WATCH
President Biden Talks Importance Of Knowing ALL U.S. History At White House Screening Of ‘Till’
Before the screening began, President Biden greeted the audience with a short speech highlighting the importance of knowing real U.S. history.
“To remember history is to shine a light on the good, the bad, the truth, and who we are as a nation. Our history shows that while darkness and denialism hide very much, they erase nothing,” Biden said.
“You can’t erase the past, and you shouldn’t. Only with truth comes healing and justice and prepare and another step forward to that promise we all made but have never reached for one perfect union. That we’ve never fully given up on.”
Their letter said the AP African-American course is “inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.” However, it failed to specify which lessons the state feels violate its laws.
Unlike DeSantis’ administration, Biden preached the importance of non-selective learning.
“That’s why we can’t just choose to learn what we want to know…we should know. We should know everything about our history,” President Biden said.
“And that’s what great nations do…and we’re a great nation. That’s why history matters so much. That’s why this film matters so much.”
DETAILS: Inside The House ‘Till’ Screening And Biden’s Speech About Lynchings
At the doorway, The Shade Room spoke to political commentator Ana Navarro and EGOT winner Whoopi, who complimented TSR with an “I love The Shade Room.” A string quartet played live music, and staff generously greeted and guided guests.
Whoopi portrays Mamie’s mother, Alma Carthan.
“…It’s almost exactly one year ago that I signed a law more than 100 years in the making,” Biden said.
“One of the great honors of my career, The Emmett Till Antilynching Act, making lynching a federal hate crime.” Between 1882 and 1968, over 3,400 Black people were lynched in the United States, per Tuskegee Institute archives.
Mississippi, where Emmett was lynched, has the highest reported cases of Black people being lynched at 539. Finally, after 200 failed attempts, the House passed the antilynching bill with a 422-3 vote in early March 2022.
Per the law, the hate crime is punishable by up to 30 years.
During Thursday’s screening, Biden described lynching as “pure terror.” He highlighted how Black people were killed for “trying to vote, trying to go to school, trying to own a business, trying to preach the gospel,” and “simply being Black.”
“There’s one more hero in this story you have to acknowledge…a lot of people forget this. The Black Press at the time. The times, the Jet Magazine, and other black newspapers were unflinching and brave in sharing the story of Emmett Till and searing it into the nation’s consciousness.”
President Biden Credits Black Press For Fearlessly Reporting Emmett Till’s Lynching
At the end of his speech, the audience rose to their feet in applause. White House staff had previously placed tissues on the seats in anticipation of emotional reactions to the screening.
After the film ended, Danielle and Whoopi floated through saloon-styled rooms decorated with antiqued paintings, tableware, and giant mirrors, talking to guests and taking photos.
“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon the wrongs,” he said said.
“That’s our charge today and still exists.”
Swipe up to watch the video