Mississippi Trial

By Chris Crowe
Prepared by: Ms Rehab Abdel Moniem
Historical background:
Although emancipated (set free), blacks remained unequal and were far from
free. In 1955 Mississippi was a state run by the white man. Segregation
(separation of treatment) was highly practiced and was taken very seriously.
Blacks were not allowed to associate with whites in no shape or form; unless they
were taking orders from them. If the white man felt as though he had been
disrespected by a negro then he felt he had every right to teach that negro a
“lesson”. An example of this situation is that of the death of Emmett Till. The
death of Emmett Till brought to light the horrific effect of the Jim Crow
segregation laws and was an early stimulus for the Civil Rights movement. Told
through the eyes of a white teenage boy, this book describes the boy’s series of
revelations about his family and other people of the town, and he forms a clearer
view of the evils of racism (bias/discrimination), and the values he hopes to live
up to.
Winner of the 2003 International Reading Association Award for Young Adult
Novel.

Plot Summary:
In 1955, Hiram Hillburn, a sixteen-year-old white male, lives in Arizona with his
father. He resents his father for moving the family from Greenwood, Mississippi
when he was nine, away from his beloved Southern grandfather. Despite his
father's concerns about letting him go due to the racial tensions in the city, Hiram
is given permission to spend the summer visiting his grandfather in Mississippi.
At the train station he meets his grandfather's housekeeper Ruthanne and her
visiting cousin Emmett Till, a fourteen-year-old African American boy from
Chicago. After reuniting with his grandfather, he begins to notice his
grandfather's culturally ingrained racism. He meets Emmett again whom he
rescues from drowning in a river. They begin talking and realize they have a lot in
common.
Hiram runs into his old friend R.C. Rydell with whom he joins on a fishing trip
where R.C. harasses and assaults Emmett. While Hiram does not participate, he
does not help Emmett either and feels guilty. A few days later, R.C. tells Hiram
that he is going with some white men to talk to a young African-American man
who offended a white woman at a grocery store. Concerned for this young man,
Hiram calls the police. However, the police are unhelpful to Hiram; they refuse to
act, stating the boy from Chicago has to learn some manners. At this point,
Hiram realizes they are talking about Emmett.

Emmett is reported missing shortly after and his corpse is found in the river a few
days later with a cotton gin pulley around his neck. Two white men are arrested
for kidnapping and go on trial for the murder of Emmett. Hiram delays his trip
home to serve as a witness for the trial due to the information he had told the
police. His grandfather wants him to stay out of the trial to avoid the drama, but
Hiram wants to help find justice for Emmett causing contention between the two.
Hiram stays for the entire trial, despite not being called as a witness and the
suspects are acquitted of murder at the relief of Hiram's grandfather. Hiram
becomes suspicious after seeing his grandfather sell his blue truck but his
grandfather becomes angry when Hillburn confronts him about it. After running
into his neighbors, Hiram learns that his grandfather was spotted with the
suspects on the night of Emmett's disappearance. Hiram, again, confronts his
grandfather about this information upon which his grandfather unapologetically
admits to being involved and being in the White Citizens Council, fighting
integration of public schools.

Having been absent since the night Emmett went missing, Hiram runs into R.C.
who tells him that he considered participating in Emmett's abduction but decided
instead to escape his abusive living situation and move to Jackson, Mississippi
where he had been living ever since, doing physical labor. When Hiram prepares
to return to Arizona, he expects an apology from his grandfather but is
disappointed to never receive one. He meets his father at the railway station
whom he begins to tell everything, repairing their previously broken relationship.

