Mississippi Trial, 1955
Answer these questions.
1. What is Mr. Paul's advice for Hiram?
2. Explain the 4th paragraph on p.153 that says, "Both men had heads harder than cement, and both charged ahead full speed with whatever they thought was right. What they had in common was what kept them apart."
3. What does Hiram decide to do about the trial?
Focus Question #6
(After reading chapter 13)
Considering Hiram’s conversations with Naomi and Mr. Paul and considering what Hiram has been thinking about in this chapter, what do you think he means when he says, “I was going to do the right thing”? Do you agree or disagree that it is the right thing? Explain.
Chapter 14, pp. 155-185
1. What type of figurative language is this an example of: "Outside of Greenwood, the sun cast patches of light and shadows across the cotton fields revealing a thin gray mist, unstirred by morning breezes, that clung to the tops of the cotton plants." (p.156)
2. On p. 163, what does Grampa do when he is leaving the cafe? What does this mean?
3. Why doesn't Hiram go see Naomi after the trial?
4. What happens to Grampa when Willie says he saw Emmett in a Ford truck? Why do you think Grampa had this reaction?
5. What does Mrs. Bryant say happened in her store?
6. How do the people in the court room react to this?
Chapter 15, pp. 186-193
1. What do the witnesses for Bryant and Milam say about them?
2. What is the verdict of the trial? How does Hiram react to this?
3. How does Grampa react?
Focus Question #7
(After reading chapter 15)
It has been nearly 70 years since the trial of the people involved in the death of Emmett Till. Consider the trial taking place today. What would be different?