Reflection Paper About Emmett Till

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The horrors of segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, and the struggle against oppressors all brought to light the darkness and hypocrisy behind the flag which stood for equal rights for all. The part which frightens me the most is the fact that we thought we progressed as a nation past racism, yet the recent rumblings in the political and social sphere show that we still have much work to do. In Eyes on the Prize, Emmett Till, nonviolence with MLK Jr., and white culture are topics which stood out to me the most for early reaction towards the documentary.
The image of Emmett Till and his brutally mutilated body under a picture of him smiling will forever be burned into my memory. An act like this perpetrated against a kid who was just doing
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Whether it be the alt-right and KKK, or the extreme polarizers of the left, I want to believe that everything can and should be solved with nonviolence. The film talked about a man’s experience with MLK Jr.; he said that Dr. King had the words that would stir you and make you feel the emotion from those words. The world needs a new leader that can bring people together and truly wash away hate. His words made it so people would not sit still against the hate. Other than actual self-defence, I do not believe fighting will solve anything. People should not be dehumanized. Although it is hard, I truly find comfort in Dr. King’s belief of loving your enemy. Although I’m in the early stages of this film, I have to say that getting a solid foundation on the hardships that black people had to face in history motivates me to look to a brighter future. I never want another Emmett Till story to happen. I want to change the hearts and minds of those who dismiss and hate minorities. I want to spread the peace and love Dr. King preached so much about in his time. I want to believe that change will come, but I cannot see this happening without a movement of understanding and love going across the United

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