What Happened to Emmett Till's Killers?

After Look Magazine published an unapologetic interview with Emmett Till's murderers, William Bradford Huie wanted to update the public on how these peoples lives were going roughly a year following the killing. He starts by pointing out the fact that many people who were in support of Milan and Bryant whilst the court ruling was taking place have since changed their minds, or have doubts about their previous feelings towards the murder. "Milam and Bryant had admitted the abduction to arresting officers, denied the slaying; the prosecution had no witnesses to a murder; the defendants did not testify at the trial; and the jury found them not guilty...In this category were the defense lawyers, who, concededly [sic.], are honorable men. Only one of the five, in preparing the defense, dared ask Milam if he had, in fact, killed the young Negro. Milam cleared his throat to speak, but the lawyer, on second thought, stopped him." They did everything they could to keep the slate clean for the court case, but once they received the freeing words 'not guilty' they changed their story to make it an accidental killing. I find it unbelievable that the judge didn't ask flat out if these men had killed Emmett Till, so much of this case is corrupt, and that is why it had such an impact on the people of color as well as the media for being unable to really write out what is true, when the truth is being wrapped in lies in every form it is presented to the public. A way the African American communities stood up for their right to the truth, they boycotted all of the small stores that Milan and Bryant owned, and since that was their main market, within the year of the murder, these stores were shut down or sold. Though Milam isn't sorry for his acts of self defense and would do it again, he has been faced with a lot of hardships that surround his negative impulses. Many African Americans wouldn't work for him to pick cotton, which made both of his businesses suffer because he had to employ white people for a higher pay. Both men suffered a great deal of financial trouble, not to mention social troubles as well. The stigma around these murderers grew as time went on, making their lives more tough as the days went on. "So Milam is confused. He understands why the Negroes have turned on him, but he feels that the whites still approve what he did. Why, then, should they be less co-operative than when they were patting him on the back, contributing money to him and calling him a 'fine, red-blooded American?'" "Milam and Bryant will not be tried again; but as landless white men in the Mississippi Delta, and bearing the mark of Cain, they will come to regard the dark morning of August 28, 1955, as the most unfortunate of their lives." I really appreciated this article for bringing light on the fact that these men didn't get off completely from their wrong-doing. They were socially reprimanded, and by people of their own color, which was the most victorious for myself whilst reading. It is never discussed when talking of the murder and I feel like it is vital information that the media spreading the interviews of how they did kill Emmett Till but were still found not guilty rocked the community as a whole and had everyone against these men in one way or another, bringing them together. 

Bradford Huie, William. "What Happened to the Emmett Till Killers?." Look . 22. (1957): 63-66. Print. <http://www.emmetttillmurder.com/Look 1957.htm>.