This has probably been said before but…
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Sam Cooke
That_Beatles_Girl — 19 years ago(March 21, 2007 10:04 AM)
I think race played a big issue in the trial. Because he was a black man, the court assumed that Cooke raped Boyer. I know that a lot of OJ Simpson fans use this argument, but let's not forget that Cooke died in 1964, a time when most of the United States still had a lot of prejudice.
I'm an actor. Love me, love me. Your applause fills the hole in my heart where love used to be. -
scooke-6 — 18 years ago(September 07, 2007 02:52 AM)
The whole thing stunk, Beatles Girl. The coroner's inquest was so one-sided, it would make your head spin. If one ever took the time to dissect the inquest or the autopsy report, they would be shocked at how inconsistencies in both fact and testimony were ignored. It's all in my book Our Uncle Sam: The Sam Cooke Story From His Family's Perspective (www.ourunclesam.com).
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msladysoul — 16 years ago(January 12, 2010 12:44 AM)
I do believe race played a big part of how the verdict came out. I watched some clips of Bertha and Elisa in court and the judge really didn't seem that interested. Back then they just wanted to hurry up and get blacks out of their courtroom because they think blacks don't live right anyway.
If something like what happened to Sam happened to a star today, it would be investigated to the fullest. The justice system has definitely advanced. It wouldn't have been so one-sided. If Bertha and Elisa was around today, their criminal and shady background would have been taken into account. More alleged suspects would have been found. Elisa would have been physically checked for semen to see if she was raped. Bertha and Elisa would have been interrogated to hell and back.
Now and days paparazzi follow stars around. Sam was apart of a time when stars could live privately. They didn't have to deal with cameras everywhere following their every move. If Sam was around today he would have been followed by people. Sam should have had a bodyguard or something that night. You gotta watch those groupies because they can be shady. There have been other singers framed by women but their lives didn't end up killed.
I'm not a fan making excuses. I believe that night Sam picked the wrong girl to be with, and if he was framed, the people who framed him knew his weaknesspretty girls, and picked Elisa to help in framing Sam. I believe many things happen that night. There's many scenarios but whatever happened he didn't deserve to die.
I believe Sam Cooke's case should be opened again. Many cases of the past were re-opened and more info came out then in the past. People talk when they get older because of a guilty conscience. -
WarpedRecord — 16 years ago(January 17, 2010 05:01 PM)
Are Bertha Franklin and Elisa Boyer even still alive? I certainly suspect Bertha (the motel manger) isn't. Elisa (the prostitute) may be. Honestly, I wouldn't give her credit for having a conscience.
While race may have played a factor in this trial, bear in mind that Bertha was black and Elisa was Asian, so this cuts both ways. I suspect it was a case of judicial expediency. Anyone who has studied the facts in this case is unlikely to think the "justifiable homicide" verdict is justified, especially because Sam was in the bathroom when he allegedly tried to rape Elisa while she waited for him, and she ran out with his pants and wallet "by mistake."
Set-up? I don't know; I wasn't there. Miscarriage of justice? Most likely. Will the case be reopened? I doubt it.
I think history rather than the courts will vindicate Sam, but regardless, his status as a musical innovator has never been questioned.