Chapter 1:
The novel opens with Hiram reflecting on his father, particularly his father’s
strong beliefs in social justice and his displeasure with how life is in the South,
and the Mississippi Delta region where he was raised. We learn that Hiram
comes to live with his paternal Grampa while his father and mother are up at
Ole Miss; his father goes to school on the GI Bill for his degree in English.
Hiram recalls being a kid in Greenwood, buying candy or a soda from Mr. Paul’s
store while his Grampa conducted business at the county courthouse.
Afterwards, Hiram and Grampa would drive in the pickup truck out to Grampa’s
fields to check on the progress of work. Hiram remembers the sweat on the
black men as they worked in the sun and Grampa’s angry reaction when he
catches Hiram helping one of them work the earth. He tells Hiram that God
“made Negroes to work the land. They don’t feel the heat like we do” (8).
Chapter 2 Summary

Hiram wakes up to the familiar smells in his grandparents’ house, especially

enjoying the comforting aromas of his Gramma’s cooking and the coffee that is
brewing. He thinks about the structure and appearance of his grandparents’
house, like a “smaller version of the White House in Washington” (9)

Hiram has a lot of good memories and loves his grandparents’ house. Grampa
doesn’t support the military fighting overseas. Grampa wants to protect his way
of life. Hiram goes out to play with R.C. Rydell. Ralph and Ronnie Remington are
grandpa’s neighbors and are a little odd. R.C. throws a rock and taunts the men
and Hiram doesn’t like it. Gramma feels bad for Naomi because her mother died
and she’s had to grow up too soon. R.C. tortures a fish and makes fun of Mr. Paul.
Hiram doesn’t really like R.C. but he is a little afraid of him.

Chapter 3 summary:

Hiram wakes up and things are strange. Grampa comes in upset, and tells Hiram
Gramma died. People come and bring food. The Remingtons come and are clearly
very sad. The Remingtons are very upset about Gramma’s death. Naomi goes to
the funeral and shows Hiram her mom’s grave. Naomi tells Hiram about going to
the Fulton Street Bridge, her special place. His dad wants him to move back with
him but Hiram doesn’t want to leave his Grampa alone. Hiram’s dad is afraid that
Hiram will see how ugly the South is. Hiram stays in Greenwood with Grampa for
a while. Grampa hires Ruthanne to cook and clean. Hiram goes to the Fulton
Street Bridge before he has to leave to go to Arizona. He hopes to see Naomi, but
she doesn’t come. He doesn’t want to leave.
Chapter 4 Summary

Grampa is outraged at the news of the move to Arizona and refuses to help in
the process. Once Hiram and his parents make it to Tempe, they have many
more children, which Hiram considers ironic, having “left the Delta in fertile
Mississippi for the barren Arizona desert” (40). At first, Hiram continually begs
his parents to let him return to Greenwood, which they do not allow. The fights
with his own father increase and their relationship becomes strained. Finally, in
April 1955, when he is almost sixteen, Grampa’s “annual invitation to
Greenwood arrived” (42), but this time with the news that he had suffered a
minor stroke. With this knowledge, Hiram presses harder to force his parents to
allow him to go to Greenwood for the summer. His father disapproves but
ultimately allows it, based on his wife’s coaxing. Hiram’s father leaves him with
a warning that now that he’s older, he will see and realize things about
Greenwood that he had not before, and that he’s “sorry for what you’ll see” (44).

Grampa invited Hiram to stay summers with him. They move to Arizona. His
mom has four babies. Hiram wants to spend summer with Grampa but his dad
won’t let him. Hiram is angry that his dad doesn’t want to see Grampa. Grampa
writes that he had a stroke and has diabetes and asks for help. Hiram’s mom
convinces his dad to let him go. Hiram takes a train back to Mississippi.

Chapter 5 summary:
Ruthanne picks Hiram up at the train station. Ruthanne asks “Bobo” to help
with Hiram’s bags. Bobo is Ruthanne’s cousin’s nephew from Chicago. They
drive past Naomi and Ruthanne comments about what she’s been through.
Hiram is little uncomfortable; he remembers his Grampa differently. Hiram
talks to Grampa and tells about the other children. Hiram considers himself his
Grampa’s boy and hates his father.

