Conspiracy Theories Surrounding The Assassination Of MLK

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UPDATED: 11 a.m. ET,  April 4, 2024

It’s been 56 years since Martin Luther King Jr.’s life was tragically cut short when he was assassinated in Memphis, but there are still so many questions surrounding his death.

When someone the world loves is suddenly taken away, people need answers and if they don’t get those answers, conspiracy theories begin to take form. On this episode of Black Folklore, we dive into the complex and fascinating MLK conspiracies surrounding the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

After King was killed MLK conspiracy theories centered around his death began to pick up steam, but every great puzzle starts with the first piece, so let’s go back to the beginning.

On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed while standing on the balcony of his second-floor hotel room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. News of his death shook the Black community at its core, resulting in violence erupting in more than 125 American cities across 29 states. According to the NMAAHC, after King’s assassination nearly 50,000 federal troops occupied America’s urban areas. Thirty-nine people were killed and 3,500 were injured.