Soledad O'Brien

John F. Kennedy. Listen to Murder on the Towpath with Soledad O'Brien on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

John F. Kennedy. Listen to Murder on the Towpath with Soledad O'Brien on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Our producers Catherine and Natalie came with me to the towpath in Georgetown. Today, there's a bike path below the towpath, next to the Potomac. It's a similar distance between where Henry would have been and the murder scene. Could people hear the bag popping from that far away?

Our producers Catherine and Natalie came with me to the towpath in Georgetown. Today, there's a bike path below the towpath, next to the Potomac. It's a similar distance between where Henry would have been and the murder scene. Could people hear the bag popping from that far away?

Dovey and her colleagues were getting creative, but they would do anything to give Ray a fighting chance. By the time she reached her 30s, Dovey had already faced injustice. Mrs. Hurley had wrongly accused her of stealing. A farm owner had maimed her grandmother. The Klan had terrorized her family. Hate seemed to be spreading at a global level, too. It was the 1940s.

Dovey and her colleagues were getting creative, but they would do anything to give Ray a fighting chance. By the time she reached her 30s, Dovey had already faced injustice. Mrs. Hurley had wrongly accused her of stealing. A farm owner had maimed her grandmother. The Klan had terrorized her family. Hate seemed to be spreading at a global level, too. It was the 1940s.

Fascism was a cancer sweeping through Europe, and Dovey was hell-bent on stopping it. She joined the Army, becoming part of the first class of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in World War II, and eventually becoming a captain. But she noticed the hypocrisy. She was fighting for freedom abroad while she lacked those freedoms at home every day. Dovey wasn't one to let all these injustices stand.

Fascism was a cancer sweeping through Europe, and Dovey was hell-bent on stopping it. She joined the Army, becoming part of the first class of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps in World War II, and eventually becoming a captain. But she noticed the hypocrisy. She was fighting for freedom abroad while she lacked those freedoms at home every day. Dovey wasn't one to let all these injustices stand.

She wanted to do something about it. That's how she ended up at Howard University School of Law. In 1947, she was just one of five women in her class. Not everyone was thrilled that Dovey had arrived. On her first day, when she registered for classes, the receptionist asked her if she was registering for her husband or her brother. The message was clear. She didn't belong there.

She wanted to do something about it. That's how she ended up at Howard University School of Law. In 1947, she was just one of five women in her class. Not everyone was thrilled that Dovey had arrived. On her first day, when she registered for classes, the receptionist asked her if she was registering for her husband or her brother. The message was clear. She didn't belong there.

And Dovey being Dovey, while she was attending law school, battling racism and sexism, she also had two part-time jobs. Eventually, her male classmates couldn't help but notice she was brilliant. Dovey said they actually asked to study with her.

And Dovey being Dovey, while she was attending law school, battling racism and sexism, she also had two part-time jobs. Eventually, her male classmates couldn't help but notice she was brilliant. Dovey said they actually asked to study with her.

She did have a grip on the law. Every week, Dovey and about six other students met at her house to study together. Dovey graduated in 1950. It was one of the proudest moments in her life. But even graduation was bittersweet. Yes, she had achieved, but how far had she come given that segregation was still the law of the land?

She did have a grip on the law. Every week, Dovey and about six other students met at her house to study together. Dovey graduated in 1950. It was one of the proudest moments in her life. But even graduation was bittersweet. Yes, she had achieved, but how far had she come given that segregation was still the law of the land?

By now, Grandma Rachel was in her 80s, but she wouldn't miss Dovey getting her diploma. Rachel and Leela took the train up from North Carolina to attend the ceremony. Dovey went to Union Station to meet them. As soon as Dovey saw her mom and her grandmother, she knew something was wrong. Grandma Rachel was crying. Trouble had found them on the train.

By now, Grandma Rachel was in her 80s, but she wouldn't miss Dovey getting her diploma. Rachel and Leela took the train up from North Carolina to attend the ceremony. Dovey went to Union Station to meet them. As soon as Dovey saw her mom and her grandmother, she knew something was wrong. Grandma Rachel was crying. Trouble had found them on the train.

Dovey reserved seats for her family, but by the time they got there, all of the seats in the black car were taken, packed with families. Luggage was overflowing onto the aisle. Meanwhile, the white seats were half empty. When they went to sit there, the conductor yelled at them. He refused to honor their reserved seats. So they put them in the back.

Dovey reserved seats for her family, but by the time they got there, all of the seats in the black car were taken, packed with families. Luggage was overflowing onto the aisle. Meanwhile, the white seats were half empty. When they went to sit there, the conductor yelled at them. He refused to honor their reserved seats. So they put them in the back.

They had to go back to the black section of the train and stand for the 10-hour ride.

They had to go back to the black section of the train and stand for the 10-hour ride.