Eyes on the Prize Michael Barrera

Something that really opened my eyes from the film "Eyes on the Prize" was the killing of Emmett Till. Everything about his death is terrible and the racism that went along with it. During this time the North was racist based off Bias and Conditions and the south was racist because of straight up law(Jim Crow). Emmett Till did not know better as a young rambunctious boy he was being promiscuous to the lady and the fact he suffered a terrible death shows how cruel and terrible racism was towards blacks at this time. When both men were said to be non guilty I think thats when it hit me. Learning about equal/civil rights is important and interesting. And the fact that these men were not punished or prosecuted for their actions shows the true meaning of equal rights for blacks at this time. When Emmett Tills body was posted on a magazine it caused an uproar, led to support change for blacks in the North and South. It sucks, that a picture of a dead boy would be the thing that started and motivated people to support equal rights for everyone. It should have started when minorities were still being discriminated against since the emancipation proclamation in which slaves were freed thus "Free people". PEOPLE, not property. I understand why this chapter and Movie is crucial to learning about equality. Many people Shirley Chisholm, Cesar Chavez, they had to work 10 times harder than most people to leave an impact like they wanted to. "Eyes on the prize" was a movie that made me realize more things need to be done. And as Americans we still have a long way to go when it comes to equal rights for all.