The story of the lynching of Emmett Till and the ensuing courage of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley sparked America’s modern day Civil Rights Movement. But the imminent acquisition of the barn where this 14-year-old was tortured and killed in 1955, recalibrates the narrative for 2025. How we accept a new sense of place into a well-known story speaks volumes for where we’re headed as a whole
As Patrick Weems of the Emmett Till Interpretive Center concludes, we get there by gathering around the truth, however uncomfortable. Here’s a 5-minute preview of my short film “The Barn Doesn’t Lie,” which will be released next month.
In the midst of historic turbulence, even the unbreakable alliance between America and Canada is being overturned.
Reflecting on my upbringing on one side of the border, I delve into this unsettling new reality alongside a close companion raised on the American side of the Detroit River in "We Cross the Ambassador Bridge."
Despite the turmoil, Common Power co-founder David Domke and I maintain a belief in the potential for transformative leadership. Drawing inspiration from the resilience and skill of the region’s sports legends Gordie Howe ("Mr. Elbows" and/or "Mr. Hockey") and Joe Louis ("The Brown Bomber"), we navigate this uncharted territory in our conversation with hope and determination.
