‘Women of the Movement’: How Accurate is the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Series to Real Life?
The Jay-Z and Will Smith produced ABC series, Women of the Movement, premieres tonight, but how accurate is the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley story? The historical drama details the events before and after a group of white men brutally murdered the 14-year-old Black boy from Chicago in Mississippi in 1955.
‘Women of the Movement’ is based on two books
The ABC historical series Women of the Movement is based on two books that retell the accurate story of Emmett Till. Most news outlets reported that Women of the Movement is based on the book; Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement by Devery S. Anderson. However, the series’ opening credits reveal that it is also based on Mamie Till-Mobley’s account in Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America.
Till-Mobley (played by Adrienne Warren) co-wrote her book with Christopher Benson before her death in 2003. Random House published the book that same year, almost 50 years after the death of Emmett Till. In her memoir, she gave such a riveting account of the events that The Washington Post compared it to the Diary of Anne Frank (via Amazon).
Devery S. Anderson’s book uncovered the true story of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley by utilizing the trial transcript, depositions, and interviews with Carolyn Bryant to the FBI. Family members of Till and Mamie also spoke with Anderson, many for the first time. Anderson also took accounts from several journalists who wrote about the 1955 murder trial. Based on both books, Women of the Movement on ABC is devastatingly accurate to the truth.
‘Let the World See’ is a docuseries about Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley
If the two books were not enough evidence to prove how accurate Women of the Movement is, the ABC News series Let the World See, confirms it. On Jan. 6, Women of the Movement airs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on ABC. The docuseries, Let the World See airs immediately following the historical drama. In the later broadcast, Mamie and Till’s family recount what happened in 1955.
Watching the companion show, Let the World See, after Women of the Movement, on ABC gives viewers a comprehensive view of Emmett Till’s brutal murder and subsequent trial. The last remaining witness to Emmett’s abduction, Reverend Wheeler Park, Jr., spoke to ABC to recount what he saw for the series.
“They entered my room with a flashlight shining, and I can see the big baldheaded guy with the pistol in there,” Emmett’s cousin recalls. “I’m waiting to be shot, and I close my eyes, and I wasn’t shot. I opened my eyes, and they’re passing by me because they were looking for that boy from Chicago.”
After watching him and Emmett’s other surviving family members tell the story, it’s even more evident how accurate Women of the Movement is to the truth.
‘Women of the Movement’ Episodes on ABC
According to ABC, viewers can watch Women of the Movement Episode 1 on ABC on Jan. 6, 2022, at 8 p.m. EST. The series airs in place of Station 19 and Grey’s Anatomy. Episode 2 airs immediately after the first episode on Thursday. Below is the complete Women of the Movement ABC schedule. All episodes are available on Hulu the day after they air on ABC.
Women of the Movement Episode 1, “Mother and Son” — Jan. 6, 2022
Women of the Movement Episode 2, “Only Skin” — Jan. 6, 2022
Women of the Movement Episode 3, “Let the People See” — Jan. 13, 2022
Women of the Movement Episode 4, “Manhunt” — Jan. 13, 2022
Women of the Movement Episode 5, “Mothers and Sons” — Jan. 20, 2022
Women of the Movement Episode 6, “The Last Word” — Jan. 20, 2022
