In a recent episode of SpyCast, Leta McCollough Seletsky shares the incredible story of her father, Marrell “Mac” McCollough. Mac McCollough is best known for being the man seen kneeling next to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel on the day of his assassination in 1968. However, what many people don’t know is that Mac McCollough was also an undercover spy working with the Memphis Police Department.
Leta McCollough Seletsky, a litigator turned essayist and memoirist, joins Andrew Hammond in this episode to delve into her father’s life and their unique connection. Growing up, Leta was always aware that her father was the man in the famous photo. But it wasn’t until many years later that she discovered the truth about his secret life as a spy. This revelation led her on a personal journey to uncover the long-lost truths of her father’s life.
Mac McCollough’s story is a fascinating one. He was a young Black man growing up in Jim Crow Mississippi, facing the challenges and injustices of racial segregation. But he didn’t let these obstacles define him. Instead, he took on a dangerous role as an undercover spy infiltrating the Memphis-based Black militant group known as the Invaders.
His work as a spy eventually caught the attention of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and Mac McCollough embarked on a career with the agency. The details of his undercover operations and the extent of his involvement with the CIA remain mysterious, but it is clear that he played a significant role in gathering intelligence during a tumultuous time in American history.
The episode also explores the broader context of the time, including the Black power movement and the counterintelligence program (COINTELPRO) carried out by the FBI. These government programs aimed to infiltrate and disrupt Black activist groups, often through illegal and unethical means. The conspiracies surrounding Dr. King’s assassination are also discussed, adding intrigue to an already complex story.
For Leta McCollough Seletsky, coming to terms with her father’s past and her own connection to it has been a journey of reflection and understanding. She acknowledges the progress that has been made over the years but also recognizes the small steps that still need to be taken. Her father saw progress as an incremental change, not a swift transformation. And yet, he would likely be amazed to see the choices and opportunities that his children have today compared to what he had to overcome.
The episode ends with a quote from Leta McCollough Seletsky that encapsulates the significance of her father’s journey and the ongoing struggle for equality: “My father never really saw progress being made any other way than just this sort of slow push, you know, it’s not a sea change. It’s not microwave justice. You know, it’s incremental change. And yet, I think it’s gotta be pretty amazing to him to see what his children were able to do and the choices that they had, vis-a-vis what he had to come through to get there and the choices that he had at our ages.”
The story of Marrell “Mac” McCollough is a powerful reminder of the complexities of history and the individuals who played a part, both seen and unseen. It serves as a call to recognize the sacrifices made by those who fought for justice and to continue the work of creating a more equitable society.