“Emmett’s Photo” – A Live Reading

Join us for a live reading of the stage play Emmett’s Photo written by playwright Nikki Carpenter. Carpenter and her cast will perform the show live at the American Writers Museum, followed by a discussion of the play and its themes.

Emmett’s Photo is a gripping and evocative reimagining of the critical moments leading up to John H. Johnson’s historic decision to publish a photo of Emmett Till, the slain teen whose death galvanized the Civil Rights Movement. Set in 1955, within the bustling office of the Negro Digest Publishing Company, this play delves into the intense and emotional deliberations that unfolded behind closed doors.

John H. Johnson, a trailblazing Black publisher with four successful publications, faces an extraordinary challenge when Mamie Till Bradley, Emmett’s mother, pleads with him to publish a heart-wrenching and gruesome photo of her murdered son in JET magazine. What starts as a routine day in the office swiftly transforms into a pivotal moment that could alter the course of history.

Cast:

David Goodloe in the role of John H. Johnson

Gabrielle Lott-Rogers in the role of Era Bell Thompson

Jelani Julyus in the role of Simeon Booker

Frederick Paul Williams in the role of David Jackson

Jyreika Guest in the role of Alice McAdams

Born on the South side of Chicago, NIKKI CARPENTER is a playwright and actor. She is the founder of Good Content Productions which aims to preserve sacred stories through theatre and essays. Nikki received her B.F.A. in Media Studies from North Park University with a minor in Africana Studies. She is the creator of Black Theatre Chicago, which highlights Black theatre, actors and productions in the Chi. In 2024, she was chosen as a researcher/writer for the August Wilson Society’s upcoming book “Centering & Celebrating Wilsonian Warriors.” Her work includes Emmett’s Photo and The Last Senior Home in Bronzeville. She’s married to her amazing husband, Stephen, and they share a beautiful daughter, India.

Admission: $8-10