A Wreath for Emmett Till

A Wreath for Emmett Till

Written by: Marilyn Nelson
Illustrated by: Philippe Lardy

Junior High and High School Grades

"A Wreath for Emmett Till is a sophisticated and thought-provoking poem written by Connecticut's poet laureate and award-winning poet Marilyn Nelson. This book combines emotion, history, and social commentary to bring the life and death of Emmett Louis Till back to our nation's consciousness. Emmett Till was a fourteen-year-old African American boy murdered in 1955 in Mississippi for allegedly whistling at or speaking to a white woman. Though two men were tried for the crime, they were acquitted; no one has been convicted for Emmett's murder. In 2004 the U.S. Justice Department reopened the case based on new evidence brought to light by two documentary films.

With beautiful language that turns chilling at times, Nelson asks readers to face the atrocity of lynching and its role in our nation's history. Her poem calls readers to bear witness and speak out against such hatred and violence. A Wreath for Emmett Till invites readers to explore its layers for meaning, symbolism, and connections between past, present, and future. This powerful work lends itself to group discussion, individual study, teaching extensions and activities, and further research."

Publisher's Review: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Awards:
Coretta Scott King Honor Book, 2006

Web Resources:
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/readers_guides/nelson_wreath.shtml#about