Soledad O'Brien

That's Dr. Marcia Chatelain.

When a black man is arrested for murdering a prominent white woman, it comes with the baggage of our fraught racial history.

When a black man is arrested for murdering a prominent white woman, it comes with the baggage of our fraught racial history.

After his arrest, Ray's mother, Martha, knew her son was in trouble, but she didn't have the money for a lawyer. She was a laundry woman. Every day, she commuted to the white part of Washington, D.C., and returned home to the black part, which was one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city. On the weekends, she was a regular at Second Baptist Church.

After his arrest, Ray's mother, Martha, knew her son was in trouble, but she didn't have the money for a lawyer. She was a laundry woman. Every day, she commuted to the white part of Washington, D.C., and returned home to the black part, which was one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city. On the weekends, she was a regular at Second Baptist Church.

Now, more than ever, she needed her prayers answered. And they were. At church, she heard about a lawyer whose reputation preceded her. A black woman named Dovey Johnson Roundtree.

Now, more than ever, she needed her prayers answered. And they were. At church, she heard about a lawyer whose reputation preceded her. A black woman named Dovey Johnson Roundtree.

Martha wanted Dovey to represent her son. People around D.C. said she was tenacious and clever. But Martha wanted her for more than her legal smarts. She was black. And Ray's mother felt she would be invested in her son's case in a way a white lawyer wouldn't be. Martha was banking on Dovey thinking her child was as good as anyone else's.

Martha wanted Dovey to represent her son. People around D.C. said she was tenacious and clever. But Martha wanted her for more than her legal smarts. She was black. And Ray's mother felt she would be invested in her son's case in a way a white lawyer wouldn't be. Martha was banking on Dovey thinking her child was as good as anyone else's.

The thing was, legal aid had already offered Ray an attorney. A white guy. An experienced guy. For free. But Martha wanted Dovey to take her son's case. So she pleaded with her to defend Ray. Save his life. Now, at that time, Dovey and Martha had just the facts about Mary's murder from the papers. A white woman was shot to death. She was prominent, part of Washington's elite.

The thing was, legal aid had already offered Ray an attorney. A white guy. An experienced guy. For free. But Martha wanted Dovey to take her son's case. So she pleaded with her to defend Ray. Save his life. Now, at that time, Dovey and Martha had just the facts about Mary's murder from the papers. A white woman was shot to death. She was prominent, part of Washington's elite.

It happened on the towpath in Georgetown, and a black man was arrested. Martha was sure Ray wasn't the killer. She thought he was too simple, too plain. She babied her 25-year-old son like he was still a kid, even though he was actually the oldest of her three boys. If Dovey took on the case, the cards would be stacked against her, and the deck was already high.

It happened on the towpath in Georgetown, and a black man was arrested. Martha was sure Ray wasn't the killer. She thought he was too simple, too plain. She babied her 25-year-old son like he was still a kid, even though he was actually the oldest of her three boys. If Dovey took on the case, the cards would be stacked against her, and the deck was already high.

Here was a black female lawyer from the segregated South asking a jury to acquit a black man accused of shooting a white woman in 1964 with an eyewitness who said he saw the whole thing. The task would be monumental. Dovey didn't take the case at first, but she would because Martha's hope was true. Dovey did think Ray was as good as any other man. His black skin didn't make him inferior.

Here was a black female lawyer from the segregated South asking a jury to acquit a black man accused of shooting a white woman in 1964 with an eyewitness who said he saw the whole thing. The task would be monumental. Dovey didn't take the case at first, but she would because Martha's hope was true. Dovey did think Ray was as good as any other man. His black skin didn't make him inferior.

Her grandma Rachel's experiences had taught her that. From Luminary, Film Nation Entertainment, and Neon Hum Media, this is Murder on the Towpath, a story of two incredible women who never met, but whose lives became forever intertwined by tragedy. I'm your host, Soledad O'Brien. Last week, we started to tell you about an affair, Mary Pinchot Meyer and JFK.

Her grandma Rachel's experiences had taught her that. From Luminary, Film Nation Entertainment, and Neon Hum Media, this is Murder on the Towpath, a story of two incredible women who never met, but whose lives became forever intertwined by tragedy. I'm your host, Soledad O'Brien. Last week, we started to tell you about an affair, Mary Pinchot Meyer and JFK.

But before we get to that, we need to dig into the life of the woman who would defend Mary's accused murderer, a woman who had no idea about Mary's connections to the president and wouldn't for years. In fact, at that time, very few people outside of Mary's inner circle knew about the affair. When Ray was tried, it was the case of a black man who had killed a white woman.

But before we get to that, we need to dig into the life of the woman who would defend Mary's accused murderer, a woman who had no idea about Mary's connections to the president and wouldn't for years. In fact, at that time, very few people outside of Mary's inner circle knew about the affair. When Ray was tried, it was the case of a black man who had killed a white woman.

By the time of Mary's murder, Dovey was 50 years old. She had her own law practice with a colleague. She had accomplished so much in a half century, even though she wasn't allowed to drink from the same water fountain as white folks. She'd won some high-profile legal cases, including a bus segregation case that laid the foundation for Rosa Parks.