Even before we see the first images of Chinonye Chukwu’s heart-wrenching film Till, we hear the silky R&B vocals of The Moonglows singing Sincerely, reaching out to us from 70 years ago. The camera sways away from 14-year-old Emmett Till and back to his mother Mamie just as the lyrics declare: “Sincerely, oh you know how I love you, I’ll do anything for you…” Hearing those words, we see Mamie’s face cloud with anxious concern that matches our own sense of foreboding.
26 years after Emmett Till’s murder, 10-year-old Keith Beauchamp became interested in Emmett Till’s story after seeing a photo of his brutalized body in Jet magazine. Beauchamp was particularly struck by the fact that Till’s killers were never held accountable for their crime.
Looking at the photograph, he recounts the moment he first saw the picture. “I was just ten years old, and I’m looking at this angelic face of this fourteen-year-old boy and looking at this horrific face beside it that looked like a monster, and I could not believe that a little boy could be brutally murdered for just a whistle.”
The image of Emmett Till seared in his mind, Beauchamp, a young man growing up in the racial tensions of the south, was constantly reminded, as many young black men were, not to let what happened to Emmett Till happen to him. Beauchamp was harshly reminded of the Till incident when he attended a pregraduation party with friends one night. “I was assaulted by an undercover police officer for dancing with a white classmate of mine. I was taken to a secluded room, handcuffed to a chair and beaten across the face like a punching bag” Beauchamp describes this experience as the one that woke him up to the problems with which this country is still plagued.
After 9 years of research and with the encouragement of the late Mamie Till Mobley, he produced a documentary film about Till’s murder, entitled “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till.”
Released in 2005, Beauchamp’s film brought new attention to the case and helped to educate people about the racial violence and injustice that occurred during the civil rights era. It also was the impetus to the reopening of the nearly 50 year old murder case in 2004.
Emmett Till’s mother knew that it was important to remember and learn about the tragic events of her son’s life and the impact his muder had on the civil rights movement in the United States. She was determined that his death would serve as a reminder of the terrible violence and discrimination that many people faced during that era, and the importance of standing up for justice and equality.
Thanks to her determination, Keith Beauchamp became a filmmaker and civil rights activist who has dedicated his career to shed light on important social issues and advocate for change.
Beauchamp’s 20-year journey to bring Till to the screen began with his promise to Mamie, who hoped to see this film made in her lifetime. He set out on the long quest to honor her wishes. Partnering with producers Fred Zollo, Barbara Broccoli, and eventually Whoopi Goldberg who together shepherded this project, Keith Beauchamp was dauntless in the pursuit of a lasting and impactful tribute to Emmett Till, until finally Orion Pictures, under MGM read his script and green-lit it immediately.
Throughout his career, Beauchamp has used his skills as a filmmaker to shed light on important social issues and to advocate for change. He has helped to bring attention to some of the most pressing issues facing society, and has inspired others to take action and work towards a more just and equitable world. His work has now culminated in the production of Till.