Focusing on the gruesome photo of a lynched Emmett Till, style served a tremendous role in establishing shock value for viewers. The close up of an unrecognizable face truly emphasized how horrifying racism had become. Moreover, Emmett's face served as a physical representation that encompassed the true evils of physical brutality against the Black race within the South. We must realize that Emmett's entire body had been mutilated, but the photographer chose to focus on his face. Filling the photograph with a mutilated child's distorted facial features forces the viewer to acknowledge that this was a person, a similar concept to the photograph of Trayvon Martin. Another factor that played to Emmett's youth was the setting in which the picture was taken: his funeral. The image of a child in a coffin serves as disturbing in itself. The image of a mutilated child in a coffin makes the viewer speechless. To see the gruesome corps in a suit and tie furthers the main point that this is actually a person. Lynching had become a way to kill and torture Blacks, keeping them in fear that they may leave their house in the morning and end the night hanging from a tree or floating down a river. Does the fact that this photo was taken in gray scale impair its effective at all? No, in retrospect the black and white color composition points to the time period, giving viewers an idea that this occurred during the Civil Rights Era. In no way does it take away the discoloration of his skin or the distortion of his facial features. Till had been disfigured to the point where one may even question: is this really a person? How can someone do this to another human being? How can someone do this to a child? Racism is the blemish upon America's history, a blemish that many wish to forget. However, we must always keep the memory of those whose lives have been stolen as a result of prejudice. We must always remember Emmett Till.
-Ashley McNeill
This is a good article! I remember a quote about a similar situation, "If America could cough, it would cough up all of the blood shed on its soil". I liked that elaborated on the physical characteristics of Emmett Till's mutilation and why the photographer decided to focus on the face specifically. Also, your rhetorical questions on why this had to happen to a child also speaks volumes on how corrupt racism really is. Children are often highly regarded in general in society; therefore, people are more likely to protect them. However, the unnecessary hatred for someone to hurt another, especially a child, just because they are different is highly disturbing. Great work!
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