"A Racial Crime: The Assassination of MLK" by Ayton, Mel - Critical Essay

Introduction

In the text "A Racial Crime: The Assassination of MLK" by Mel, Ayton gives an opinionated account on the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. featuring the investigation conclusion drawn by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in America. Mel is inquisitive in his prowess to make inquiries on the circumstantial situation that led to the elimination of the fallen hero. Evidence against the sole perpetrator in the murder, James Earl Ray renders direct and indirect leads to the conspired political assassinations during this era in America. The whole account revolves around the life threat felt by Dr. King and his murder. The prominent Civil Rights Movement activists received numerous death threats and acknowledged after President Kennedy's assassination this was his sure way to exit the earth. King condemned the sick society they lived in due to the untold misery of racism. In the essay, Mel shows the ignorance of the general public on the lengthy report leading to the uprooting of the black dream and the enjoyment of freedom of the white perpetrator. This paper will explore the author's point of view in the contribution to the literary work while recounting on the ironical account of the racial crime against MLK. Therefore, the work will explore Mel's informatory positions, persuasive descriptions, humorous literary devices, and exploratory features applied to make the text more appealing to the reader and signify the writer's viewpoint when narrating the recount.

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From the beginning of the MLK essay, Mel Ayton presents a robust informatory position on his take and purpose of giving this highly radicalized affair. The author's opinion and disappointment felt by the reader on the opening remark of the essay. He emphasizes the lengthy period it had taken the prominent federal government to bring records to justice after the racial assassination of a peaceful civil right activist. The text presents Mel's goal post on the perpetration of truth violated by James Earl Ray but felt that there was more conspiracy to the death than just a shot out. The author's discomfort emerges when he presents the argument on the conspiracy plea by Ray and the official assassination version filed by the Memphis authorities and the intelligence handling the matters solving King's assassination. Mel presents his prominent voice when portraying the circumstances revolving the conspired racism that led to the murder of Dr. MLK.

The language tone used to describe the impact of the fatal shot shows the author's opinion on the racial injustice perpetrated by white citizens in America in the late 1960 and 1970s. Although Mel's judgmental stand is not outright, he gives the critical presentation of the issue with critical emphasizes on the injustice perpetrated by Dr. King. For instance, when introducing the essay, the author arrests the reader's attention by describing that its thirty-five years since the racial crime occurred and felt like justice yet served. Giving informatory position of his perception on the matter, Mel states that the fatal shot remained to echo fresh across the racial divide. The irony shows the authors indirect sympathy on the unfulfilled dreams of unifying the blacks. Throughout the whole essay, Mel engages the reader with his perceived position on the injustice administered to the black population after the political and racial elimination of their only hope.

In the whole text, Mel portrays his firm believe on the prejudice of the FBI's role in the investigating and bringing to just and other high-rank authorities in Memphis. Thus, he felt Ray played a scapegoat role to cover-up for the real assassinator. For instance, Mel indirectly presents to his reader the untold truth about the strained relationship in the early 1960s between Dr. King and the then FBI director Edgar Hoover. In this recount, the author shows his right discernment that Ray did not perpetrate the assassination alone. The choice of topic for the essay makes an efficient representation of the author's viewpoint on the death and quest for justice. The open dissatisfaction of the author on lack of closure in the case was not only mentioned lack of King's family quest for truth but the black divide in totality. This topic makes an ironic representation of the author's informatory position to dispute the fact that a racial crime as massive as an assassination would not involve one single hitman as hypothesized by the official case theory.

Making a dominant effort in the essay, Mel Ayton demonstrates he emphasizes on the carelessness of the federal state and security agencies in their quest to achieve justice for Dr. King. The author makes his opinion known to his readers by portraying the freelance roam of the assassin James Ray. The contrast of administration of justice shows an interesting aspect of the judicial system of the American country. Later in the essay, the author portrays Mr. Ray's escape and indulgence in brothel life. The emphasis laid on the different personalities interacting with Ray showed the authors negative posterities about the white who felt like they were superior to the blacks yet they led very immoral lives. Mel describes the contrary of the black and white personalities in their efforts to fight life odds and prosper to make the world a better place without each other. Ray is described by the author to have obsessive hatred towards black people. Even after firing the fatal shot that claimed King's life the author shows his satisfaction and pride in solving a future problem for America.

