Rubin "Hurricane" Carter passes away at 76

[OldDutch]

Ruben Carter had quite the life, as seen in the movie staring Denzel Washington. However I did get a chance to see him speak live at the Jubilee auditorium in 2000, and to this day I consider it the best live speech I have ever seen.

To me Ruben Carter is one of the strongest, smartest, and quickest humans I have even seen. A truly great man who took a major negative and turned it to a positive, by advocating for the wrongly convicted.

If you get a chance to read "The Sixteenth Round: From Number 1 Contender to Number 45472" which he wrote in prison, I strongly suggest it.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/rubin-h...t-76-1.2616026

Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, the former professional boxer who became an advocate for the wrongly convicted after spending 19 years in prison for a triple murder he didn't commit, died Sunday in Toronto. He was 76.

Carter's struggle for freedom and exoneration was made famous in a number of books, a Bob Dylan song and a Hollywood film. Although born in the U.S., Carter had a special connection to Canada, where he settled following his prison release, which came about with the help of a group of Canadians.

[missdpuck]

...in Paterson, that's just the way it goes...

RIP Hurricane.

I vaguely remember the family that owned the bar he hung out in/where the murders occurred. Went to school with the grandkids , and the Bello guy's nephews who were kinda creepy.

Rubin, you are the champion of the world.

[Ped]

My former company actually hired him once as a motivational speaker for a conference - in 2008, I think. Just him and about 40 people. It was a fantastic afternoon.

[troutman]

Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties
Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise
While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell
An innocent man in a living hell
That's the story of the Hurricane
But it won't be over till they clear his name
And give him back the time he's done
Put him in a prison cell but one time he could-a been
The champion of the world.

[RT14]

RIP Hurricane.

I listened to "The Hurricane" a couple times yesterday and plan on watching the movie again soon. It's not much, but I've always had much admiration for what he could've been and how it all got taken away so it's the least I can do to preserve his memory in me a while longer.

[Nage Waza]

Carter certainly spent time for a crime he did not commit, but let's not pretend that he was a saint. Carter committed his share of violent crimes and was jailed for those crimes he was convicted of. Like most criminals, they usually get away with lots before they are arrested.

He absolutely became something different after his false imprisonment.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

Carter committed his share of violent crimes and was jailed for those crimes he was convicted of. Like most criminals, they usually get away with lots before they are arrested.

.

Sources?

[GreenLantern]

Yea he definitely could have just been angry and bitter, but instead he took it the other direction. Great movie, great song, I will have to read that book.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by Nage Waza

Carter certainly spent time for a crime he did not commit, but let's not pretend that he was a saint. Carter committed his share of violent crimes and was jailed for those crimes he was convicted of. Like most criminals, they usually get away with lots before they are arrested.

He absolutely became something different after his false imprisonment.

Yes, he did do time for a string of muggings. He was a certified ex-con before the murders he was falsly imprisioned for happened.

I think however, you have to take the man by his entire lifes work. The movie is not really that accurate and has been criticized as too friendly to Ruben. However, if you read his book you begin to realize that he was raised in a kill or be killed situation, in a rough area with very rough people. No excuse but what he did prior was how many people got by.

You are right as he did transform in prison. If not for that false imprisionment, I think Ruben would tell you he would be in jail anyways or dead.

The key here is he did turn his life around. He found his life's calling and put asside the hate and bitterness, didn't sink in jail, got himself free. Instead of suing everyone, he went to work helping others. He managed to get 18 people out by the time he was done.

I don't think anyone is saying he is sinless, but his life is worthy of all the praise it gets. He was as plain and honest as they come, and when you tabulate all he went through he was in many ways a saint. At least someone many people can take true insperation from.

[Nage Waza]

Thanks Old Dutch, I think it was worth making my post because there were victims of Carter.

Any idea if he ever did deal with that part of his past?

[Nage Waza]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Sources?

Carter served time on a few occasions, and one of the crimes he plead guilty to was a very violent attack on a lady during a mugging. It has been clearly established that Carter, and assorted authors, whitewashed this period of time.

I think it is fair to point this out when other people are claiming he is a champion of the world.

He was wrongly convicted for a crime but correctly convicted of others.