"The past is never dead. It's not even past."- Faulkner

As we analyze the characteristics of Emmett Till, it is important to also reflect on who we are as individuals and how we are viewed in society. Directions: Using colored pens/pencils, draw the outline of your hand. Inside the hand, write or draw things that shape your identity, such as gender, names, religion, physical features, languages, family, political beliefs, etc. You should not put anything on this chart you’re not willing to share. Outside of the hand outline, write or draw examples of how other people identify or "label" you (both positive and negative labels).

Write down your personal responses to anything you see or hear that has an impact on you. Class identity chart for Emmett Till Inside the hand, write or draw things that Emmett’s family in Chicago would use to describe him. Outside of the hand outline, write or draw examples of how people in the south identified or "labeled“ Emmett

As we learn about the Emmett Till case, it is easy to lose sight of who he was as a person before his death. Think about the following: What are the similarities and differences between African American youth in Chicago and Mississippi? How did white and African American citizens in the United States respond to the murder? How did these responses vary between the South and rest of the country? How could such an act occur in the world’s largest democracy? How does knowing more about Emmett Till as a person change our view of how we think about the murder and trial?