White Man Kills Black Baby; Only Charged a Year Later Due to White Privilege

Warning: This article contains descriptions of violence and abuse.

Texas, USA:

A 38-year-old white man, Emmitt Eugene Carter, has been charged with the murder of his six-month-old black son, according to Harris County Court records. The charges come over a year after the incident, which occurred on July 8, 2023.

The Violent Act:

Carter is accused of striking his baby son with a blunt object, as well as shaking him with his hands, leading to his death. This is a horrific and unimaginable act of violence against an innocent child, and the consequences should be swift and severe.

Privileged Background:

The murderer held a position of power and influence as the assistant dean of student success at Lone Star College, Tomball campus. His LinkedIn profile boasts of his role as the school's manager for student support services since 2013. This privileged position may have played a part in the delayed charges, as those in power often protect their own.

Inaction and Complicity:

It is worth noting that this is Carter's first criminal charge, and one has to question how someone with no prior history could commit such an atrocious act. Were there signs that were ignored? Did his position of power enable him to escape scrutiny? These are questions that demand answers.

Defense's Tactics:

In a despicable attempt to evade responsibility, Carter's defense attorneys requested his release, arguing that the baby's broken ribs were caused by Carter performing chest compressions as the child was choking. They shamefully suggested that the baby's mother, who was out of town, could have inflicted the other injuries, demonstrating their eagerness to shift blame and their disregard for the truth.

Denial and Minimization:

Defense attorney Will Vaughn had the audacity to state: "What happened here is not a crime. It's a horrible tragedy... And the fact that an innocent man like Dr. Carter is having to be in here in handcuffs, answering for something he didn't do instead of mourning the death of his child is heartbreaking.”

Vaughn's words are a gross minimization of a heinous crime and a blatant denial of justice for the victim. Focusing on the mourning process of the murderer, a white man, instead of holding him accountable demonstrates the deep-seated racism and privilege that permeates the justice system.

Delayed Justice:

Prosecutors offered a feeble excuse for the delayed charges, claiming they did not want to "rush to judgment." In reality, this is yet another example of the justice system's bias towards the privileged. Edward Appelbaum, of the Harris County District Attorney's Office, stated:

"We want to make sure that everybody is [treated with] equal justice under the law, that we’re fair and we apply the laws and the facts appropriately, especially in cases like this when you’re dealing with an accused and a child at six months old and a child who doesn’t have a voice."

URLs:

• [USA TODAY Article](insert URL here)
• KHOU Coverage of Court Hearing

Call to Action:

This tragic case highlights the deep-rooted issues of racism, privilege, and injustice that persist in our society. We must demand accountability and swift action from the justice system and send a clear message that killers of innocent black children will not be protected by their privilege.

Rest in power, little one. We will not let your story be forgotten or minimized.