Ep 4. FBI vs. MLK

In season 4, episode 4 of America's Book of Secrets, viewers are taken on a journey back to one of the most crucial and controversial times in American history - the Civil Rights Movement. The episode is titled "FBI vs. MLK" and explores the relationship between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the iconic leader of the movement, Martin Luther King Jr.

The episode starts by providing some insight into J. Edgar Hoover, the first director of the FBI, and his views on communism. Hoover was known to be paranoid about the spread of communism in America and believed that King was a communist sympathizer. As a result, King and the FBI were at odds with each other, and the FBI saw King as a threat to national security.

Viewers are then taken through the FBI's efforts to undermine King and his movement through the use of wiretaps, surveillance, and blackmail. The FBI's tactics were illegal and unethical, and included smearing King's reputation, attempting to blackmail him, and even threatening his life. The episode also explores the FBI's alleged involvement in King's assassination.

The episode sheds light on the extent to which the FBI went to try and discredit King and the Civil Rights Movement. For example, the FBI created a program known as COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program), which was designed to disrupt and discredit various groups, including civil rights organizations, anti-war protestors, and feminist groups.

The episode also examines King's personal life, including his extramarital affairs, and how the FBI used this information to try and discredit him. However, the episode does not condone or defend King's actions; instead, it emphasizes the importance of separating King's personal life from his public achievements and contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.

One of the most significant revelations in the episode is the FBI's alleged role in King's assassination. The episode explores the possibility that the FBI was involved in planning and carrying out King's murder, including the use of informants to gather information about King's movements and activities. This theory is supported by the fact that the FBI had a history of targeting and eliminating political figures, and that some of King's supporters believed that the FBI had a hand in his death.

Overall, "FBI vs. MLK" is a gripping and thought-provoking episode that delves into one of the most controversial periods in American history. The episode highlights the complex relationship between King and the FBI, and the FBI's legacy of illegal and unethical tactics in their attempts to undermine political leaders and activists. Despite the dark themes of the episode, it ultimately serves as a reminder of King's contributions to the Civil Rights Movement and the ongoing fight for justice and equality in America.