OKEMOS - The Okemos Education Foundation hosted a event titled "The Legacy of Emmett Till: Understanding History from Four Perspectives".

The event was held to give the audience perspectives from four experts. These experts included Wheeler Parker Jr., cousin of Emmett Till, Dale Killinger, Federal Bureau of Investigation Agent, Chris Crow, a professor of English at Brigham Young University, and Dr. Tamara Butler, Assistant Professor of English education and African American and African Studies at Michigan State University.

The event began with a excerpt from CBS "60 Minutes" giving details about the life of Emmett Till.

Katherine Dillard, a 2002 Okemos High School alum, said she was one of the first students to have Okemos High School be culturally aware of black history month.

"It's absolutely flooring. I can't believe the progress and the community involvement and the passion. The students are interested and grasping. It's something I would have never imagined happening 13-14 years later," said Dillard as she expressed her feelings about the event.

Taylor Davis, student at Michigan State University studying sociology and norms inside of different society, said "It's interesting that the special investigator with the FBI was not familiar with the case before he was assigned it."

Throughout the event, members of the audience were able to ask questions of the panelists, and the panelist gave their own insight about the case of Emmett Till.