Honoring Reverend Wheeler Parker Jr. — Witness, Advocate, Survivor
At the heart of our collective memory lies a story of courage and perseverance. Chicago’s Black Business Radio Network (CBBRN) proudly reflects on our interview with Reverend Wheeler Parker Jr . in 2011, and how his testimony continues to shape our understanding of history and justice. A Personal Connection to Tragedy Reverend Parker Jr. is a man whose life intersects with one of America’s most harrowing histories. He was with his cousin, Emmett Till. In the summer of 1955 in Mississippi, Emmett’s life was taken. That moment shook the nation and galvanized the Civil Rights Movement. Reverend Parker Jr. stands today as the last living witness to that night—an unimaginable burden and honor. His story isn’t just historical—it’s living, breathing testimony of what happens when justice fails and when courage prevails. Reflecting on Our 2011 Interview Back in 2011, Sonja Cassandra Perdue and Ron Carter, the hosts of Black Wall Street USA sat down with Reverend Parker Jr. to hear his story i...