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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS, IN. – The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has selected Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See as a recipient of the History in Progress (HIP) Award and Award of Excellence.
The AASLH Leadership in History Awards are the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.
The HIP Award, given at the discretion of the AASLH Awards Committee, is an additional award for an Award of Excellence winner whose nomination is highly inspirational, exhibits exceptional scholarship, and/or is exceedingly entrepreneurial in terms of funding, partnerships, collaborations, creative problem solving, unusual project design, or inclusiveness. Only 5 percent or less of the total number of Award of Excellence winners can be given the HIP Award.
The Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let the World See exhibition was created by the Till family, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis (Indianapolis, Indiana), the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Institute (Summit, Illinois), and the Emmett Till Interpretive Center (Sumner, Mississippi).
In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till’s brutal murder while visiting family in Mississippi and the subsequent lack of justice for his murderers became a powerful spark in the Civil Rights Movement in America. When Emmett’s body arrived in Chicago, his mother insisted on an open casket so the world could see the ugly face of hatred and racism. The historic marker placed at the river site where his body was recovered has been repeatedly vandalized and replaced, and the image of the bullet-ridden sign became a powerful metaphor for the continuing relevance of Emmett’s story, as well as a clear indicator that there is still work to be done in terms of racial healing and justice.
After multiple conversations, the decision was made to take action and create a touring exhibit along with special programming that interpret Emmett’s life, his mother’s bravery in telling his story, the community’s drive to keep his memory alive, and how nearly seventy years later, visitors can commit to social justice in their own communities. By developing this project at a children’s museum, the collaborators created an opportunity for intergenerational discussions of difficult history and social justice that will have tremendous impact as the exhibit travels across the nation.
Originally set to visit 7 venues, the exhibit has been extended to its 9th venue and will continue to share Emmett and Mamie’s story across the country for years to come.[SM1] Most significantly, a permanent version of the exhibit was installed at the Emmett Till Interpretive Center in Sumner, Mississippi.
This year, AASLH confers 47 national awards honoring people, projects, exhibits, and publications. The winners represent the best in the field and provide leadership for the future of state and local history.
The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history, but also bring public recognition of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena. For more information about the Leadership in History Awards, contact AASLH at 615-320-3203, or go to www.aaslh.org.
This project was made possible in part by The National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy Demands Wisdom, the Maddox Foundation in Hernando, MS., The Institute for Museum and Library Services, and The Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
About The American Association for State and Local History
The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH), a national nonprofit association, provides leadership and resources to help the history community thrive and make the past more meaningful for all people. AASLH serves the tens of thousands of history organizations, professionals, and volunteers around the country who help people of all ages develop critical thinking skills and understand how learning history helps society make progress toward justice. Through research, advocacy, and our field-leading professional development program, AASLH advances public history practice and connects history practitioners to critical issues in the field and to one another. For more information about AASLH visit www.aaslh.org.
About the Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley Institute
The Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Institute, a non-profit organization, is engaged in research and social justice advocacy. We are dedicated to preserving the memory and historical significance of the life and death of Emmett Louis Till, and preserving the social action legacy of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, to foster educational opportunities and civic engagement among youth. Our focus is on funding research, education and public programs aimed at encouraging enlightened participation in the democratic process and working to build and maintain a civil society. For more information about the Till Institute, visit www.tillinstitute.org.
About the Emmett Till Interpretive Center
The Emmett Till Interpretive Center was formed to confront the brutal truth of the 1955 murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in the Mississippi Delta and to seek justice for the Till family and Delta community. The Center aims to tell the story of Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, as an act of restorative justice to create the conditions necessary to begin the process of racial healing in Mississippi and across the nation. For more information about the Emmett Till Interpretive Center visit www.emmett-till.org/.
About The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
We ignite joy, wonder and curiosity by creating powerful learning experiences for children and adults. For more information about The Children's Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org and follow us on social media @childrensmuseum.
