Well-Worth Reading

Very interesting article in Vanity Fair by Sheila Weller about a new book soon to be published, The Blood of Emmett Till by Timothy Tyson.  The focus of the article is how the author tracked down Carolyn Bryant, the woman who the 14-year-old boy allegedly whistled at, the "inexcusable" act which led to his brutal beating and death -- and how she says that Emmett Till never whistled at her, though at this point she doesn't recall all the other details of her exchange with Till.

No other author has ever interviewed Carolyn Bryant Donham, which took place 10 years ago when she was 72.  She's still alive at 82, though in seclusion.  The book doesn't say she specifically expresses regret for what happened, though she expresses great sympathy and tenderness for Till's mother and what happened to the boy, which the reporter notes comes across like close to the same thing.

The piece isn't very long and worth checking out.  You can find it here.