I have been in many valleys but I have been to several mountaintops as well. I am friends with Keith Beauchamp. For years I knew he was working endless hours on Till. ( The story of Emmett Till). It is my belief, Dr. King would want this day to represent those who have followed his movement for civil rights. Dr. King wanted his legacy to be honored with people continuing to bring justice to the world.
My husband and I met Keith through some very unusual circumstances which I am sure will come out one day and probably when he makes another movie. Keith fights for justice. He does it elequently and in a BIG way with his filmaking and dedication of fact finding and getting to know the people who know the stories of some dark civil rights injustices.
I have been blessed to stand along the highway on a small patch of grass with my late daughter/granddaughter and talk for twenty minutes to the late John Lewis back in 2004 after a Kerry Rally. It was just we three and a private conversation. We three . When we talked about Selma, he allowed me to touch that bump that was very present on his head. How many people can say that? He offered to come and speak to Brandy’s class which that racist bunch of educators did not allow and we were not even in his district. I have his card still with a note to us. We don’t have Brandy nor Congressman Lewis anymore but the movement continues.
We have civil rights leaders like Keith Beauchamp. In case many of you do not know who Keith is, he is a champion in his own right by bringing the movie and life of Emmett Till to the big screen to educate and make aware the generations who had forgotten or never knew the Emmett Till Story.
I want to honor Keith today on this Martin Luther King Day. My husband and I have stood against racism and civil right injustices for a very long time. We happened to get to know Keith over a terrible injustice that was done in Jacksonville during the 1964 civil rights riots. The truth is my husband was just 12 when the injustice took place involving his older brother and we reached out to Keith to try and help he and an investigator help a family who had been so brutally worked against during that time. His brother is dead now, but there was never justice served for the family that his brother and 3 others did during that riot. My husband tried to get a death bed story of what went down that terrible night that a Mother of 10 was shot and that is how we got to know Keith and the investigator.
Keith works endlelessy with people and families who are close or know some of the injustices of racism and it is courageus and worthy of honor to know there are folks still seeking justice for hatred. Keith is supposed to come visit us soon and we are looking forward to it.
When I saw Keith on MSNBC discussing his new movie, “ Till”. I got in touch with him immediately as I knew how very hard he worked on that film and for years. I wanted to congratulate him and we spoke about how this was truly a movement. This has proven true.
Read the story here on Keith”
Then, two weeks before my high school graduation in 1989, I was brutally assaulted by club bouncers, including an undercover police officer, for dancing with a white classmate. I was taken to a secluded room in the nightclub, handcuffed to a chair and beaten. The case was investigated by Internal Affairs, then went to trial, where it was eventually thrown out. The incident was traumatic and it reminded me of the parallels of what happened to Emmett Till and so many others like us. This wake-up call inspired me to speak for the voiceless, the unheard and for those who have suffered grave injustice.
I entered college with the goal of becoming a civil rights attorney. Toward my junior year, I was introduced to filmmaking by my best friend and moved to New York City to work at his sister’s film production company. One evening I was asked: If there was a story I would most like to tell, what would that be? Emmett Till came to mind. I wrote a screenplay the best way I knew how. It was eventually optioned by producers and shelved
Guest Column: ‘Till’ Is Not Just a Movie, It’s a Movement
If you have not seen the movie, please do. It will motivate you to do all you can for bringing justice to those who deserve justice when justice was denied.
The film’s writer-producer reflects on the drama’s long journey to the screen — only one part of his life’s work to bring justice for Emmett Till.
I have had the pleasure of spending time with Dr. Fergie Reid and Fergie Jr. These two are giants as well.
I have been blessed to stand close and converse with these giants tryng to make for a more perfect union with justice for all. They are heroic.
I have faced some bad things in life but dang I have stood and talked with greatness as well.
I wanted to share this with you. He is a good friend. I got this message from him about a month ago.
Just take care of yourself. I may be in Jax at somepoint soon and will let you know.
These are messages from Keith and they mean the world to me.
'Im so sorry to hear about your daughter and Jack's health. My sincere condolences to you and your family. I'll send some prayers your way and healing Angels. Please send my best to Jack. Here if you need anything.
One of the greatest thrills of my life was being awarded a Cetificate of Appreciation of standing against hate by the Southern Poverty Law Center and signed by Morris Dees.
Racisim and hatred cannot just be talked about. It takes day to day action standing against hatred and especially now, not letting hatred re write history so the injustices vanish for future generations. We, who have known and seen the hatred have to stand ,speak and teach our children the REAL Truth. As we honor Martin Luther King this holiday, let us also stand strong against racism and hate and I am proud to know and have gotten to know some of these folks who have done so in a big way.
Way to go Keith ! May you win an oscar for your hard work on Till ! You deserve it.
Keep Hammering , Keith !!!!!!!!!!!!!