The funny aspects of the narration show the author's convincing position that Ray may be innocent. The hidden conspiracy to buckle the whole burden on a lone assassin pointed exciting part of the untold story. Despite Mel condemnation of Ray's conduct and convincing perception about the evidence showing his single-handed role in eliminating King. The mastermind behind the real assassination on plot knew hos Ray was a circumstantial victim too. Ray's hatred towards the black population gave away his possible innocence barring any efforts to seek proper justice to the real killer. Ray confided in one of the witnesses on how if given a chance he would kill King again and again. The psychodrama assassination showed the unique authors representation of the black population's position in the country. During authorial intrusion in the narration, Mel questions the integrity of the independent bodies working to provide incriminating evidence on James Earl Ray's case. He relates this assassination case to President Kennedy's assassination to persuade his reader on the level of esteem he holds King. The exciting presentation of double shielded truth confuses the reader on the credibility of the author's standing point about the whole issue.

The essay plays an entertaining Mel wants his readers to enjoy the presentation of exposing unknown accounts of the most forms of discrimination and denial of justice in the American history. The use of understatements when showing the representation of public knowledge on the assassination of the black population's hope makes an appealing connection for enticing the reader understands the seriousness of the crime. The choice of topic for the essay "A racial crime" is a figurative speech to symbolize the author's perception of the murder perpetrated by Ray. The application of humorous devices in the article has enhanced the success of the real contribution of Mel Ayton on the threats of finding justice in America. The depth of the FBI and CIA investigation on the case and that of the assassination of President Kennedy shows the underlining nature of the security agencies and the weight of the assassination issues. Mel makes considerable efforts to show humor when narrating on the incidence of Ray dismissing his initial legal representation for a better option. The new attorney in the case convinces him to sign guaranteed prosecution which the latter refutes after making hundreds of scripts of his approved evidence. The entertaining manner in which the author exposes the reader to the double standards enlightens the reader on the character traits of Ray.

The author employs burlesque when he presents the controversial version on the revelation made by the London based attorney, William Pepper, who successfully convinces the innocence on Ray and uncovers the exert happening that lead to King's death. The same mockery of events takes a new twist on the interview between King's eldest son, Dexter King who shows the family's point of view thirty years after the death of their father. Dexter with the blessings of his mother shakes Ray's hand to signify peace and reconciliation. The humorous narration of these new twists of events entertains the reader. Further the use of hyperbole to show that the handshake between Dexter King and James Ray shows the authors exaggerations on the impact the new revelation arrested on his opinionated presentation of the informatory accounts of events surrounding the truth on King's assassination.

Conclusion

The essay focuses on the inquiry to show the author's hostility towards the judicial system and the assassin, James Ray. The motive of this writing is not only an enlightenment reflection on what happened to Dr. King but also to expose the untold truth about the assassin. Mel makes an exploratory presentation of the situation hoping to accomplish extensive exposure to the injustice treatment suffered by black population despite their rank in social representation. The text indirectly shows the authors attitude towards the denial of justice by the investigating bodies for lack of substantial evidence to clear the air on the matter leading to the death of an all-time hope for the black dream for better tomorrow. Although Mel makes an indirect accusation of the judicial neglect on the case on the racial ground he succeeds in enlightening his reader on the immediate termination of the black dream. He uses rhetorical imagery to accomplish his work to ensure that the message on racial discrimination in the political arena in America. The author buries his perception on the cause of action when he emphasizes on the duration Ray moves from one state to another without paying for the crime he had committed. In some instances, the author shows his biased attitude towards the defendant revealing his dissatisfaction when Ray escapes the death penalty.

Works Cited

Mel, Ayton. "A Racial Crime: The Assassination of MLK, Las Vegas, NV: ArcheBooks Publishing, 2005