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RACE + POLITICS
Giving Emmett Till a Gold Medal Fails to Protect Black Lives
Another empty gesture that fails to address modern-day lynchings
Another day, another empty gesture. The Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold Medal Act passed Congress, so it looks like Emmett Till will posthumously receive a gold medal. A Republican, Sen. Burr, Richard of North Carolina, introduced the bill. But, this same Republican does not support H.R.55, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act. Because you see, while many White conservatives are willing to provide empty gestures to Black Americans, they refuse to pass substantive legislation.
On all three occasions, opponents of anti-lynching legislation, argued States’ rights and used the filibuster, or the threat of it, to block the Senate from voting on the measures (HR. 55).
Remember, last summer Congress made Juneteenth a holiday without issuing a formal apology for the federal government’s role in slavery. Now, we’re literally giving a congressional gold medal to Emmett Till without protecting Black people from modern-day lynchings, like George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery endured. When it comes to race, hypocrisy seems baked into our American pie. So, no one should expect us to jump for joy over hollow gestures.
