Let’s Talk: Conscious Conversations On Race

The “Let’s Talk: Conscious Conversations on Race” panel took place on Thursday, October 19 at T.T. Allain in room 313. The event kicked off at 6 p.m. and featured a film that explained the story of Emmett Till, and also included a panel that discussed racial issues that are still affecting the African-American community today.
The filmmaker, Keith Beauchamp, is a Southern University graduate. In his opening remarks, he mentioned that the film had taken him 9 years to make and that the story of Emmett Till had always been close to him, having first come across the story as a young boy.
“At the age of 10, I came across a Jet magazine that had the story of Emmett Louis Till. On one side of the page was this great looking black kid and on the other side of the page was this horrific face. I was truly shocked,” said Mr. Beauchamp. He credited his parents, who served as executive producers of the film, for making this story a big part of his life.
The panel consisted of Dr. Don Hernandez, a Southern University History professor, Dr. Dana Hunter, the Executive Director for the Children’s Cabinet, Mr. Michael A.V Mitchell, a community activist, Chief Carl Dunn from the Baker Police Department, Dr. Rani Whitefield, M.D and Dr. Lori Martin, an associate professor of Sociology at Louisiana State University.
The panelists touched on issues of race, how young people should react to current events, police brutality, enlightenment on issues of racial discrimination and building up the community. “Be the change. You don’t have to wait on anyone to begin the process for you,” said Mr. Mitchell during the panel discussion.
The film highlights the events that took place in Money, Mississippi in August of 1955, when Emmett Till was kidnapped and murdered after allegedly making lewd remarks to Carolyne Bryant, a white shopkeeper. His body was mutilated, and he was shot before being dumped in a river. His mother, Mamie Till, insisted on having an open casket funeral to display the extent of the barbarism that her son suffered. The pictures shocked America to its core, and the murder is said to be what sparked the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. The trial of the two men who were accused of the murder was also highly publicized.
Roy Bryant, husband to Carolyne Bryant, and J.W Milman were acquitted of the crime despite the heavy evidence against them, pointing to the racial injustices that were in the South at the time.
Undoubtedly, the film seems to have left a big impact on the students who went to the viewing.
“I was very interested in learning more about Emmett Till and his legacy and how this situation is still prevalent today. This film definitely gave me an awakening, I want to be out affecting change, and finding ways to transform my community,” said Deja Lodree, a Junior Mass Communications major.
Jazz Maruo, a Freshman Finance Major said, “I’ve realized that there is still need for change around us. We need to stop focusing on ourselves and see how we can help the people around us.”