Chapter 6 summary:
Hiram speaks to Ralph Remington. Ralph is very forgetful. Hiram goes fishing.
He falls asleep and wakes to cries of help. Hiram saves Bobo. Emmett asks him
not to tell anyone because he doesn’t want to hurt his reputation. Grampa talks
about desegregation.
Chapter 7 Summary
Hiram drives Grampa out to the Hillburn fields in Chapter 7. Grampa feels sorry
for himself briefly as he cannot move the way he used to and he also reminisces
about the relationship between himself and Harlan. Grampa begins to cry at
this, making Hiram uncomfortable, but Grampa changes the subject to happier
things to distract Hiram. Grampa takes Hiram to their fishing spot and next
wants to visit the courthouse, making things like old times again. Grampa gives
Hiram a dime so that he can visit Mr. Paul and get a root beer. Mr. Paul is
surprised to see Hiram again and they begin a conversation about what is
happening in Greenwood. Mr. Paul explains that many people are against
desegregating the schools and Hiram questions whether people should just
leave things alone. Hiram's calm attitude towards this angers Mr. Paul.

Chapter 8 summary:
R.C. quit school shortly after Hiram left. R.C. invites Hiram to go fishing. R.C.
makes comments about Ruthanne. R.C. yells at Ronnie. Hiram thinks R.C. is
mean and takes things too far. Hiram sees Emmett and tries to give lunch to him.
R.C. does something horrible to Emmett and is cruel to him. Hiram doesn’t stop
R.C. and he feels bad.
Chapter 9 :
Hiram tells Grampa about what R.C. did. Grampa says Emmett brought the
trouble on himself. “What if people like R.C. all get together?” Hiram goes to the
bridge and see Naomi. R.C. tells Hiram about trouble in Money concerning a
Negro and a white woman. Hiram called the sheriff and talked to the deputy; it
didn’t help anything.
Chapter 10:
Hiram dreams about his father. Hiram is worried about Emmett. Men came to
get Grampa for his Council business. Hiram asks Grampa about his dad fishing.
Hiram is worried about his relationship with his father. They find a note from
Ruthanne. Her family has experienced a tragedy and she wouldn’t be at work.
Emmett had been taken by three men early Sunday morning. Hiram is very
upset. He knows R.C. has something to do with it. The sheriff calls Hiram and
asks him what he knows about R.C. and what he may have done. The sheriff tells
him he will need to stay there longer.
Chapter 11
Hiram is nervous about R.C. and getting him in trouble. Hiram speaks to his
mom. Grampa tells Hiram about talking to the sheriff. Ruthanne tells Hiram
about Emmett being taken. They found Emmett on Wednesday in the
Tallahatchie River. He’d been weighed down with a cotton gin, tied with a
barbed wire, and shot in the head. Grampa reads the article and says they went
too far. Grampa is worried about the way the South will look now. Hiram is
bothered that Grampa doesn’t seem concerned with Emmett’s death. Hiram is
upset with Grampa. Naomi comes to visit Hiram. Naomi is upset with
Emmett’s death. Some think Emmett deserved it. Grampa reads an editorial.
Some blame the entire state of Mississippi. Grampa disagrees. Grampa
doesn’t want Hiram mixed up with R.C. Grampa says if R.C. isn’t caught for this
it’ll be something else later. Hiram is worried about having to speak against R.C.
and getting out of Greenwood alive.

Chapter 12
Hiram is very afraid of R.C. The deputy knocks on the door with a subpoena
for Hiram to appear in court. Grampa doesn’t like Hiram being involved. He
tells Hiram that he doesn’t have to say everything. Hiram thinks he should tell
the whole truth, even if he’s afraid. Hiram defends Emmett; Grampa practically
blames Emmett. Grampa doesn’t want Hiram testifying and says he’ll get himself
hurt or embarrass Grampa. Grampa talks about how Harlan shamed him. He
says Hiram is not like his dad and Hiram will do the right thing. Ruthanne talks
about things finally changing in the Delta. Hiram goes to see Naomi at the
bridge. She talks about her father. Hiram tells Naomi about what R.C. had said.
Naomi is worried about Hiram if he testifies. She cries and Hiram holds her.

Chapter 13

Hiram’s parents are worried. The trial will begin on September 19. Mr. Paul
talks about a life lesson. Hiram asks Mr. Paul if he’d testify. Mr. Paul gives
Hiram some good advice. Hiram goes to the bridge to see Naomi but he/she
doesn’t show up. Hiram tries to weigh the positives against negatives, but his
conscience bothers him. He decides that testifying is the right thing and he’ll
do the right thing.

