CNN’s ‘The King Assassination:Witness to Murder’ adds depth to account of King’s final days and months
Categories: African-American, Media
Written By: Shawn Williams
CNN’s Eyewitness to Murder is a nice historical addition, not only to Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, but to his legacy as well. CNN anchor and special reporter Soledad O’Brien helps paint a vivid picture of the last years of Dr. King’s life, even treading into areas that we don’t like to talk about.
The most compelling part of the documentary was the look into how the FBI tracked Dr. King, even sending him threatening messages and packages. CNN discussed alleged female relationships that Dr. King had and how the FBI was attempting to blackmail him with taped conversations he had with women. I always think back to a scene in Malcolm X when FBI agents spying on Malcolm say something like “compared to King, this guy’s a choir boy.”
There have been discussions in recent weeks around what the government would and would not do to its own citizens. A look at how the J. Edgar Hoover lead FBI treated King should again show why African-Americans hold on to a hint of skepticism when it comes to the Federal government. The picture painted by CNN is one of hatred of King by Hoover.
CNN also left the door open for conspiracy theorists, who do not believe that James Earl Ray acted alone or acted at all. Andrew Young is one of those, telling Ms. O’Brien that he doesn’t think Ray pulled the trigger.
There was a strange incident involving a Black Memphis police officer who set up surveillance King and was threatened with his life the morning of the assassination. He was later asked by his superiors to leave the post at the fire station across the street from the Lorraine Hotel, though he had watched King from the spot since his arrival. There was also a black fireman who was transferred away from the station the day of the assassination.
I would encourage anyone who missed the special to watch a repeat showing, as they will air throughout the weekend. I’ve posted a schedule below of upcoming CNN programming. Also, check out the interview Dallas South conducted with Soledad O’Brien a couple of posts down.
Friday, April 4, 2008
12:00am – 2:00am
3:00am – 5:00am
Saturday, April 5, 2008
6:00am – 7:00am Special Investigations – Busted: Mortgage Meltdown
2:00pm – 6:00pm CNN Ballot Bowl
8:00pm – 10:00pm Eyewitness
11:00pm – 1:00 am Eyewitness
Sunday, April 6, 2008
2:00am – 4:00am Eyewitness
6:00am – 7:00am Special Investigations - Busted: Mortgage Meltdown
2:00pm – 3:00pm CNN Ballot Bowl
4:00pm – 6:00pm CNN Ballot Bowl
8:00pm – 10:00pm Eyewitness
11:00pm – 1:00am Eyewitness
Monday, April 7, 2008
2:00am – 4:00am Eyewitness
April 4th, 2008 at 11:33 am
That’s why I’m a libertarian. I don’t think that Hoover hated King because he was black; I think he hated him because he stood up to the status quo. The government will exercise its powers against anyone who stands up — which is why the only solution is to limit the powers of government.
If the Clinton and Bush administrations have taught America anything, it should be that no matter how much you love having lots of power for your guy, your guy isn’t always going to be the one with all that power.
April 4th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Well,
We do know who WASN’T a witness to his murder. The Rev. Jesse Jackson, even though he likes to tell tall tales of himself being on the balcony with Dr. King.
April 13th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Where could i get a copy of the documentary?
I didn’t get a chance to see it.