PRAISE FOR
Death of Innocence
“The book does what it should: informs or reminds people of what a courageous figure for justice [Mamie Till-Mobley] was and how important she and her son were to setting the stage for the modern-day civil rights movement.”
—The Detroit News (four out of four stars)
“In Death of Innocence … Till-Mobley offers to history the gift of her son. Now it’s possible to ask questions about the murder and, in a new, deeper way, take the real-life boy into account.”
—The Columbus Dispatch
“A testament to a mother’s devotion to her son.”
—The Dallas Morning News
“Till-Mobley speaks with a powerful voice that produces tears of profound sadness, anger, and finally, great admiration for this mother who experienced the death of her only child.”
—Library Journal (starred review)
“In Death of Innocence, Till-Mobley describes how she dealt with her grief and rage by speaking publicly about Emmett’s murder and how the story of his life and death inspired people to protest the brutal racism that oppressed Southern blacks.”
—Chicago Sun-Times
“Death of Innocence is really a testament to the power of the indestructible human spirit—of which the tortured face of Emmett Till speaks as eloquently as the diary of Anne Frank.”
—Washington Post Book World
“Death of Innocence presents a riveting account of the tragedy that upended her life and ultimately the Jim Crow system in the South.”
—Chicago Tribune
“In Death of Innocence … Till-Mobley courageously tells how [Emmett’s] killing changed her life and our country’s history.”
—Reader’s Digest (Editor’s Choice)
“Death of Innocence documents an American tragedy and the stubborn faith it took to transcend it.”
—O: The Oprah Magazine
“None of us can really know [Till-Mobley’s] pain, but through Death of Innocence, we do know her grace. Her book is a story of faith and hope—but not blind faith and hope; rather faith and hope as action, as being worthy of the challenge.”
—NIKKI GIOVANNI, Essence
“Mamie Till-Mobley still has a message that should be heard and discussed by citizens of all races and all ages.”
—The Chicago Defender
“Death of Innocence is an important document from an extraordinary woman.”
Black Issues Book Review
“I am so thankful for the bravery and courage Mamie demonstrated when she shared her only child with the world. The news of Emmett’s death caused many people to participate in the cry for justice and equal rights, including myself. The respect I have felt for her since 1955 will always live with me. She was blessed among women to carry the mantle with grace and dignity.”
—ROSA PARKS
“Death of Innocence reveals Mamie Till-Mobley for what she was: one of the greatest, but largely unsung, heroes in all of African-American history. Her words are powerful; her strength and vision in the face of the unspeakable horror of her son’s death are astonishing. The life and work of Mamie Till-Mobley serves as an inspiration to all who love justice.”
—STANLEY NELSON, executive producer and director
of the documentary The Murder of Emmett Till
“An epic drama of despair and hope. The most powerful personal story, so far, from the civil rights movement.”
—MORRIS DEES, Southern Poverty Law Center
“Mamie Till-Mobley has written a powerful book in which she reveals to us the life she shared with her son, Emmett Till, and her pride and joy as he became a remarkable young man. This story shows us how the cruelty of a few changed the life of a loving, caring mother and the history of a nation.”
—KADIATOU DIALLO, author of
My Heart Will Cross This Ocean:
My Story, My Son, Amadou
“Mamie Till-Mobley has always deserved our admiration for her insistence that the world know her son’s terrible fate, and for her determination to confront his killers in a Mississippi courtroom. Now, in the final act of her life, she gives us an account of the crime, its victim, and its aftermath that is as historically valuable as it is inspiring.”
—PHILIP DRAY, author of
At the Hands of Persons Unknown:
The Lynching of Black America