Chapter 14

Hiram argues with Grampa the night before the trial. Hiram and Grampa get up
early to go to the courthouse in Sumner. Sumner is crowded with
reporters/TV/people. The sheriff makes a speech. Charles C. Diggs, a
Congressman from Michigan, demands a seat and is told to take a seat with the
other Negroes. Grampa said there were about 300 people there and only 35
Negroes. The district attorney is named Gerald Chatham. The defense
attorney is J.J. Breland.
Assistants are Mr. Carlton, Mr. Kellum, and others. Judge Swango keeps the
courtroom in order. Mr. Gerald Chatham announced that the state would not
seek the death penalty. The lawyers question the jury members. The
defendants don’t pay attention. They play with their kids, read the paper,
smoke, etc. Women and Negroes cannot be on the jury.
Hiram wonders about why Grampa doesn’t want him mixed up in the trial.
Grampa puts money in the jar that says “Bryant and Milam Defense.”
Emmett’s mom arrives Tuesday morning and people glare at her. The jury is
selected and the trial is to start Wednesday. Hiram wants to go see Naomi but
Grampa tells him to stay in. The first witness is Mose Wright, Emmett’s uncle.
People get rowdy. The defense objects. Mose tells about Emmett being taken
and about identifying his body. Sheriff Smith is called to the stand. The jury
is dismissed during the Sheriff’s testimony. The Sheriff’s testimony is excluded.
Chester Miller, a Negro undertaker who helped pull Emmett’s body up,
testifies.
Chester tells about what happened to the body. Emmett had bruises and cuts all
over, his head was caved in, they had wired a pulley around his neck, and his
body had been mutilated. Sheriff Strider is the next witness. The trial is like a
big joke. The defense attorney tries to get courtroom to laugh. The sheriff tries
to joke. Sheriff Strider says the body has been in the river for more than two
weeks and couldn’t be Emmett. Emmett’s mother takes the stand and people
glare at her. Emmett’s mother says she warned Emmett about showing
humility. Emmett’s mother says she could clearly identify her son. Willie Reed
is the next witness. He is a black kid and is about 16 years old. Hiram admires
Willie for having to guts to testify. Grampa acts like something is wrong. Mr.
Breland objects twice. Willie talks about hearing yells from inside the barn and
that J.W. Milam had a gun. Mr.Breland is very aggressive. He attacks Willie
about how far away he was. The prosecution rests. The defense calls Mrs.
Carolyn Bryant. The judge dismisses the jury before Mrs. Bryant testifies but
says it will be on the record. She tells about Emmett asking her for a date, saying
he’d been with white women before, and whistling at her. When asked if
Emmett Till was the boy, she says she doesn’t know him or any other Negroes.

Chapter 15
Mr. Breland calls character witnesses and they all say about the same thing.
Mr. Chatman gives his closing statement. He says if anything, the boy should
have only been whipped. Mr. Breland gives his closing statement and calls the
defendants 100% Americans. He claims the defendants had no motive. He
claims the body was planted by Northern rabble-rousers and is not Emmett’s
body. He says they have to protect the South. Hiram says there is no doubt they
are guilty and thinks the jury will see it the same way. The jury returns barely
one hour (TWO WORDS) later and finds the defendants not guilty. People
celebrate in the courtroom. Hiram is shocked and upset. Grampa doesn’t cheer
or clap. He acts like he doesn’t see Milam when he gives him a thumbs up.
Sheriff Strider says to reporters that if the Northerners who are sending hate mail
ever come down there, they will end up like Emmett.

