On July 22 at noon, Indiana Landmarks’ Black Heritage Preservation Program partners with the Veterans Association of African Descendants (VAAD) to present a free screening of the 2022 feature film, Till. Based on the true story of Emmett Till, the film chronicles Mamie Till-Mobley’s relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, brutally lynched in 1955 while visiting his cousins in Mississippi. Till’s lynching, followed by his open-casket funeral at Chicago’s Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, is widely viewed as a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement.

Writer and producer Keith Beauchamp joins Emmett Till’s cousin, Priscilla Sterling, on stage following the film for a Q&A session and discussion about the ongoing pursuit of criminal and social justice for Emmett Till and countless others. Attorney Malik Z. Shabazz of Black Lawyers for Justice will join them as a special guest.

“The image of Emmett Till’s mutilated body and the trial that followed set in motion a movement for civil rights that would forever change the lives of Black Americans, including Black Hoosiers,” says Eunice Trotter, director of Indiana Landmarks’ Black Heritage Preservation Program. “This incident galvanized the public worldwide to take action against racism and bigotry,” she adds.

Keith Beauchamp is an award-winning American filmmaker based in Brooklyn, best known for his in-depth studies and films about the lynching of Emmett Till.

Priscilla Sterling, Emmett Till’s cousin, serves as president of the Emmett Till Justice for Families Foundation, a Jackson, Mississippi-based civil rights advocacy group dedicated to social justice and the elimination of racial hate crimes. Earlier this year, Sterling and attorney Malik Z. Shabazz of Black Lawyers for Justice filed a lawsuit calling for the arrest and prosecution of Carolyn Bryant, the woman who alleged that Till whistled at her at her family’s grocery store in Mississippi. Bryant later said her claims were false. She died in Louisiana in April 2023.

This program is free and open to the public with RSVP. Reserve your spot at tillmovieanddiscussion.eventbrite.com or by calling 317-639-4534.

WHAT:        “Till” Movie Screening and Discussion

WHEN:        Saturday, July 22 from noon to 4 p.m.

WHERE:      Indiana Landmarks Center, Grand Hall, 1201 Central Ave., Indianapolis

WHO:          Presented by Indiana Landmarks’ Black Heritage Preservation Program and the Veterans Association of African Descendants (VAAD)

COST:          Free

TICKETS:     RSVP at tillmovieanddiscussion.eventbrite.com or by calling 317-639-4534.

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Indiana Landmarks revitalizes communities, strengthens connections to our diverse heritage, and saves meaningful places. With nine offices located throughout the state, Indiana Landmarks helps people rescue endangered landmarks and restore historic neighborhoods and downtowns. People who join Indiana Landmarks receive its bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation. For more information on the not-for-profit organization, call 317-639-4534, 800-450-4534, or visit www.indianalandmarks.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS: 

Eunice Trotter, Director, Indiana Landmarks’ Black Heritage Preservation Program, 317-639-4534, 317-489-8556 (cell), etrotter@indianalandmarks.org

Dave Rozzell, Director of Communications, Veterans Association of African Descendants, 317-514-4091 (cell), daverozzell@gmail.com

Mindi Woolman, Director of Marketing and Communications, Indiana Landmarks, 317-639-4534, 317-417-1204 (cell), mwoolman@indianalandmarks.org