Dear loved ones,
The emotions have been running high today. We departed our beloved hostel in Memphis, Tennessee and left for the Emmett Till pilgrimage route which started in Money, Mississippi. As our immersion community grows closer, the impact of the powerful stories we are encountering seems to be touching our hearts on a different and deeper level.
The signs of inequity and injustice along racial and socioeconomic lines became immediately clear to us in Money as we worked our way down to the grocery store where the tragic story of 14-year old Emmett Till, the story that sparked a movement, began. We moved between several key locations where the brutal murder of Till and the following courtroom proceedings took place. Here are some of the reflections which came to mind during this life-changing pilgrimage:
As we drove from the grocery store to the , eventually, we found ourselves on the banks of the Tallahatchie River where Till’s body was recovered. When he was found by a fisherman after his death, he had been inhumanely beaten, mutilated, and lynched. As we gathered by the banks of the river, a somber and beautifully reverent silence settled over us. Huddled together, we held the pain and injustice of Emmett Till’s story close as the rain continued falling upon us. 14 years of hope and potential and joy and innocence ended where we stood.
No one told us when it was time to leave; somehow, when we were called to, we did.
The last leg of the Emmett Till Pilgrimage ended at the courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi. There, we learned about the case in more detail, and the healing process that encompassed the town years later. We read an apology letter curated by 18 members of the community and took turns reading phrases aloud as a group. While the letter had the right intentions, during our reflection an important point was brought up. Apologies are great, but the paper can be torn up and the words can be lost in translation. Actions have far more accountability, and we as a nation need to begin tending to these wounds by actively fighting against injustice.
While emotions continue to run high, we are finding solace in each other and the commitment to justice we each hold. We’re staying at two separate Airbnb’s and have found a strong sense of community as we sing, reflect, and share stories. Everyone we have encountered in both Memphis and Jackson has shown us kindness, sincere generosity, and hospitality – they are the reason we keep moving forward.
In solidarity,
Sitara and Sophie