Part 1. The assassination -- In the shadows -- A moment of peace -- Part 2. The discovery -- The agent's tale -- A bold photographer -- 'No angel' -- Into the shed -- Informant ME 338-R -- Part 3. The big break -- Up on the ridge -- The secret of the notes -- A tarnished badge -- An accusing finger: the Emmett Till case -- The breakthrough -- Part 4. Spying on the movement -- Assignment: tent city -- Tracking James Forman -- A prolific informant: Summer 1961 -- Communists, socialists, Black Muslims and assorted do-gooders: 1962- 1 -- The electric cross: the FBI gets tough, Summer 1965 -- James Lawson, civil rights and the peace movement -- The war in memphis: disrupting the peace movement -- The communist resurgence: dirty tricks, fear and harassment -- Part 5. To the brink: the FBI 's war on Dr. King and Black Power -- The rise of the invaders: COINTELPRO, the media and the FBI -- 'Is anyone looking for us?': The risks of working undercover -- 'How rotten, how filthy': undercutting sympathizers and supporters -- Death of a movement: the FBI and the collapse of the SCLC -- The Black Panthers, Hoover and the end of an era.
Summary:
"Ernest Withers captured some of the most iconic moments of the civil rights movement--from the rare photo of Martin Luther King Jr. in repose to the haunting photo of Emmet Till's great-uncle pointing an accusing finger at Till's killers. He was trusted and beloved by King's inner circle, and had a front row seat to history. But what most people don't know is that Withers was an informant for the FBI--and his photos helped the Bureau identify and surveil the era's greatest figures. This book explores the life, complex motivations, and legacy of this fascinating figure."--Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.