Simeon's Story: An Eyewitness Account of the Kidnapping of Emmett Till - Paperback

Simeon's Story: An Eyewitness Account of the Kidnapping of Emmett Till

Skipping Stones Multicultural & International Awareness Books Honor Award

This firsthand account documents one of the most pivotal moments in American civil rights history. Simeon Wright witnessed the events surrounding his cousin Emmett Till's 1955 kidnapping and murder—a tragedy that became the catalyst for the civil rights movement.

A Firsthand Witness to History

At age 12, Simeon Wright was present for three critical moments: he saw and heard his 14-year-old cousin Emmett whistle at a white woman at a Mississippi grocery store; he was sleeping in the same bed when two white men took Emmett from their uncle's home; and he attended the sensational murder trial that followed. Several days after the kidnapping, Emmett's body was discovered in the Tallahatchie River.

This gripping coming-of-age memoir provides an intimate perspective on events that transformed race relations in America. Wright's account offers details and insights only someone who lived through these moments could provide.

Award-Winning Historical Documentation

Recognized with the Skipping Stones Multicultural & International Awareness Books Honor Award, this book serves as essential reading for understanding 1950s America, the American South, and the origins of the civil rights movement. The narrative combines personal memoir with historical documentation of the trial that exposed racial injustice to a national audience.

About the Authors

Simeon Wright is a sought-after public speaker at schools, churches, and cultural institutions throughout the country, sharing his firsthand experiences with new generations. Co-author Herb Boyd has published 20 books, including We Shall Overcome, and serves as managing editor of The Black World Today.

This paperback edition from Lawrence Hill Books provides accessible entry to a crucial chapter of American history through the eyes of someone who was there.