Here is a set of questions based on the Emmett Till article:
→ False
A. She believed in traditional Southern customs
B. She wanted to protect her son's image
C. She wanted the public to witness the brutality of racism
D. She hoped to prevent a second autopsy
→ Correct Answer: CB. What did Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam do after their trial?
A. Left the country to avoid prosecution
B. Admitted to the murder in a magazine interview
C. Apologized publicly to Mamie Till-Mobley
D. Were retried in federal court
→ Correct Answer: B
Students should explain how the false accusation, violent murder, unfair trial, and public reaction demonstrated the deep racial inequalities and the failure of the justice system to protect Black Americans.
Students might mention Rosa Parks referencing Emmett Till as inspiration, the national attention brought to racial violence, Mamie Till-Mobley’s activism, or how the case helped spur civil rights legislation.Let me know if you'd like these questions in a printable worksheet format.You said:1. Please explain why each response is correct.xplain why the distractor choices are incorrectChatGPT said:Certainly! Here's an explanation for each correct and incorrect answer choice in the multiple-choice questions:
Correct Answer: C. She wanted the public to witness the brutality of racism
Correct Answer: B. Admitted to the murder in a magazine interview
1. True/False Question
Emmett Till was found guilty in court for harassing Carolyn Bryant.→ False
2. Multiple Choice Questions
A. Why did Mamie Till-Mobley insist on an open-casket funeral for her son?A. She believed in traditional Southern customs
B. She wanted to protect her son's image
C. She wanted the public to witness the brutality of racism
D. She hoped to prevent a second autopsy
→ Correct Answer: CB. What did Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam do after their trial?
A. Left the country to avoid prosecution
B. Admitted to the murder in a magazine interview
C. Apologized publicly to Mamie Till-Mobley
D. Were retried in federal court
→ Correct Answer: B
3. Reading Comprehension Question
How did Emmett Till’s murder and the response to it reveal the racial injustice present in 1950s America?Students should explain how the false accusation, violent murder, unfair trial, and public reaction demonstrated the deep racial inequalities and the failure of the justice system to protect Black Americans.
4. Short Answer Response Question
In what ways did Emmett Till’s death impact the Civil Rights Movement? Provide at least two examples.Students might mention Rosa Parks referencing Emmett Till as inspiration, the national attention brought to racial violence, Mamie Till-Mobley’s activism, or how the case helped spur civil rights legislation.Let me know if you'd like these questions in a printable worksheet format.You said:1. Please explain why each response is correct.xplain why the distractor choices are incorrectChatGPT said:Certainly! Here's an explanation for each correct and incorrect answer choice in the multiple-choice questions:
Multiple Choice Question A
Why did Mamie Till-Mobley insist on an open-casket funeral for her son?Correct Answer: C. She wanted the public to witness the brutality of racism
- ✅ C. She wanted the public to witness the brutality of racism
Mamie Till-Mobley believed the world needed to see what had been done to her son. By insisting on an open casket, she used her personal tragedy to highlight the deep cruelty of racial violence in the U.S., helping to spark national outrage and activism. - ❌ A. She believed in traditional Southern customs
This is incorrect. Mamie Till-Mobley was from Chicago, and her decision was not based on tradition, but rather on a deliberate political and emotional impact. - ❌ B. She wanted to protect her son's image
In fact, the open casket exposed Emmett’s brutalized body, which was the opposite of preserving his image. Her goal was to show the horror of what racism had done. - ❌ D. She hoped to prevent a second autopsy
There’s no evidence she was concerned about a second autopsy. The decision was meant to generate awareness and action.
Multiple Choice Question B
What did Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam do after their trial?Correct Answer: B. Admitted to the murder in a magazine interview
- ✅ B. Admitted to the murder in a magazine interview
After being acquitted, Bryant and Milam confessed to Look magazine in 1956, knowing they couldn’t be tried again due to double jeopardy. They described how and why they killed Emmett Till, and showed no remorse. - ❌ A. Left the country to avoid prosecution
This is false. They remained in the U.S. and even publicly profited from their story, showing no fear of legal consequences. - ❌ C. Apologized publicly to Mamie Till-Mobley
There is no record of an apology. In fact, they remained defiant and justified their actions in the interview. - ❌ D. Were retried in federal court
This is incorrect. Because they were found not guilty in a state trial, they could not be tried again for the same crime under U.S. law at that time.
- Why the correct answer is correct, and
- Why each distractor (incorrect answer) is incorrect.
Question A
Why did Mamie Till-Mobley insist on an open-casket funeral for her son?- ✅ C. She wanted the public to witness the brutality of racism
Correct — Mamie Till-Mobley chose an open casket so the world could see the horrific violence done to her son. She wanted to expose the cruelty of racial hatred in the South and force the public to confront what racism looked like. This act turned personal grief into political action, fueling civil rights momentum. - ❌ A. She believed in traditional Southern customs
Incorrect — This is factually inaccurate. Mamie Till-Mobley was from Chicago, not the South. Her decision wasn’t based on regional or religious tradition, but on a deliberate strategy to use visual evidence to expose racial violence. - ❌ B. She wanted to protect her son's image
Incorrect — An open casket showing his mutilated body was not meant to “protect” Emmett’s image, but rather to shock the conscience of the nation. This choice exposed the truth, not shielded it. - ❌ D. She hoped to prevent a second autopsy
Incorrect — There is no indication that she was concerned about a second autopsy. Her primary concern was that the world would not look away from what had happened. This option adds false information not supported by the article.
Question B
What did Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam do after their trial?- ✅ B. Admitted to the murder in a magazine interview
Correct — After being acquitted, Bryant and Milam sold their story to Look magazine. They admitted they had murdered Emmett Till and even explained why they did it. Because of the legal principle of double jeopardy, they couldn’t be tried again for the same crime, even after their confession. - ❌ A. Left the country to avoid prosecution
Incorrect — Neither man fled the U.S. after the trial. Instead, they remained and publicly told their story. There was no legal threat to them due to the not-guilty verdict and protection under double jeopardy. - ❌ C. Apologized publicly to Mamie Till-Mobley
Incorrect — The article explicitly notes that they showed no remorse. In fact, they defended their actions and even framed them as necessary, showing no empathy for Mamie Till or regret for killing her son. - ❌ D. Were retried in federal court
Incorrect — They were never retried. The Constitution’s protection against double jeopardy (being tried twice for the same offense) prevented another trial, even after their confession.