“Here’s the story of the Hurricane, the man the authorities came to blame. For something that he’d never done. Put in a prison cell, but one time he’s gonna be the champion of the world.”
– Bob Dylan, “Hurricane”
This past Sunday, Rubin “The Hurricane” Carter passed away from prostate cancer. Carter was a former middleweight contender who in 1967 was wrongly convicted of homicide.
In 1966, two men were killed inside a bar in Patterson, New Jersey.
The assailants were recognized from eyewitnesses as being two black men.
That same night, Carter, along with associate John Artis, were arrested for the murder, despite not being responsible.
Two key eyewitnesses changed their position on whether Carter was involved or not several times throughout Carter’s two convictions and appeals.
Carter’s case eventually went to the Supreme Court and he was released due to the racially charged tactics of the
prosecution throughout his trials and the unreliability of the witnesses involved.
Carter’s story, which he would describe in his autobiography The Sixteenth Round, served as inspiration for readers and also turned a lot of attention to Carter’s story.
The book served not only as the basis of a song by Bob Dylan, but also as the basis for the film The Hurricane.
Actor Denzel Washington received an Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of the wrongly convicted boxer.
Carter would spend much of his life outside of prison by serving as a director and overseer for the Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted – a Canadian based organization that gives support to those who are wrongly convicted in trials.
Carter’s story is a reminder of a time that ways, and in many was still is, common in America’s legal system.
There are still profiling cases to be found within the American justice system. These cases must always be sought out and the truth must be revealed with no agenda attached.
Though Carter was eventually freed, he
represents a great number of people from that time in American history when men or women could be convicted based on the color of their skin and not on the merit of their actions and their day in court.
When Dylan wrote the lyrics “one time he’s gonna be the champion of the world,” it is doubtful to assume that he was referring to any sort of comeback in Carter’s boxing career.
Rather, Dylan’s lyric likely refers to the sweet victory that a turnover in Carter’s conviction would yield.
Carter was vindicated and with his freedom he turned his life over to helping those who found themselves in similar situations and could not help themselves.
Let Carter’s story remind you of the injustice of the past and the present and that we should be mindful of the future and how our justice system must progress if we are to truly represent liberty and justice for all.
If you are interested in Carter’s story and learning more you can read his book The Sixteenth Round and see the film The Hurricane.
The Xavierite Staff
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