Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement is an emotional and poetic picture book by Angela Joy (Black Is a Rainbow Color) and illustrated with cut-paper technique by Janelle Washington. When most people think of Emmett Till, they think of his horrific murder by racist White men in the segregated South. But this book shows that he was a person with a full life before that tragic day, and so was his mother. The text describes Till's death in mild detail, without violent illustrations. Themes include the power of courage, the pain of racism, and the importance of doing what's right.
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What's the Story?
CHOOSING BRAVE: HOW MAMIE TILL-MOBLEY AND EMMETT TILL SPARKED THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT follows the story of Mamie Till-Mobley. Her family moved during the Great Migration (of Black people moving out of the Southern U.S. to find better opportunity). But, the harsh realities of racism still followed them. Just before turning 19, Mamie married a boxer and gave birth to a baby boy named Emmett. Doctors believed that Emmett would never be able to walk or talk, but Mamie was determined to be brave and take care of him. After her husband became violent and was sent away to the Army, Mamie raised her son to be strong, with the help of her mother. Mamie worked hard to make a safe and healthy life for her son, and they moved to Chicago. When Emmett grew older he was excited to visit family in Mississippi. Mamie discouraged him from going and warned him about the hatred of racism and the dangerous Jim Crow laws. Tragically, a week after agreeing to let Emmett make the trip, he was kidnapped and killed by White men in Mississippi, who accused him of whistling at a White woman. Mamie turned her grief into power and shared her son's heartbreaking story with the world. This tragedy is credited with sparking the civil rights movement. Mamie continued to live a life of courage as she spoke our against injustice with the civil rights group the NAACP and created social change.
Is It Any Good?
This is a moving, captivating, and heartbreaking story that should be a must-read not only during Black History Month but also throughout the year. Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement takes readers beyond the commonly known facts of Emmett Till's murder and uncovers who he was as a person, as well as who his mother was. The book's poetic lines and illustrations are both powerful and memorable. The story reminds us that the "ugly days" are not behind us, as racism and violence toward Black people is still an issue today. The story of Mamie Till and her son are brought to light in an exceptional way. The book deserves all the praise it has received, and is likely to spark important questions for young readers.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how in Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement, Mamie is afraid of Emmett going to Mississippi to visit his family. Why does she feel this way? What were Jim Crow laws?
What is courage? How was Mamie courageous?
This illustrator only used a small number of colors to create images for the book. Most illustrations are cut-paper black lines with only spot dolor. Which colors did she use? Why do you think she picked them? What do they represent?
Book Details
- Author: Angela Joy
- Illustrator: Janelle Washington
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Activism, History
- Character Strengths: Courage
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
- Publication date: September 6, 2022
- Number of pages: 64
- Available on: Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: January 24, 2023
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