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In the chilling final paragraph of the letter, the author, who never identifies himself, suggests King take action in a way that is difficult to decipher to this day.

“There is only one thing left for you to do. You know what it is,” warns the author. Since the discovery of the original, unedited letter by Yale American History professor Beverly Gage, there has been speculation about what the warning meant. Some took it to mean that King needed to follow the letter’s 34-day deadline and come forward about his behavior. Others thought that the FBI wanted King to commit suicide.

Hoover’s campaign to drive King from the movement failed as no media of the time would report on his personal life. In the nearly 48 years since his assassination, King, once reviled by his critics, has since risen to iconic status and even has a monument in his honor in Washington, D.C. Hoover, on the other hand, occupies a less favorable place in the annals of history, although the FBI headquarters in the same city still carries his name.

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LIttle Known Black History Fact: The FBI’s MLK Letter  was originally published on blackamericaweb.com

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