Women of the Movement
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Women of the Movement
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this first season of Women of the Movement is about Mamie Till-Mobley (Adrienne Warren), the mother of 14-year-old Emmett Till (Cedric Joe), who becomes a beacon of the civil rights movement after her son is murdered in Jim Crow-era Mississippi. Created by Marissa Jo Cerar (Handmaid's Tale), and produced by both Will Smith and Jay-Z, the series begins with a warning of its own -- that the historic content may trigger current-day traumas. Mature-enough teens will encounter examples of perseverance, courage, and humility. A parent advocates for their child, using the global visibility of their grief to demand justice and social change. A Black family is portrayed with dignity through experiences of unimaginable grief. Strong depictions of violence and racism; an adolescent is abducted out of their bed at gunpoint, and there are graphic close-up images of a young Black body beaten, shot, and water-logged. A White woman's slander ends with a child killed. Repetitive use of the "N" word." Adults use alcohol and cigarettes.
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What's the Story?
The historically inspired WOMEN OF THE MOVEMENT takes place in 1955, and tells the story of Mamie Till-Mobley, the mother of 14-year-old Emmett Till, who becomes a beacon of the civil rights movement after her son is murdered in Mississippi. The narrative honors the tender relationship of a single mother and only son. It begins with Mamie Till-Mobley laboring in the hospital, insisting to medical staff she is experiencing birth complications. The story continues 14 years later, when Emmett asks to take a summer visit to his cousins' cotton farm in the U.S. south. While reluctant, Mamie agrees. Emmett travels from Chicago to rural Mississippi, where he is accused of disrespecting a White woman, and later mutilated and murdered. With help from the NAACP and dedicated journalists, Mamie is able to get Emmett's body returned to her before his burial. After seeing the horrific damage done to him, Mamie insists on an open casket viewing, and allows the photos to be published. Her public struggle becomes an integral piece to Black history and a devastating reminder of the fears Black mothers still face raising Black boys.
Is It Any Good?
This historical drama homes in on the bond between a mother and her only child, inviting viewers to see Emmett Till at the height of his adolescence, full of possibilities and joy. Women of the Movement is brought to life by Adrienne Warren's profound performance as Mamie Till-Mobley, and shows a mother devoted to living life for her child, even after his death. The series gives humanity to this difficult story, providing important context to the refrain of Black mothers fighting against erasure. This retelling is a worthy introduction to this particular moment in U.S. history. While the Till family's personal details are intricate and nuanced, the length of the series requires that many aspects of this historic case and following murder trial be simplified. Watch Women of the Movement as a moving introduction to the history of Jim Crow laws and the Great Migration of Black Americans in the mid-century.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Women of the Movement's choice to center the relationship between Mamie and Emmett. How does watching the story through their narrative help to understand the civil rights movement as a whole?
One of the most remembered details of this story is Mamie's choice to allow a journalist to photograph Emmett's body. Talk about how current media affects conversations around racial injustice.
Emmett Till is an example of a name that will forever be remembered because his mother demanded his death not be in vain. Can you name any other Black lives lost to racial violence?
TV Details
- Premiere date: January 6, 2022
- Cast: Adrienne Warren, Tonya Pinkins, Cedric Joe
- Networks: ABC, Hulu
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Activism, Great Girl Role Models, History
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 5, 2023
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