February 27th 2025.
The African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund recently announced the release of $3 million in grants to 33 historic sites. These grants will help preserve and restore important locations that highlight the contributions and struggles of African Americans throughout history. Among the sites receiving funding is the childhood home of Emmett Till, the Black teenager whose brutal murder in 1955 sparked outrage and ignited the civil rights movement.
Located on the Southside of Chicago, the home once belonged to Till's mother, the late Mamie Till Mobley. With the help of the grant, the home will be restored to its original state, including the second floor which was occupied by the Till family. The restoration project will be overseen by a project director and is expected to be completed by 2025, coinciding with the opening of the Obama Presidential Library. Executive director of local nonprofit group Blacks in Green, Naomi Davis, expressed her hopes to reopen the home as an international heritage pilgrimage destination. She emphasized the sacred significance of the home and the importance of preserving it for future generations.
Brent Leggs, executive director of the Action Fund, explained that the organization's goal is to fill gaps in the nation's understanding of the civil rights movement. The sites chosen for preservation, such as the home of Booker T. Washington and the first Black masonic lodge in North Carolina, highlight the contributions and struggles of African Americans in various fields. Leggs specifically highlighted the Till home as an important symbol in the civil rights movement and emphasized the need to honor Ms. Mobley's wishes to bring attention to her son's death.
For Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr., Emmett Till's cousin and the only living relative present on the night of his murder, the preservation of the home holds personal significance. During a Black History Month celebration in Milwaukee, Parker reflected on the tragic night and the impact it had on his family. He expressed admiration for his aunt's courage in choosing to have an open casket funeral and bringing attention to the horrors of racism. Parker also revealed that he often felt guilt for surviving while his cousin did not.
The Action Fund's decision to preserve the Till home and other significant sites serves to honor the legacy of African Americans and their contributions to the civil rights movement. These locations serve as important reminders of the struggles and sacrifices made by those who fought for equality and justice. By preserving these sites, the organization hopes to educate and inspire future generations to continue the fight for equality and justice for all.
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