Rotarian Rob Paddor's Story

Rotarian Rob Paddor of Evanston Subaru was proud to sponsor Dar He: The Story of Emmett Till at the Center for Performing Arts in Skokie. Mike Wiley, who also performed all 25 roles with historical accuracy, wrote this original historical drama. 

 

Rob offered Rotarians in the Skokie Club free tickets to the event by posting the opportunity on the club’s Facebook page.

 

In 2005, 50 years after the lynching, beating and death of 14-year-old black Chicago youth named Emmett Till, Wiley was inspired by Chicago rapper Kanye West's lyrics from his song “Through the Wire.” West's song was about a disfiguring car accident, in which West implied that his face looked like Emmett Till’s.

 

After Wiley discovered that many did not know about the Emmett Till story, he set out with an aim to educate youth and adults about this important history and create a conversation where everyone could learn from each others' cultural diversity.