trail of Tears and Terror educational tour through the Mississippi Delta Emmett Till 71st Year Anniversary Commemoration weekend activities and Educational Tour provided a historic, real time educational experience.
Participants traveled through the places, roads, communities and landscapes connected to Emmett Till's final days and the events that forever changed American history.
Rather than simply learning about these events from a textbook or exhibit, participants experienced the history in the very places where it happened, hearing the stories, examining the landscape and connecting the past to the present.
The tour provided
journalists, educators, students, historians and participants with an opportunity to better understand the geography of Emmett Till's story and the realities surrounding his murder within their historical context.
The experience also explored the broader history of Mississippi's Civil Rights Movement and the courageous individuals and communities who challenged racial injustice.
TO OUR SPEAKERS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
To every speaker, elected official, faith leader, educator, historian, advocate and community leader who shared your voice, thank you. Thank you for bringing your knowledge, lived experiences and commitment to this work. Each voice helped tell a larger story that must continue to be told accurately, honestly and courageously.
TO OUR LEGACY PARTNERS
The Emmett Till Legacy Foundation is grateful to the organizations and institutions joining us in the work of preserving history, educating communities and advancing the Till legacy.
We extend our sincere appreciation to our legacy partners, including The Jackson Advocate, Mississippi Museums , Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument and National Park Service National Park Service, Museum Management Program, Mississippi Workers' Center for Human Rights, The Patton House & Gallery . Commissioner De'Keither A. Stamps, Summers , Talia and Hutton, Reena Evers-Everette, Brown, Rev. Eric Williams of Farish Street Baptist Church, Superintendent Keena Graham of the and Myrlie Evers National Monument home, The IMAN Institute, Visit Jackson, MS and the many community organizations, institutions and individuals who helped make this weekend possible.
Your partnership demonstrates what is possible when organizations come together around a shared commitment to history, truth, education and the future.
This work cannot be done alone.
It takes families.
It takes communities.
It takes institutions.
It takes educators and young people.
And it takes people willing to stand together and say that history matters.
WHY THIS STORY MATTERS NOW
The 71st Anniversary Commemoration Weekend is not simply an anniversary.
It is an opportunity to examine what America has learned, what remains unresolved and what responsibility each generation carries forward.
The casket will remain open because the work is not finished.
It remains open so that we continue to look at the truth, learn from history, honor the stolen lives, elevate the voices of impacted families, educate our youth and inspire the next generation of leaders.
Seventy one years later, our responsibility remains clear.
Remember with purpose. Educate with intention.
Act with courage.
Emmett's story belongs to all of us. And the legacy of Emmett and Mamie calls every generation to continue the work.
CLOSING IN FAITH, FAMILY AND HOPE
The weekend concluded with Worship in White, a church service with the Emmett Till Legacy Family, bringing together faith, family, remembrance and hope.
The service provided an opportunity for the community to hear a powerful message and come together in fellowship and reflection while honoring Emmett Till, Mamie Till Mobley and the generations who have carried their legacy forward.
As we close this year's commemoration, we do not close the story of Emmett Till.
We carry it forward. We carry forward the courage of Mamie Till Mobley. We carry forward the sacrifices of the Civil Rights Era families. We carry forward the voices of impacted families. We carry forward the lessons of Mississippi. And we carry forward our responsibility to ensure that future generations understand the significance of Emmett Till and Mamie Till Mobley's enduring courage.
The weekend may be over, but the work continues.
To everyone who stood with the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, shared your story, opened your doors, offered your partnership, traveled with us, lifted your voice or simply came to remember, thank you.
Because of you, Emmett Till's name continues to be spoken. Because of you, these stories continue to be told. Because of you, another generation has an opportunity to learn. And because of you, the legacy continues.
With deepest gratitude,
Deborah Watts Deborah Watts Executive Director and Co Founder Emmett Till Legacy Foundation and Cousin of Emmett Till and Mamie Till Mobley.
EMMETT TILL LEGACY FOUNDATION
The 2026 commemoration also marks the 21st anniversary of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation.
Founded in 2005 by descendants and family members of Emmett Till and Mamie Till Mobley, the organization via the Emmett Till Institute of Leadership and Learning (E-TILL) have been creating a legacy of hope, while connecting the past to the present and future, dedicated to preserving their legacy while advancing truth, justice, accountability, education and empowerment for future generations.
Learn more and support our efforts here:
The Emmett Till Legacy Foundation (ETLF) honors the memory of Emmett Till who, at only 14 years old, was kidnapped, brutally tortured, lynched and killed in 1955 during a racially-motivated hate crime. Our mission is to bring truth, justice and healing, which can mean a full accounting of crimes com...
