When Chicago teenager Emmitt Till was brutally murdered for allegedly whistling at a white woman who has since recanted the foul accusation in Money, Mississippi in 1955, his death at the hands of white bigots of course wasn’t the first such incident of lynching in this country — it was just the most recent and heinous.
However, when his mother, Mamie Till, demanded an open casket at his funeral, the conscience of the entire world was so shocked, so outraged, that one incident of barbarism served as a spark to ignite a fire for change.
The killing at hand, the senseless taking of George Floyd’s life, has aroused similar passions due to the horrific manner in which his death was brought about: Strangulation in broad daylight by a sworn law enforcement officer. Now the question becomes one of how do we use this tragedy to bring about real, systemic change, to assure that this genocide against young black men (and sometimes women) at the hands of rogue cops ceases?
Unfortunately, the only time America listens to our anguished cries for justice is when the cacophony is accompanied by violent social uprisings, such as those we are experiencing at present. When elected officials and civic leaders call on young people to respect the law, the answer from them often is, “Why should we respect the law when the law doesn’t respect us?”
Perhaps one way of galvanizing support for systemic change — that will of course take years, if not decades at best — is to keep a constant reminder of what this fight is all about front and center in the consciousness of as many Americans as possible. And one was to accomplish that, at least in the short term, is to not bury Mr. Floyd’s remains just yet, but to raise funds from sympathetic organizations (and crowd funding if necessary) to take his casket on a tour of select American cities.
Sure, holding a memorial service, say, at Cleveland’s Public Auditorium, would frighten the hell out of public and police officials. But with members of the community (such as Black Lives Matter and other activist groups) acting as peace monitors such a service could be held without incident — it’s just a matter of will. But the succor such memorial services would provide to a very angry and hurt populace at this juncture is incalculable.
Indeed, rather than take to the streets in a mindless fashion to demonstrate their outrage, my guess is that the vast majority of citizens would be content to wait for a peaceful memorial service in their city or town. It’s worth a try.
After all of the memorial services are held around the country, Bryan Stevenson should be asked if there is room for a final resting place for Mr. Floyd’s remains somewhere on the campus of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice that he created in Montgomery where a monument to his life — and brutal death — would serve as a constant reminder for us to be ever vigilant for all generations to come.
4 Responses to “MANSFIELD: So That We Never Forget”
Bill Rucki
Excellent ideas Mr. Frazier. I would live to see this happen.
Peter Lawson Jones
Emmitt Till’s open casket . . . the footage of vicious police dogs, water exploding from fire hoses and skull-crushing police batons being directed at protesters in the South decades ago . . . the chilling video of George Floyd’s execution – the depths of the depravity that must be displayed to garner society’s attention. Great pair or articles, Mansfield.
Betty K. Pinkney
Hello Mansfield. Thank you, for putting into words what so many people, like me also believe! Thank you. Betty
Thomas Frazier
Just saw Cory Booker say his pick for Bidens VP is Michelle Obama!
Great minds think alike, my brother.