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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Charline Bou Mansour

Deborah Watts, cousin of Emmett Till, on his legacy and what moved her about the film

"I can see the moment when she decided to swallow her pain and move forward towards action", Deborah Watts, cousin of Emmett Till and co-founder of his foundation, holds back tears.

Till is a compelling new biographical drama film based on the true story of Mamie Till-Mobley's relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, who was brutally lynched in 1955 while visiting his cousins in Mississippi. The movie is directed by Chinonye Chukwu and stars Whoopi Goldberg and Danielle Deadwyler, who plays the role of Mamie.

Speaking to the Evening Standard on the eve of the film's release, Deborah recollects moments that touched her "What moved me the most was after she (Mamie) looked at Emmett's remains and just cried out from the depths of her soul. She put on her armour, going from her grief to taking action," she says before speaking about how far society has come with Black Live Matter and her own movement to bring justice to Emmett Till.

Till is in cinemas now

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