The Story Behind the Making of the Ground-breaking Documentary, “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till”

The brutal murder of Emmett Louis Till, is one of the most shocking and horrendous atrocities of the civil rights era. The fourteen year old boy was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after supposedly offending a white woman in her family’s grocery store. Till’s killers were never brought to justice, a symbol of the blind justice that existed in the United States during the Jim Crow Era. Keith Beauchamp’s gripping documentary, “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till” caught the attention of the world. In this new book, “Be Inspired: My Struggle for Justice and Equality Inspired by the Death of Emmet Louis Till,” Beauchamp relates the triumphs and frustrations of attempting to tell the story of Till’s life and the unanswered questions surrounding his death. The book reads like a log or diary, tracking Beauchamp’s activities as he researched and created the documentary.  Beauchamp moved from Louisiana to New York in 1997, and two years later formed the socially conscious film production company, “Till Freedom Comes Productions.”

In 2004, the FBI reopened the case of Till’s murder, citing Beauchamp’s documentary as a major factor. This book is perfect for those wanting to discover the hidden story behind Beauchamp’s monumental documentary and for anyone who wants to gain greater insight into the continuing struggle for civil rights.

“BE INSPIRED: My Struggle For Justice and Equality Inspired by the Death of Emmett Louis Till” was/will be displayed in the upcoming Word on the Street, the biggest literary event in Canada this year on September 14 in Halifax, on September 21 in Lethbridge, and lastly on September 22 in Toronto. Grab a copy of his books at Amazon and your favorite online book retailers.

About the Author 

Since the documentary’s release and the reopening of the Till case, I have traveled extensively around the country, speaking and lecturing about my journey to tell the stories of Emmett Till and others. The production of these documentaries has become a great educational tool for the public. They have helped start an open cleansing dialogue among generations, thus, aiding the process of racial reconciliation, which is much needed in this country and in the world. In addition, the “Till Bill” was introduced in congress to establish a new “Cold Case Unit” between the FBI and the Department of Justice to reinvestigate murders committed during the Civil Rights era.

Contact Information

Van Gabriel

Project Manager

Maple Leaf Publishing Inc.

Contact via E-mail