WASHINGTON (WUSA9) - The horrifying murder of Emmett Till is the
inspiration for a special Black History month program at Duke
Ellington School of the Arts on Wednesday. The program features
a play by journalist and author, Janet Langhart Cohen titled
"Anne & Emmitt." Langhart Cohen joined JC Hayward on Tuesday to
discuss her play, which is an imaginary conversation between
Anne Frank and Emmett Till where the two discuss Frank's
experience in the Holocaust, and Till's tragic tale of racial
hatred in the American South. "I wrote the play as a call to
action to eradicate racism and anti-Semitism. Anne and Emmett,
two very different teenagers, lived in societies that couldn't
protect them because of hatred and the inaction of silent
witnesses. I am delighted that this play helps to introduce
youngpeople to history impacted by their peers and I hope that
it reminds each of us to act and to remember," said Langhart
Cohen.