A spy in Canaan : how the FBI used a famous photographer to infiltrate the civil rights movement

"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.;Introduction -- 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: 1962-1965 ; 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 -- Afterword. 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. 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. Marc Perrusquia. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Only Ernest Withers, a key figure in the civil rights movement, could have delivered such iconic photographs—and the kind of information the FBI wanted . . . Renowned photographer Ernest Withers captured some of the most stunning moments of the civil rights era—from the age-defining snapshot of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., riding one of the first integrated buses in Montegomery, to the haunting photo of Emmett Till’s great-uncle pointing an accusing finger at his nephew’s killers. He was trusted and beloved by King’s inner circle, and had a front row seat to history . . . but few people know that Withers was also an informant for the FBI. Memphis journalist Marc Perrusquia broke the story of Withers’s secret life after a long investigation culminating in a landmark lawsuit against the government to release hundreds of once-classified FBI documents. Those files confirmed that, from 1958 to 1976, Withers helped the Bureau monitor pillars of the movement including Dr. Martin Luther King and others, as well as dozens of civil rights foot soldiers. Now, on the fiftieth anniversary of King’s assasination, A Spy in Canaan explores the life, complex motivations, and legacy of this fascinating figure Ernest Withers, as well as the dark shadow that era’s culture of surveillance has cast on our own time. Includes an 8-page, black-and-white photo insert. Only Ernest Withers, a key figure in the civil rights movement, could have delivered such an iconic photographs-and the kind of information the FBI wanted ... Renowned photographer Ernest Withers captured some of the most stunning moments of the civil rights era-from the age-defining snapshot of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., riding one of the first integrated buses in Montegomery, to the haunting photo of Emmett Till's great-uncle pointing an accusing finger at his nephew's killers. He was trusted and beloved by King's inner circle, and had a front row seat to history ... 'ut few people know that Withers was also an informant for the FBI. Memphis journalist Marc Perrusquia broke the story of Withers's secret life after a long investigation culminating in a landmark lawsuit against the government to release hundreds of once-classified FBI documents. Those files confirmed that, from 1958 to 1976, Withers helped the Bureau monitor pillars of the movement including Dr. Martin Luther King and others, as well as dozens of civil rights foot soldiers. Now, on the fiftieth anniversary of King's assassination, A Spy in Canaan explores the life, complex motivations, and legacy of the fascinating figure Ernest Withers, as well as the dark shadow that era's culture of surveillance has cast on our own time. Includes an 8-page, black-and-white photo insert "Renowned photographer Ernest Withers captured some of the most stunning moments of the civil rights era--from the age-defining snapshot of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., riding one of the first integrated buses in Montgomery, to the haunting photo of Emmett Till's great-uncle pointing an accusing finger at his nephew's killers. He had a front row seat to history as a man trusted and beloved by the movement's inner circle ... but few people know that Withers was also an informant for the FBI. Memphis journalist Marc Perrusquia broke the story of Withers's secret life after a long investigation culminating in a landmark lawsuit against the government to release hundreds of once-classified FBI documents. Those files confirmed that, from 1958 to 1976, Withers helped the Bureau monitor pillars of the movement including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and others, as well as dozens of civil rights foot soldiers. Now, on the fiftieth anniversary of King's assassination, A Spy in Canaan explores the life, complex motivations, and legacy of the fascinating figure Ernest Withers, as well as the dark shadow that era's culture of surveillance has cast on our own time."--Jacket Only Ernest Withers, a key figure in the civil rights movement, could have delivered such an iconic photographs—and the kind of information the FBI wanted . . . Renowned photographer Ernest Withers captured some of the most stunning moments of the civil rights era—from the age-defining snapshot of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., riding one of the first integrated buses in Montegomery, to the haunting photo of Emmett Till's great-uncle pointing an accusing finger at his nephew's killers. He was trusted and beloved by King's inner circle, and had a front row seat to history . . . but few people know that Withers was also an informant for the FBI. Memphis journalist Marc Perrusquia broke the story of Withers's secret life after a long investigation culminating in a landmark lawsuit against the government to release hundreds of once-classified FBI documents. Those files confirmed that, from 1958 to 1976, Withers helped the Bureau monitor pillars of the movement... The story of the double life of famed civil rights photographer Ernest Withers--and how a closely guarded government secret finally came to light, told by the journalist who broke the story. 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.--Publisher. Part I: The assassination Part II: The discovery Part III: The big break Part IV: Spying on the movement Part V: To the brink: the FBI's war on Dr. King and Black power.