Chapter 16

Grampa looks unhealthy and is glad the trial is over. Grampa tells Hiram to
forget about R.C. or anyone else who helped. Grampa gets mad and says it is
over. Hiram says he can’t believe they were not convicted. Hiram asks about
appealing the verdict and going after the others. Grampa says the jury has
decided and it is over; he is pretty angry. Hiram goes for a walk. Hiram is ready
to go home and patch things up with his dad. Hiram runs into R.C. R.C. is
bruised, swollen, and bleeding. R.C. says he’s been in Jackson. He tells Hiram
that his father beat him. R.C. beats his father and then leaves. R.C. tells the
sheriff about beating his father up. Sheriff Smith tells him he knew it would
happen eventually. He tells R.C. to go to Jackson and not come back. R.C.
knows that Hiram thinks he was involved. He says he was in Jackson and that
things will be different for him there. Hiram is worried about Naomi. R.C. tells
him Naomi will find Hiram if she wants to see him. R.C. leaves. Hiram wonders
if R.C. is lying and also wonders who the third person was if it wasn’t R.C. Hiram
thinks about Naomi going to Arizona with him. He waits for Naomi at the
bridge but she doesn’t come. Hiram sees Grampa talking to three men he didn’t
know. Grampa is selling his truck. A man says the truck could cause problems
for Grampa if it is sitting around. Hiram doesn’t see why Grampa is selling the
truck. Grampa and Hiram argue a little.
Hiram tells Grampa about seeing R.C. and says he believes him. Hiram is
surprised about Grampa almost wanting him to leave. He goes to find Naomi.
Hiram talks to Ronnie Remington, who mentions something about Grampa’s
pick-up. Ronnie says Ralph R. saw Roy and J.W. drop Grampa off late that
Saturday night. Hiram goes back into the house and feels sick. Hiram talks to
Grampa and says he talked to Ronnie. Grampa says Emmett was alive when he
left and that the other two men said they were done with him.

Chapter 17

Hiram goes to find Naomi. He goes to the bridge and then to her house but no
one is there. Ruthanne says maybe Grampa is having a change of heart.
Ruthanne made all of Hiram’s favorite foods. He goes for a walk but still didn’t
see Naomi. Ruthanne notices that Hiram and Grampa are avoiding each other.
Hiram goes to Sheriff Smith. Naomi’s father will be in the hospital for a while.
Naomi is in a safe home. Sheriff says he’ll tell Naomi he came by. Hiram talks to
Mr. Paul. Hiram talks about being bothered by the outcome of the trial. Mr.
Paul makes Hiram think. Grampa and Hiram have lunch. Hiram talks about
trying to do what is right. Grampa tells Hiram to remember that “Nothing is as
simple as you might think.” Hiram goes to the train station and says goodbye to
Grampa and Ruthanne. Hiram sees Naomi and almost doesn’t recognize her.
Naomi tells him about school and actually sounds hopeful. Hiram is glad that
Naomi will be okay. Dad meets Hiram at the station. Dad talks a little about the
trial and apologizes. Hiram talks about people in Greenwood having a meanness
toward Negroes. Hiram talks to his dad about Grampa. Harlan talks about
loving his father and then asks Hiram how he feels. Hiram thinks he means
about Grampa, but Harlan really means about him.
The reader is left with the feeling that Hiram and his dad will work things out.

Hiram Hillburn
Hiram Hillburn is the protaganist and the narrator of the novel. He is first
introduced as a 7-year-old boy living with his grandparents in Greenwood
Mississippi as his parents are in Oxford. Hiram and Grampa have a special
relationship while living with him and they do everything together. Grampa
wants to raise him and instill in him the ways of the old South, much to his
father's dismay. After the death of his grandmother, Hiram's father announces
that the family is leaving for Tempe, Arizona, Hiram is extremely upset because
he is being taken away from everything he has ever known and loved. Over the
next seven years living in Tempe, Hiram's relationship with his father becomes
more estranged as the two argue over going back to Greenwood. Hiram is
determined to go back to what he considers his home, but his father is adamant
that the...

1. Judge (n./v.): sb whose job is to say the verdict

2. Prosecution (n): the act or process of holding a trial against a person who
is accused of a crime to see if that person is guilty
3. Subpoena (n): a formal written order that requires a person to appear
before a court
4. Allegedly (adv): accused but not proven or convicted.
5. Testify (v): to be witness in the court/to make statement or provide
evidence.
6. Racism (n): prejudice against people’s colour or race.
7. Convict (n./v): sb who proves to be guilty/ to prove guilty.
8. Implicate (v): to show that someone is involved in a crime