In this first installment of CNN's Black in America series, Soledad O'Brien investigates how James Earl Ray, an armed robber and escaped convict, had already spent an uncommon year on the run that included plastic surgery just a month before his path collided with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee.

Through interviews with witnesses and investigators, O'Brien retraces the steps of King, Ray, the FBI and Memphis police and explores alternative scenarios of who was ultimately responsible for the murder that, for some, represented the end of the American Civil Rights era. Special Coverage
Watch a preview now | Tune in Thursday, April 3 at 9 p.m. ET
Special coverage from our partner: Essence.com