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A review of The 16th Round - From Number One Contender To Number 45472

by Rubin "Hurricane" Carter

The autobiography of a former middleweight boxer wrongly convicted of murder

Reviewed by: Paul A. Paterson
About Paul A. Paterson

The 16th Round - From Number One Contender To Number 45472 Rubin Carter's youth is a study in prejudice and rage. He grew up in Patterson, New Jersey in the late '50s during the height of American segregation and bigotry, and discovered very early he had a particular skill with his fists. He fought throughout his childhood, while in the army and finally in the boxing ring, where he earned the number one ranking as a middleweight, defeating both defeated welterweight champion Emile Griffith and middleweight Georgie Benton before losing lost to Joey Giardello in a bid for the middleweight championship belt.

But in 1964, robbers shot two white diners at a New Jersey restaurant, and police arrested Carter and another man. Despite changing witness testimony, questionable evidence and obvious bias on the part of the police and prosecution, Carter was sentenced to die in the electric chair. Written from prison, The 16th Round was his attempt to set the record straight and force a new trial.

This book is more than an autobiography -- it is a snapshot of one of the most turbulent times in American history. Caught at the crossroads of segregation and the civil rights movement, Carter is equal parts pawn and knight in the events. His violent history and occupation, which includes a dishonorable discharge from the military, stain his defense, but the reader gets the distinct impression that dark forces behind the scene are conspiring to silence a powerful voice. Written in the first person, Carter is candid about his past, though the relation of some events is far from objective.

In any case, the story is a compelling tale of prejudice and bigotry. Set out if 15 chapters, each a round of his life, the 16th round was the fight to come, the one that would ultimately see Carter released and develop into a passionate advocate for the wrongly convicted and proponent for prison reform. The 16th Round is a great read for anyone interested in the history of the Civil Rights Movement, and stories of the strength of the human spirit.

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Copyright © by Paul A. Paterson, 2002

Reviewed by Paul A. Paterson:
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