s1 The hymn sung at Gran’s funeral, ‘Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling,’ was sung at MLK’s memorial service at the Ebenezer Baptist Church.
DUD/s1 Malcolm is killed by 3 bigoted rednecks and Malcolm X was assassinated by 3 racists.
LDID/s2 Godric died in Dallas where Kennedy was assassinated
CD/s3 is set in Jackson where Medgar Evers was assassinated



The only thing I can think of at present, is that all of the events mentioned were watersheds in American history. The assassination of these three men changed how people thought of themselves and their country. There have also always been unresolved questions regarding the circumstances. My pov is from someone who lives in another country, so I may be way off base.
Really good observations, Bobsgran! I was thinking they were all associated with the Civil Rights Movement, but I really like the way you have personalized the connection to Sookie and brought in the shock doctrine better. These were events that were of such a shocking nature that they rocked the nation and left it changed forever just like Gran’s death, Grodric’s death, and Bill’s betrayal do to Sookie.
I was just sitting down to mention that all 3 men championed Civil Rights.
MLK and ME promoted change through peaceful measures as well as civil disobedience, JFK through legislation.
Godric came to believe that the 2 races vampire and human could exist peacefully together.
Eric will hopefully realize that vengeance isn’t a panacea.
Good point!
JFK and MLK were conspiracies perpetrated by the right-wing faction of the PTB. Lying propaganda concerning these watershed events is through the roof. The ‘Oficial Version’ of these events are such obvious lies it is an insult to the intellegence of the citizenry, yet the questions that are still asked to this day are dismissed as the ravings of lunatics who prefer to believe their government committed these atrocious crimes rather than submit to the notion that an attention seeking lone nut pulled off the murder(s) and perpetrated the highly sophisticated cover-up(s). Justice has yet to be served.
Justice in the Medger Evers murder was severely delayed, after several racist juries refused to hold him accountable.
Dylan wrote a song about Evers’s assassination that adds him to your conspiracy cauldron.
Only a Pawn in their Game
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoZs8K-uW5c
A bullet from the back of a bush took Medgar Evers’ blood.
A finger fired the trigger to his name.
A handle hit out in the dark
A hand set the spark
Two eyes took the aim
Behind a man’s brain
But he can’t be blamed
He’s only a pawn in their game.
A South politician preaches to the poor white man,
‘You got more than the blacks, don’t complain.
You’re better than them, you been born with white skin,’ they explain.
And the Negro’s name
Is used it is plain
For the politician’s gain
As he rises to fame
And the poor white remains
On the caboose of the train
But it ain’t him to blame
He’s only a pawn in their game.
The deputy sheriffs, the soldiers, the governors get paid,
And the marshals and cops get the same,
But the poor white man’s used in the hands of them all like a tool.
He’s taught in his school
From the start by the rule
That the laws are with him
To protect his white skin
To keep up his hate
So he never thinks straight
‘Bout the shape that he’s in
But it ain’t him to blame
He’s only a pawn in their game.
From the poverty shacks, he looks from the cracks to the tracks,
And the hoof beats pound in his brain.
And he’s taught how to walk in a pack
Shoot in the back
With his fist in a clinch
To hang and to lynch
To hide ‘neath the hood
To kill with no pain
Like a dog on a chain
He ain’t got no name
But it ain’t him to blame
He’s only a pawn in their game.
Today, Medgar Evers was buried from the bullet he caught.
They lowered him down as a king.
But when the shadowy sun set on the one
That fired the gun
He’ll see by his grave
On the stone that remains
Carved next to his name
His epitaph plain:
Only a pawn in their game.
Oh yeah, Dylan is a big ol’ conspiracy theorist, which is why he’s one of my heroes.
Alan Ball is, too, me thinks.
Maybe Charlaine as well. ;~)
AB is for sure.
JFK was shot a 12:30 pm
At the hospital ,1 pm he was giving last rites
At 1:33 pm he was officially announced dead
Watch the clock tonight.
High noon is synonymous with climax or turning point.
Jason made one when at 12:20 he put his youth behind him and starting thinking about his future.
It’s interesting that you have brought this up. I’ve always found the opening credits compelling with the obvious newsreel footage of the police, with dogs, beating up protesters and crowds on the sidelines doing nothing.
footage of the police, with dogs, beating up protesters and crowds on the sidelines doing nothing.
Which I relate to some in the audience who can’t see the exploitation of some of the characters. All they can seem to express is impatience.
Yes. You could write a masters thesis on that title sequence.
Hmmmmm…
Malcolm X was another CR figure who was assasinated, and Malcolm’s murder in TB rocked Sookie’s world because she thought Bill had been with him and the others.
Think I’m going to add this to the post.
I’ve quoted this many times before but it bears repeating here, as it directly relates to the overall MO of TB:
“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”
-Malcolm X
I really think this is exactly what AB is doing with Talbot’s murder. Bill is the guilty one, but it will look like Eric did it.
In a way, Bill himself personifies propaganda. He has invaded Sookie’s psyche and is systematically twisting her perceptions of truth and reality. And she hasn’t a clue.
Yes, I think you are exactly right.
Ha!
Malcolm quoted Nietzsche on his coffin, ‘God is dead.’ Malcolm X read Nietzsche in prison and rejected his ideas.
Is this the difference between M and MX?
Indeed.
I’ve always admired that MX gave Nietzsche the stink-eye.
very interesting parallels.