Project 1;
Did you know the FBI sent Martin Luther King Jr. a tape, accusing him of cheating on his wife (Little 1)? Or that the FBI sent him letters telling him to kill himself (Little 1)? Many do not know that a man claimed King’s death “included Memphis police officers, a Mafia member, and the infamous Raoul” (Little 1). In fact, not much is known for certain surrounding the mysterious assassination of Martin Luter King Jr.; and where there is uncertainty, there are conspiracies. Martin Luther King Jr. was certainly the most well-known civil rights activist of all time, but many are not fully educated on his death.
Project 2;
Martin Luther King Jr. is known throughout the world as a crucial leader, who advocated for civil rights and equality. David Lewis explains “[King’s] leadership was fundamental to that movement’s success in ending the legal segregation” (Lewis 1). King faced hardships throughout his life but persevered. It was his virtuous ideals that encouraged people to follow his lead, as he ushered a social movement throughout America.
Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was born in a trying period in history. A time when people were treated differently based on the color of their skin; “growing up,” Lewis describes, “King was subject to the prejudices then common in the South” (1). It was these experiences as a young child that shaped King’s character in adulthood. King never forgot how he was treated as a kid, and he would make sure no more children would have to endure what he had (1). King's outlook on life was what allowed him to have such an impact.
King didn’t lead an easy life; in fact, his life was quite the opposite. Fredrick Haberman notes, while leading peaceful protests throughout the nation “King was arrested, his home was bombed, [and] he was subjected to personal abuse” (Haberman 1). No conventional human would have the willpower to purposefully continue leading a life of such hardship. But for King, there was no question. King stood for a vital cause; the people of the South needed him. The people of the World needed him. King said, “If a man hasn't discovered something he will die for, he isn't fit to live” and King stood by this statement until the day he died (King, Great March to Freedom Rally 1)
King didn’t believe in violence but instead led a life full of virtue. One of King’s most notable protests occurred in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955 (Montgomery Bus Boycott 1). One Stanford author explains, “an exhausted black woman by the name of Rosa Parks had refused to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger”, which led to her eminent arrest (1). This sparked controversy amongst the African American folk of the south. Although King was immensely opposed to the actions of the police, King did not invoke violence among the perpetrators (1). Instead, he used his power and influence to peacefully make a change in society. With the help of local black leaders, a Stanford author expresses, “[King] convinced nearly 90 percent of Montgomery’s black citizens” to stay off city busses on a cold Monday, in December 1955 (1).
His work didn’t stop there. After the movement gained popularity, King decided to make the boycott an ongoing campaign (1). Attempts were made to squash the movement, but King would have no such demise (1). In January 1956, city officials indicted King and more than 80 other leaders of the movement (1). The Stanford authors illustrates, “news spread throughout the nation, as King was convicted on the charge and ordered to pay $500 or serve 386 days in jail” (1). However, the movement was far from over. With support from people around the nation, “the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed Browder v. Gayle and struck down laws requiring segregated seating on public buses” explains the same author (1). A year after the incident with Rosa Parks, the people of the south had attained their first victory, but this was just one battle in the fight for equality (1).
King held his head high as his wishes had finally come true. As King himself put it “it is more honorable to walk in dignity than ride in humiliation” (King “Statement on Ending the Bus Boycott”). King was now a public figure known throughout the nation (Montgomery Bus Boycott 1). King strived to be known as an honorable man, and he certainly was. King used his momentum and determination to further desegregate the south in the years that followed.
Being a well-known public figure, people listened to the reverend, as author Amand Devino points out “[King was] an educated man with a good understanding of rhetoric” (Devino 1). King knew he needed support from the nation if he was to accomplish his goals of equality (Lewis 1). David Lewis informs us that King organized the March on Washington “in an effort to draw together the multiple forces for peaceful change” (Lewis 1). Two Hundred-Thousand people gathered at the nation's capital (1). It was there, on August 28, 1963, atop the Lincoln memorial King addressed the nation (Devino 1). In his speech, Amanda Devino tells us, “[King] tackle[d] the systemic racism such that even the most racist people could easily recognize where the problem was” (1). King wasn’t afraid to be outspoken. He had the courage to fight a battle, even when he was not sure what the outcome may be.
