Emmett Louis Till, nicknamed Bobo, was born on July 25, 1941, in Chicago, Illinois. Till was raised by his single mother, Mamie Till, and never knew his father, due to the couple’s separation and his father’s untimely death by execution. At the age of 5, Emmett caught a severe case of polio but made a full recovery, leaving him with a somewhat noticeable stutter. Growing up, he spent the majority of his days taking care of the house while his mother worked long hours balancing two jobs. He attended the all-black school of McCosh Grammar School. Living in a region which was not very racist and segregated opened him to relationships with friends and some girlfriends, who were white.