From Emmett Till to SNCC & Beyond: Words + Music + Art

From Emmett Till to SNCC & Beyond: Words + Music + Art" is the encore presentation of the special live performance/visual arts benefit to support Highways, that is Vol. III of Highways’ acclaimed 2005 (Vol. I) & 2010 (Vol. II) performance/visual artists collective series—each a thematic homage to Emmett Till—originally curated by Highways legacy artist, Kevin Spicer.  This encore of Vol. III features a collective of renowned performance & visual artists (some '05 and/or '10 "alumni"), recognizing two 2026 landmark commemorations—The 100^th Anniversary of Black History Month and the U.N. World Day of Social Justice, held annually every February 20.

And these two commemorations will be addressed through the lens of three historic milestones that galvanized the Civil Rights Movement. The first milestone is the white supremacy-driven Mississippi murder of Black Chicago teen EmmettTill, as well as the unflinching decision of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, to allow not only an open-casket funeral, but published photos of his tortured body, for all to see racism’s wrath. While the next two milestones relate to 2026 marking the 65^thAnniversaries for both SNCC’s famed Freedom Rides and its Jail-No-Bail protests.   Ironically, SNCC was founded in 1960—five years after Till's death—by college students who were around his age in 1955, and they went on to organize the historic sit-ins, voter registration campaigns, and of course, the Freedom Rides in the Jim Crow South. Notwithstanding, that they called themselves the “Emmett Till Generation, including future SNCC Chair & revered Congressman, John Lewis.

In fact, reprising her special performance at the encore benefit is original SNCC member/artist-activist, Peggy Trotter Dammond Preacely, as well as  original Freedom Summer Volunteer/artist-activist, David Crittendon. Also reprising their performances in a powerful evening of words + music + art are (in alpha order): ADAAWE; Marc Broyard; Babe Evans; Brian Freeman; Joyce Guy; Jason Luckett*; Paul Outlaw*; Derek Shields*; and Pam Ward*; as well as Gia Scott-Heron and Art.Us Mansoir from the Off-Broadway hit, Gil Scott-Heron Bluesology, based on work by Gia's Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award-winning father. While the visual artists graciously featuring select work in the special Highways Gallery installation include: artistic legend, Charles Dickson; artist-activist icon, Candace Hunter; and revered artist, Toni Scott; as well as Robert Stuart Lowden; Lori Antoinette; and award-winning artist, Hana Ward, who's providing the digital version of a piece for narrative integration during the Benefit's live performance.

In addition, starting on the Martin Luther King Holiday, Monday, January 19, 2026, there is donated artwork available for bids** in the Benefit’s online Silent Art Auction—which will close on February 20, 2026. 

In addition, from now through Saturday, October 11, there is donated artwork available for bids** in the Benefit’s online Silent Art Auction—click here to bid.  Co-curated by Spicer, the Benefit is being produced gratis by MoSamp Productions, with select segments directed by Phylliss Bailey Brooks. For further benefit details or questions, please go to tillartistscollective.org. =

Co-curated by Spicer, the Benefit is being produced gratis by MoSamp Productions, with select segments directed by Phylliss Bailey Brooks. For further benefit details or questions, please go to tillartistscollective.org. 

Because the October 11 benefit sold-out, get your tickets now to Support Highways with either: General Admission or Student/Senior Benefit tickets** (incl. post-show dessert reception), or limited-quantity VIP Benefit tickets** (incl. the post-show dessert reception, and the exclusive pre-show reception/art showing, with a listing in the Souvenir Program). For benefit sponsorship options, please click here. Highways is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, and its Tax ID is 95-4231812. For individual donations only, please click here.

 Current sponsors for "From Emmett Till to SNCC & Beyond: Words + Music + Art" include: The William & Ellen Craft Foundation, The Justin Carr Wants World Peace Foundation (JCWWP) and Now & Zen Productions.

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* (special multimedia performances)

** (silent art auction winning bids and benefit tickets are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law)