Project 3;
Did you know the FBI sent Martin Luther King Jr. a tape accusing him of cheating on his wife (Little 1)? Or that the FBI sent him letters telling him to kill himself (1)? According to author Becky Little “many do not know that a man claimed King’s death included Memphis police officers, a Mafia member, and the infamous Raoul” (1). In fact, not much is known for certain surrounding the mysterious assassination of Martin Luter King Jr. Where there is uncertainty, there are conspiracies. Many people are certain that the FBI was responsible for the assassination of King using James Earl Ray as their pawn (1). Others believe that someone else entirely shot MLK (1). Martin Luther King Jr. was certainly the most well-known civil rights activist of all time, but many are not fully educated on his death.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s Marting Luther King Junior was a powerful man, although not loved by everyone. These included the likes of many government officials, and white Southerners. So, it would make sense that an enraged criminal would want to shoot him dead. That was the thought at least. As editors of Biography.com explain “on April 4, 1968, King was fatally shot by James Earl Ray while standing on the balcony of his Motel room in Memphis Tennessee” (“James Earl Ray.” 1).
Author Tom Jackman tells us “Because Ray suddenly pleaded guilty in 1969, less than a year after the shooting, there was no trial (Jackman 1)”. Many believe that sufficient evidence was never provided to incriminate Ray (1). Ray later pleaded not guilty on a televised mock trial, where he claimed he was coerced by outside forces and did not in fact kill Reverend King (1). To this day many, including members of the King family, do not believe that it was Ray who fired the shot that killed the reverend (1).
As author Becky Little points out, FBI investigators found a bundle of contraband at the scene of the crime; “It contained a pair of binoculars, a newspaper with a story about King staying at the Lorraine Motel, and a .30-06 Remington Gamemaster that had fired one shot. (Little 1)” All of the items contained fingerprints from the aforementioned James Earl Ray (1).
Many people believed that these items could have been part of a setup, claiming they could have been meticulously planted to frame Ray (“House Select Committee on Assassinations.” 1). Because of this, a committee was formed in 1976. They went by the name of House Select Committee on Assassinations; one of their main objectives was g to further investigate who had killed Dr. King, and for what reason (1). After further examining the evidence, the Committee concluded that the .30-06 Remington Gamemaster was the gun that killed Martin Luther King (“Summary of Findings.”1). Though they could not prove it was the exact gun found at the location of the crime (Cabell 1). With all fingers pointing at Ray, the government concluded that “there is a likelihood that James Earl Ray assassinated Dr. Martin Luther King as a result of a conspiracy” they also defended themselves by saying “No Federal, State or local government agency was involved in the assassination of Dr. King” (“Summary of Findings.”1). These findings were certainly reassuring for much of the public, but many were still not ready to give up blame.
Many do accept Ray as the killer of Martin Luther King Jr. (Jackman 1). As Tom Jackman points out, “Even those who believe that Ray, who died in prison in 1998, killed King tend to think that he received assistance from someone” (1). It seems improbable that a man convicted of such minute crimes, such as robbery of a taxicab driver, would have the wherewithal to not only kill a man but flee the country, and fly overseas (“James Earl Ray.” 1). This points to him having help. Many, including Corretta Scott King, the widowed wife of Martin Luther King, point to the FBI in assisting the murder of her husband (Little 1).
Author Becky Little explains that Corretta had probable cause for her beliefs (1). She states, “During the 1950 and ‘60s, the FBI surveilled and harassed King, his family” (1). She points out that because of his popularity (and unpopularity), he was constantly under surveillance (1). This means that local officials and government agents saw King when he was at his worst. Little then tells of the FBI “taking advantage of times when he seemed particularly upset or depressed” (1). This is a blatant volitation of privacy for the entire King family. This would give a probable reason for Corretta to believe what she did.
Although there is a chance that it was the FBI who helped ray, numerous investigations have since looked into that conspiracy. No one can produce a definite answer; although chief counselor Robert Blakely, of the House Select Committee on Assassinations, recalls, “If the FBI or CIA was involved, they had destroyed the documentation of it by 1979” (Jackman 1). Even members of the government haven't lost hope on this conspiracy; they just show it to be an unlikely scenario.
James Earl Ray passed away in prison at the age of 70 (“James Earl Ray.” 1). However, before he passed away he had several visits with a New York lawyer by the name of William Pepper (Jackman 1). One visit, in particular, was different. William Pepper, and Dexter King, the son of Martin Luther King, visited Ray in 1977 (1). There is a photo of Dexter shaking hands with the man who claims to have killed his father (1). Dexter recalls the conversation he had with James Earl Ray: ‘“Dexter King asked Ray, “Did you kill my father?” and Ray answered, “No, I didn’t.” Dexter King told Ray, “We will do everything in our power to see that justice prevails.”’ (1). From then on Dexter has been working with William Pepper to prove the innocence of James Earl Ray (1).
Other members of the King Family are not so keen on the idea of Ray being the murderer, either (1). When recollecting about the scene of the murder, Martin Luther King III suggests, “That weapon was not the weapon... You’re going to kill somebody and then drop the gun right there?” (1). He makes a valid argument but was unable to find evidence of a better solution. One man was able to find a better solution (1). William Pepper has spent many years compiling evidence to prove Ray’s innocence (1). Tom Jackman explains Peppers’ claims “J. Edgar Hoover used his longtime assistant, Clyde Tolson...” to hire a “sharpshooting Memphis police officer, and that officer — not Ray — fired the fatal shot” (1).
