Soledad O'Brien

If Ray was telling the truth, his lover would confirm the story.

Ray's adultery wouldn't win him the sympathy of jurors, that's for sure. But if his lover was with him when Mary was murdered, then his fling might just be a good thing. All Dovey had to do was find this Vivian woman, which she did. Vivian corroborated everything in a phone call, down to the chips, whiskey, and cigarettes.

Ray's adultery wouldn't win him the sympathy of jurors, that's for sure. But if his lover was with him when Mary was murdered, then his fling might just be a good thing. All Dovey had to do was find this Vivian woman, which she did. Vivian corroborated everything in a phone call, down to the chips, whiskey, and cigarettes.

Winning Ray his freedom wasn't going to be easy. But Dovey was used to challenges. She'd spent her life overcoming them, starting with getting her education. Dovey grew up poor. She lost her father, and her grandfather was killed. Eventually, Grandma Rachel remarried, and her husband, Reverend Clyde Graham, was a preacher at one of Charlotte's largest black churches.

Winning Ray his freedom wasn't going to be easy. But Dovey was used to challenges. She'd spent her life overcoming them, starting with getting her education. Dovey grew up poor. She lost her father, and her grandfather was killed. Eventually, Grandma Rachel remarried, and her husband, Reverend Clyde Graham, was a preacher at one of Charlotte's largest black churches.

But it was still hard to make ends meet. Dovey's mother, Leela, and her grandparents did what they could to get by. Leela cleaned the home of a white family named the Hurleys. According to her, they were good, decent white people. If it weren't for the Hurleys, Dovey wouldn't have gone to her dream college, Spelman. That dream started in grade school.

But it was still hard to make ends meet. Dovey's mother, Leela, and her grandparents did what they could to get by. Leela cleaned the home of a white family named the Hurleys. According to her, they were good, decent white people. If it weren't for the Hurleys, Dovey wouldn't have gone to her dream college, Spelman. That dream started in grade school.

Her eighth grade teacher, Miss Wimbush, told her about a prestigious all-women's historically black college and told her to apply. That's how Dovey got it in her head. But the school was in Atlanta, the home of the Ku Klux Klan. There was no way Rachel wanted to send her granddaughter there. And financially, the school was out of reach.

Her eighth grade teacher, Miss Wimbush, told her about a prestigious all-women's historically black college and told her to apply. That's how Dovey got it in her head. But the school was in Atlanta, the home of the Ku Klux Klan. There was no way Rachel wanted to send her granddaughter there. And financially, the school was out of reach.

Higher education was expensive back then, too. Not to mention an out-of-state private school. Tuition plus room and board were eight times the cost of attending a local black college in North Carolina. And for a black family during the Great Depression? Almost impossible. But Dovey would end up there. She even wrote about it in her admissions essay to the school.

Higher education was expensive back then, too. Not to mention an out-of-state private school. Tuition plus room and board were eight times the cost of attending a local black college in North Carolina. And for a black family during the Great Depression? Almost impossible. But Dovey would end up there. She even wrote about it in her admissions essay to the school.

How going to Spelman would be like winning the lottery. The letter comes to us courtesy of the Spelman College Archives. She wrote, "'I have been obsessed with the thought of continuing my education. Every year I have hoped and prayed that my worthy wish would be possible, but money held me back.'"

How going to Spelman would be like winning the lottery. The letter comes to us courtesy of the Spelman College Archives. She wrote, "'I have been obsessed with the thought of continuing my education. Every year I have hoped and prayed that my worthy wish would be possible, but money held me back.'"

Alas, I have found the only way to conquer such a difficulty was not in the praying and wishing, but in the rising above the obstacle. I'm going to stop right there because it's in this moment in Dovey's life where we see a pattern emerge. Over the course of her life, Dovey was often faced with the most impossible of hurdles. Then someone would step in and give her a chance.

Alas, I have found the only way to conquer such a difficulty was not in the praying and wishing, but in the rising above the obstacle. I'm going to stop right there because it's in this moment in Dovey's life where we see a pattern emerge. Over the course of her life, Dovey was often faced with the most impossible of hurdles. Then someone would step in and give her a chance.

Sometimes those people were black, sometimes white. Dovey was brilliant, but it was the 1930s. Brilliant for a black woman wasn't enough. Sometimes still not enough. Here's Georgetown professor Dr. Chatelain.

Sometimes those people were black, sometimes white. Dovey was brilliant, but it was the 1930s. Brilliant for a black woman wasn't enough. Sometimes still not enough. Here's Georgetown professor Dr. Chatelain.

As luck would have it, the Hurleys, the white family her mother worked for, were moving to Atlanta, the very city where Spellman is. And the Hurleys wanted two live-in housemaids. They wanted to help Leela and Dubby, give them jobs and some security. Everything had lined up. Now Dovey wouldn't have to pay room and board at Spelman.

As luck would have it, the Hurleys, the white family her mother worked for, were moving to Atlanta, the very city where Spellman is. And the Hurleys wanted two live-in housemaids. They wanted to help Leela and Dubby, give them jobs and some security. Everything had lined up. Now Dovey wouldn't have to pay room and board at Spelman.

Mother and daughter would work side by side for two years, save enough money for Spelman's tuition. And then Leela would return home while Dovey kept working for the family, all while Dovey was still in school. The two moved to Atlanta in the fall of 1932, and Dovey enrolled in Spelman two years later. Dovey was in awe. The campus was simultaneously inspiring and humbling.