Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a fighter to the last, lost this final battle. He had been battling prostrate cancer, but he died from it on Easter Sunday, at the age of 76.
He was a very promising boxer who seemed destined to be champion of the world, and who some say, was robbed of the world title after he was on the wrong end of a highly controversial decision in a title bout.
But Carter was convicted twice for the same murders, in 1967 and 1976, although both convictions were ultimately overturned.
Hurricane Carter came to symbolize for many the struggle against racism, as his convictions seemed to underscore a racist system that targeted blacks unfairly. His case became famous, and was the focal point of a popular song by legendary musician and activist Bob Dylan, as well as an award winning film starring Denzel Washington.
Carter was released in 1986, and became a voice against the injustice in the justice system, as well as in prison.
“[P]rison is bitterness. Prison is violence. Prison is hatred. Prison is humiliation. Prison is degradation. Prison is all of those things, and those things are imposed upon us. No matter who you are or what you’re in prison for, whether you’re innocent or guilty, it makes no difference. Everybody is affected by a prison,” Carter told PBS’ Tavis Smiley in 2011. “Prison, Tavis, is the lowest level of human existence that a human being can exist on without being dead. That is what prison is, and that affects everybody. Not just prisoners, but guards, social workers, psychiatrists, warden.”
Much of the information in this article, as well as the quote above, were taken from the following article, which you can view by clicking on the link below:
"Boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, symbol of racism, dies at 76" by Adam Serwer of MSNBC, April 20, 2014:
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/boxer-rubin-hurricane-carter-dead-76
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