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Martin Luther King, Jr was killed by James Earl Ray on April 4th, 1968.
We know a lot about Dr. King. We don't know a lot about his killer. Or the killer's origins. We should.
James Earl Ray was born in Alton, Illinois. My parents were born in Alton. My grandfather, too
We know a lot about Dr. King. We don't know a lot about his killer. Or the killer's origins. We should.
James Earl Ray was born in Alton, Illinois. My parents were born in Alton. My grandfather, too
Alton, Illinois is a special place.
Elijah Lovejoy was an abolitionist who set up shop in Alton after having his printing press tossed into the river one time too many. Folks in the Alton area were afraid that Lovejoy would be a major buzzkill (as freedom lovers are want to be)
Elijah Lovejoy was an abolitionist who set up shop in Alton after having his printing press tossed into the river one time too many. Folks in the Alton area were afraid that Lovejoy would be a major buzzkill (as freedom lovers are want to be)
So, an angry mob tracked down where Lovejoy's printing press was, sent in a kid with a torch to burn the whole thing down.
Lovejoy and his buddy tried to defend themselves. Didn't work out. Lovejoy was killed and now historians consider his the first casualty of the civil war
Lovejoy and his buddy tried to defend themselves. Didn't work out. Lovejoy was killed and now historians consider his the first casualty of the civil war
They had a trial to convict the dudes who shot Lovejoy. (keep in mind these were pro-slavery dudes)
no one was convicted. Something to do with the judge being a witness, and the jury foreman a wounded member of the mob.
Let that settle in here.
no one was convicted. Something to do with the judge being a witness, and the jury foreman a wounded member of the mob.
Let that settle in here.
We've got a man trying to abolish slavery, use the printing-press, the platform for free-speech, to convince folks that slavery is wrong. He gets his property torn up, burnt down, and he gets killed. His murderer gets off.
IDK the word for that is, so I'll call it "privilege"
IDK the word for that is, so I'll call it "privilege"
So obviously the largest civil war prison was in Alton, Illinois. From the stones of that prison many walls of the town were built in the years to come.
And, of course, James Earl Ray, the man who shot Martin Luther King, Jr, came from this, the birthplace of the Civil War.
And, of course, James Earl Ray, the man who shot Martin Luther King, Jr, came from this, the birthplace of the Civil War.
So who was this dude that killed Dr. King? Outside of a dude born in a hotbed of privilege and inequality.
He was the oldest of 9. His dad wrote a bad check and they had to leave town. Ray bounced in and out of Alton doing some petty crimes and occasional robbery.
He was the oldest of 9. His dad wrote a bad check and they had to leave town. Ray bounced in and out of Alton doing some petty crimes and occasional robbery.
Army life just didn't work well for Ray, either. Or prison, for that matter.
James Earl Ray started a 20 year prison sentence in 1959, and he broke out in 67.
The man who shot Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was a man on the run from the law.
Ain't that something?
James Earl Ray started a 20 year prison sentence in 1959, and he broke out in 67.
The man who shot Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr was a man on the run from the law.
Ain't that something?
Ray shot Martin Luther King in April of 68. What did he do in between?
He tried being a porn director in Acapulco, of course.
He took ballroom dancing lessons.
He read the newspaper, a lot. A LOT.
Oh! He also volunteered for George Wallace's presidential campaign.
He tried being a porn director in Acapulco, of course.
He took ballroom dancing lessons.
He read the newspaper, a lot. A LOT.
Oh! He also volunteered for George Wallace's presidential campaign.
George Wallace was that Democrat Alabama governor who was pro-segregationist. Wallace campaigned for president on two platforms:
No integration
Tough on crime.
So we can see the irony of James Earl Ray, robber, felon prison escapee, volunteering on this campaign.
No integration
Tough on crime.
So we can see the irony of James Earl Ray, robber, felon prison escapee, volunteering on this campaign.
So anyway... that's the very interesting backdrop of the man who killed Martin Luther King Jr.
The killer was born in the birthplace of the civil war. A hotbed of integration and segregation qualms. Ray grew up seeing the history.
But obviously the propaganda was better.
The killer was born in the birthplace of the civil war. A hotbed of integration and segregation qualms. Ray grew up seeing the history.
But obviously the propaganda was better.
James Earl Ray was supposed to be in prison, but instead he volunteered on George Wallace's campaign. Before going off and killing the man who dreamt,
"the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."
"the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."
All the history in the world can't save a good leader from a racist with a platform.
But you can throw all the platforms in the river, and that can't get rid of the message of justice, either.
Tweet judiciously, my friends.
But you can throw all the platforms in the river, and that can't get rid of the message of justice, either.
Tweet judiciously, my friends.
