"Walker's Appeal," as his tract came to be known, was a clarion call for U.S. slaves to wage armed rebellion against slaveholders. The state of Georgia put a price on [David Walker]'s head and his death remains a mystery. Other blacks considered to be conspiracy victims are: Richard Wright, acclaimed author of "Native Sun" and "Black Boy" was resting and awaiting a checkup at the Clinique Gibez in Paris when he died unexpectedly on Nov. 28, 1960. Black conspiracy theorists insist Wright was murdered by the CIA for his frequent criticism of U.S. racial and foreign policies.

Skeptics may dispute the claim, but they should consider that for Western countries Wright was an undesirable. Two years before his death, British officials denied him permission to live in London. Patrice Lumumba, first elected premier of the Congo, which is now Zaire. On this, the conspiracy theorists are correct. The CIA is guilty, guilty, guilty in the death of Patrice Lumumba.

Others considered conspiracy victims are reggae singer Bob Marley, mega-businessman Reginald Lewis, black author Henry Dumas and Harold Washington, the late mayor of Chicago. Often blacks jump immediately to a conspiracy theory without even a scintilla of evidence. Those of us not in the conspiracy camp will continue to scoff at the claims. But black conspiracy theorists no doubt believe the adage spoken by a man at UMBC: "There's more than one way to get people off this earth, and it doesn't have to be through the barrel of a rifle."