--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Welcome to Today Explained. I'm Sean Rameswaram.
--:-- Wesley Lowery: Thanks for having me on the show.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Today, we're talking about one of the most brutal murder cases in American history. The Washington Post's Wesley Lowery joins me to explain how Emmett Till's family might finally find justice. Wesley, thanks for being here.
--:-- Wesley Lowery: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, let's start with the basics. Emmett Till was a 14-year-old boy from Chicago who was visiting family members in Money, Mississippi, in 1955. He was abducted and murdered by two men after a woman claimed that he had whistled at her and grabbed her.
--:-- Wesley Lowery: That's right. Emmett Till was a 14-year-old boy from Chicago who was visiting family members in Money, Mississippi, in 1955. He was abducted and murdered by two men, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, after a woman named Carolyn Bryant claimed that he had whistled at her and grabbed her.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And the trial that followed was a national sensation. Every available seat in the courtroom was occupied, and the case was covered by the entire national media.
--:-- Wesley Lowery: That's right. The trial was a national sensation, and it was covered by the entire national media. The case was seen as a test of the justice system's ability to deal with racial violence.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: But the trial was also marked by controversy. Many people felt that the prosecution had not done enough to prove the defendants' guilt, and that the all-white, all-male jury had been swayed by racial bias.
--:-- Wesley Lowery: That's right. The trial was also marked by controversy. Many people felt that the prosecution had not done enough to prove the defendants' guilt, and that the all-white, all-male jury had been swayed by racial bias.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And in the end, the defendants were acquitted. But in a shocking twist, they later confessed to the crime in an interview with a journalist.
--:-- Wesley Lowery: That's right. The defendants, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, later confessed to the crime in an interview with a journalist. This was a major blow to the justice system, and it highlighted the racial bias that had played a role in the trial.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, why is this case being reopened now? What happened?
--:-- Wesley Lowery: Well, in 2008, Carolyn Bryant, the woman who had accused Emmett Till of whistling at her and grabbing her, gave an interview to an author and historian named Timothy Tyson. And in this interview, she admitted that she had lied about what had happened.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's right. Carolyn Bryant admitted that she had lied about what had happened. And this new information has forced the FBI to reconsider the case.
--:-- Wesley Lowery: That's right. The new information has forced the FBI to reconsider the case, and it's possible that charges could be brought against Carolyn Bryant for perjury.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: But what would it mean to have charges come down on this case in the South? In the country?
--:-- Wesley Lowery: Well, I think it would be a major development. It would be a recognition that the justice system had failed Emmett Till and his family, and that it's still possible to bring justice to them even 63 years later.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what about the countless other racially motivated murder cases from the civil rights era? Are there movements on anything from the past that didn't get the attention that Emmett Till got?
--:-- Wesley Lowery: Well, there have been efforts to resurface many of these cases. The Equal Justice Initiative has done a lot of work on this, and there are still many cases that are being investigated and re-examined.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what about the family of Emmett Till? Do they still hold out hope that justice will be served?
--:-- Wesley Lowery: Yes, they do. They've been fighting for justice for many years, and they still believe that it's possible.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And finally, what's the significance of this case? Why is it still important today?
--:-- Wesley Lowery: Well, I think it's a reminder of the racial violence that was perpetrated in this country, and the ways in which the justice system failed to hold people accountable. It's also a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice in this country.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Thanks, Wesley, for joining me today.
--:-- Wesley Lowery: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And that's it for today's show. Thanks for listening to Today Explained.
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--:-- Wesley Lowery: [laughs] Yeah, I've used one of those toothbrushes before. It's great.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Yeah, it's really quiet. You can listen to podcasts while you brush your teeth. It's a game-changer.
--:-- Wesley Lowery: [laughs] That's true.
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--:-- Wesley Lowery: Sounds good.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And finally, be sure to check out the new episode of Netflix Explained from Vox, all about cricket.
--:-- Wesley Lowery: [laughs] Yeah, I've been waiting for that one.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Yeah, it's going to be great. And if you want to watch it, go to netflix.com and check it out.
--:-- Wesley Lowery: Sounds good.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Thanks again for listening to Today Explained.
--:-- Wesley Lowery: Thanks for having me.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And that's it for today's show.
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