After Ray began to plead his own innocence, William Peppers sought to find a man by the name of Raul, who supposedly coerced Ray into being in on the operation (Little 1). Tom Jackman explains “Pepper and his investigators worked for years to locate Raul and eventually they identified an autoworker from Yonkers, N.Y.” (Jackman 1). Although this man claimed to have no ties to the case, it gave Pepper hope (1). Many people began to come forward claiming they had new information that may uncover the truth of what happened to Dr. Martin Luther King (1).
Lloyd Jowers, who owned a nearby restaurant at the scene of the crime claimed he took part in the conspiracy involving the reverend (Jackman 1). Tom Jackman tells us “...he alleged the gunman was a Memphis police officer who fired from the bushes behind the grill, then handed Jowers the murder weapon” (1). He then claims that he was in charge of disposing the weapon that killed King (1). The ex-girlfriend of Lloyd Jowers also came forward solidifying his claims as fact (1).
While many theorists believe Jowers, and Peppers’ claims, there are still doubters. Assistant Attorney General Barry Kowalski explains that “Jowers had changed his story repeatedly and that neither he nor the ex-FBI agent were credible” (Jackman 1). That’s not to say that we know for certain what happened to King. Even members within the King Family disagree on the subject. Bernice King claims that “It’s still a mystery to me, I don’t believe James Earl Ray killed my father. [but] It’s hard to know exactly who [did]” (1).
Project 4;
In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr said, “If a man hasn't discovered something he will die for, he isn't fit to live. (King 1)” By his own standards, Martin Luther King Jr was certainly fit to live. His life was taken too soon, but he will forever be remembered for the impact he made on the African American community and the world. Although the case may never be closed, we can reasonably conclude that it was in fact James Earl Ray who sent a bullet through the head of Mr. King. Whether he had help or not, and from whom, may remain a mystery for the rest of time.
Work Cited;
Works Cited
Devino, Amanda. “I Have a Dream.” American History, Mon. 18 Oct 2021 <http://blogs.shu.edu/americanhistory/project/i-have-a-dream/.>.
Cabell, Brian. “Ray Lawyer: Test Bullets Don't Match Bullet That Killed King.” CNN, Cable News Network, 11 July 1997, http://www.cnn.com/US/9707/11/king.rifle.update/.
“Coretta Scott King.” Edited by History.com Editors, History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, https://www.history.com/topics/civil-rights-movement/coretta-scott-king.
Haberman, Frederick W., 1972 Martin Luther King Jr. – Biography. Elsevier Publishing Company, Amsterdam, NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2021. Tue. 12 Oct 2021. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1964/king/biographical/>.
“House Select Committee on Assassinations.” C-SPAN, National Cable Satellite Corporation, https://www.c-span.org/organization/?114261%2FHouse-Select-Committee-Assassinations.
Jackman, Tom. “Who Killed Martin Luther King Jr.? His Family Believes James Earl Ray Was Framed.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 28 Oct. 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2018/03/30/who-killed-martin-luther-king-jr-his-family-believes-james-earl-ray-was-framed/.
“James Earl Ray.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 3 May 2021, https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/james-earl-ray.
King, Martin Luther. “Martin Luther King Jr. - 'Great March to Freedom Rally' Speech - Detroit, Michigan - June 23, 1963.” YouTube, YouTube, 24 Sept. 2015, Martin Luther King Jr. - 'Great March to Freedom Rally' Speech - Detroit, Michigan - June 23, 1963.
King, Martin Luther, Jr. “Statement on Ending the Bus Boycott” Montgomery Improvement Association, Montgomery Alabama, December 20, 1956, Formal Adress.
Lewis, David L. and Carson, Clayborne. "Martin Luther King, Jr.". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martin-Luther-King-Jr. Accessed 5 October 2021.
Little, Becky “Why Martin Luther King’s Family Believes James Earl Ray Was Not His Killer” A&E Television Networks, April 4, 2018, www.history.com/news/who-killed-martin-luther-king-james-earl-ray-mlk-assassination, Accessed 9/28/2021
“Montgomery Bus Boycott.” The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute, Stanford University, 30 May 2019, https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/montgomery-bus-boycott
“Summary of Findings.” National Archives and Records Administration, National Archives and Records Administration, 1979, https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/select-committee-report/summary.html. Web version based on the Report of the Select Committee on Assassinations of the U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office, 1979. 1 volume, 686 pages. The formatting of this Web version may differ from the original.