NBC Chicago’s original documentary, The Lost Story of Emmett Till: The Universal Child, is available on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire and NBCChicago.com. Award-winning Investigative Journalist Marion Brooks examines the 1955 lynching of a Black teenager from Chicago who was visiting relatives in Mississippi and how his murder impacted the Civil Rights Movement. So how did a globally known name – Emmett Till – quickly fade away from history books? How could Chicagoans forget the brutal torture of a 14-year-old boy? Marion Brooks details the events surrounding the case to help viewers understand the context behind the lost story of Emmett Till.
“This heinous crime happened 66 years ago, and the story is still relevant today. The world’s shock of Emmett Till’s open casket photograph is a parallel to the world’s shock of the George Floyd video. It’s important to understand our history as we look to heal and grow,” Marion Brooks said.
“Emmett Till’s family never found justice. The investigation is closed now. At NBC Chicago, we recognize the importance to keep this story alive and reflect on how far we’ve come and how much more work needs to be done as a community,” said Kevin Cross, President and General Manager of NBCUniversal Local Chicago.
The Lost Story of Emmett Till: The Universal Child features video sourced from NBC Chicago’s 1985 documentary Emmett Till: The Murder and the Movement, written by Rich Samuels and produced by Anna Vasser. The film includes interviews with Emmett’s mother and people who witnessed the injustice surrounding the case. Reporter Rich Samuels also approaches one of the killers. Marion Brooks complements the archival footage with context on what the world was like in 1955 and why Emmett Till’s story began to disappear from public consciousness.
Watch the Documentary HERE
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