Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Exhibition Imagines Alternate Life for Emmett Till

An exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago explores what Emmett Till's life might have been like had he not been murdered at 14. The exhibit, "If Emmett Till Lived: Freedom on American Ground," invites contemplation on his potential future.

Till, who would have turned 85 this year, was kidnapped, tortured, and killed in Mississippi in August 1955 after whistling at a white woman. His cousin, Wheeler Parker Jr., a co-curator of the exhibition, believes Till would have been actively involved in life.

The exhibition features photographs from the museum's collection, selected by civic and cultural leaders, to represent their vision for Till's unlived life. Over 110 artists contributed to the show.

The project aims to serve as a creative monument to Till's life and legacy, particularly as memorials to him have faced vandalism and co-option by white supremacist groups. The exhibition is co-curated by Parker and historian Sarah Elizabeth Lewis.

The accompanying book, "If Emmett Till Lived: A Creative Monument," includes essays from collaborators such as Lonnie G. Bunch III, John Legend, Chelsea Clinton, Yara Shahidi, and Ava DuVernay.

The exhibition is on view until December 19. The barn where Till was killed is being acquired by the Emmett Till Interpretive Center with plans to open it as a memorial by 2030.

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