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It's December 3rd. This day in 1955, the Civil Rights movement is gaining attention across the South and the country, due in part to the protest by Rosa Parks, and the death of 14-year-old Emmett Till earlier that summer. Both acts are often portrayed as singular moments of protest and tragedy, but understanding them in context requires us to address much harder questions.

Jody, Niki, and Kellie are joined by Wright Thompson, author of "The Barn," to discuss Till's death and his work to place the murder in a centuries-long history of Mississippi, slavery, memory, and more.

Wright's new book is available now wherever you get your books!

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Our team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Brittani Brown, Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Audrey Mardavich is our Executive Producer at Radiotopia