Simeon's Story: An Eyewitness Account of the Kidnapping of Emmett Till

I was very disappointed to read Mr. Wright's account. As he stated he was an eyewitness to the events at Bryant's Grocery and on the night Emmett Till was abducted. However, Mr. Wright DOES NOT tell the entire truth. What happened to his cousin SHOULD have never happened regardless of any interaction between Emmett and Carolyn Bryant. Still Simeon Wright refused to be honest about his brother Maurice going back to Roy Bryant and telling him an exaggerated version of what happened in the store because Maurice was jealous of Emmett and was hoping to see Emmett disciplined with a whooping and a train ride back to Chicago. Also both of Simeon's parents knew about the "incident" before Saturday. It was also said that Emmett himself was fearful and asked his aunt, Simeon's mother to send him back home. The men that killed Emmett were evil demons and it was said that Maurice carried lifelong guilt and died estranged from his family. Being honest takes nothing away from Emmett's murder being a CRIME against Humanity. I hope Mr. Wright's nephew Mr. Wheeler Parker will be honest about the details surrounding Emmett's last days in his upcoming book.

This is the best book to read on Emmett Till, to date -- whether you have read every other book on his story or if this is your first. I'm just about in the first group, having read most major books on the murder of this 14-year-old from Chicago that took place in 1955 in the Mississippi Delta. I became an initiate to the Emmett Till story after living in the Delta, near the location where Till was killed. I have been to the grocery story in Money, viewed the site of the shed where he was killed, seen where his body was dumped into the Tallahatchie River and have walked into the Sumner courthouse where the trial took place. Some older people still living in the Delta have shared details from a personal perspective, enriching this story for my benefit. But all of my questions were not answered until reading "Simeon's Story."Simeon Wright's book adds the missing parts. Wright was physically there in Money with his cousin as they walked into the Bryant grocery store and had contact with Carolyn Bryant. So when I picked up Wright's book and began reading, I couldn't put it down. Through his words, I could now close my eyes and be there with the two young men as events unfolded leading to the death of Emmett Till.So many new details and keen observations kept me reading; Wright offers the kind of first-hand details that breathe life into this key modern civil rights moment, the event that sparked Rosa Parks to take her stand. After turning the last page of "Simeon's Story," I now have a much better feel of who this young man was, how he approached life, and how he got himself entangled into such a mess that ended his life. I can better visualize what took place in the grocery story and then in the early hours of Aug. 28, 1955 when Till was kidnapped from the Wright's home. I felt the some of the terror that Emmett and the Wright family must have experience that morning. And I better understand the current politics surrounding this cold case, since Wright has offered his explanation of today's politics surrounding the cold case initiative.It's a good thing that Simeon Wright waited to write his book. Otherwise, his critical assessment might have been lost amid the more historically expansive books written by important historians, journalists and others that have helped us understand the Till story and its place in the modern civil rights movement.Wright's book, written from his heart and coming to us so many years later, is our dessert.

Simeon's account of this tragedy is uncanny. Provides a detailed account of Emmett Till's final moments with his family and the events that led to his death. Sadly, the person responsible was and has not been held accountable-Ms Bryant.

Simeon Wright has written a brief, interesting, and informative account of the kidnapping and murder of his cousin Emmett Till. The book, only 137 pages long, can be read in one lengthy sitting. Simeon was there during the week Emmett visited relatives in Money, Mississippi, and he confronts distortions and misconceptions that have been accepted as gospel throughout the years mainly through the Look magazine article that came out following the infamous not guilty verdict against two domestic terrorists named Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam who had their small children along with them to the trial as if to demonstrate to the world their love of children. Wright also sets the scene as to what life was like for blacks in Mississippi during the mid-1950s. His mother moved to Chicago immediately after the murder of Emmett Till with the remainder of the family joining her following the farcical trial. All of us will be remembered for how we treat others, and Simeon Wright relates his thankfulness to his teachers and students in his new Chicago school for their acceptance of him as he adjusted to life in an environment totally different from rural Mississippi.This is an excellent book for young people to read regarding the Emmett Till case. It is written so young people can enjoy it, but adults can certainly learn from it as well. There are no profanities, and it is told by someone who was actually there along with Emmett Till during this time. If there is a complaint I have with the book it is that the few photographs are very small.Yes, we have come a long way since those Ozzie and Harriet days of the 1950s, but all we have to do is turn to the national news to realize we still have a long way to go. The mind of the bigot is like the pupil of the eye. The more light you throw upon it the more it will contract.

A profound read…. There is no better source than Simeon Wright. He was there at the store, and in the house, to witness this horrific slaying of an innocent 14 year old boy. Emmett Till paid the price of hate!

this is a great read. the perfect book to buy if you really wanna get every lil detail surrounding the death of emmitt till, that's no documentary has never and never will rveal :-)

Good book. Author makes attempt to correct some the the myths that have grown up over the years.

I read this book in two settings. It was very interesting and I felt that it was a true account because he was actually there.

Sad story very educational

Interesting reading it from someone who was there

Even if Simeon didn't know his cousin's real name "Emmett", he shares so much memories of him in a warm way.In this book, this is memories of a young boy, who didn't remember much about the funeral but we really feel how was Emmett (Bobo) with the boys at that time.Simeon loved so much his father Moses who was heroic in his all life and in this circumstances. And he also really adore his cousin Bobo.Touching.