His life story was the subject of a famous Bob Dylan song, as well as a major motion picture starring Denzel Washington.
“People always come up to me, look at me, shake their heads and say, ‘You don’t look like Denzel Washington,’ and they’re actually being kind to me, because what they are really saying is, ‘Thank God Denzel Washington doesn’t look like you,’ ” explained Rubin “The Hurricane” Carter.
“Still, I can’t complain – because until I saw Denzel Washington portraying me up there on that big screen – man, I didn’t know how good looking I was.”
Carter spoke to Carleton students March 3 when he spoke of his life’s battles, triumphs, losses and miracles in his 20 years in prison.
Carter was striving to be the world champion in middleweight boxing when he was unexpectedly arrested and charged with triple murder in his hometown of Paterson, N.J.
He was tried and convicted twice, and fought for his innocence until he regained his freedom Nov. 8, 1985.
Since he was released from prison, his life’s work has become defending innocent people from wrongful convictions.
“Dare to dream, that things could be different, that things could be better. No matter where you are or what circumstance you find yourself in, dare to dream that you could get through it . . . that you could be a better person, and then work towards that end.”
He said his message was to highlight the power of hope and truth, because without it, he said he would not be standing there.
“Darkness did not overcome me . . . I would not be standing here today alive and free if that were not the truth. So it is indeed a great honour and an extraordinary pleasure for me to be here at Carleton University with you guys tonight . . . absolutely miraculous,” he said.
“And after spending 20 excruciating years in prison for crimes that you did not commit, and just narrowly escaping the state-sponsored execution, when you really come to think about all of that . . . it is a great honour for me to be anywhere. I am a survivor. A survivor of the so-called, American criminal justice system.”
Some students said they were impressed he had come to speak at Carleton.
“For someone so well-known to come motivate and inspire us students was really, really cool,” said Kayla Calder, first-year student. “It was really awesome, it was inspirational and eye-opening.”
Carter became a Canadian citizen July 27, and now lives in Toronto. He is proud to be Canadian.
“What I did was get out of the United States, that’s what I did. Over there, across the border is not the home of the brave, is not the land of the free. Canada is.”