Kankakee Public Library Podcasts

Christopher Benson is an associate professor of African American Studies, and Journalism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in journalism at the University of Illinois and his J.D. at Georgetown University. Benson is co-author with Mamie Till-Mobley of her memoir Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America, (Random House, October 2003) the Essence bestseller about the life and death of Mrs. Mobley’s son, Emmett Till, and the history making changes that followed. The book won the 2004 BlackBoard Nonfiction Book of the Year Award and the 2003 Robert F. Kennedy Book Award Special Recognition. Benson co authored a screenplay and stage play based on the book, currently in development for production. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Kankakee Public Library.