NAACP Proves Diversity by Giving Scholarship to White Convicted Murderer

By: Kirsten West Savali, Your Black World

The NAACP has been attempting to re-brand it's image as of late; instead of being seen strictly as an organization giving voice to the concerns of the African-American community, they have admirably positioned themselves to be speak for all disenfranchised and marginalized people of color in our society.

Apparently, the best way to drive that point home is to give a convicted murderer---who happens to be white---a scholarship to the prestigious Tulane University School of Law

The violent criminal background of Bruce Reilly, 38, was exposed by legal blog, Above The Law, last week.

In 1992, Reilly was found guilty of murder for stabbing and bludgeoning to death Emerson College professor Charles A. Russell in Rhode Island --- allegedly he "flipped out" after being invited to the professor's house to smoke marijuana and engage in oral sex, according to a source in 1993.

During his incarceration, Reilly became a passionate human rights advocate and screenwriter, and states that he was completely upfront when applying for admittance into Tulane:

"By the time I apply to a state or federal bar, my last criminal activity will be as a teenager, and over two decades passed. I will be presenting a model case for rehabilitation, an impressive resume, and a substantial list of esteemed supporters," Reilly wrote in a letter to Above the Law. "I have found that a majority of our society believes in forgiveness and second chances, and all I can do is keep doing what I'm doing."

Though students have voiced concerns that he may become violent again when faced with the daily stress of law school --- and disbelief that as school loans skyrocket and competition for scholarships becomes even more strenuous, a convicted murderer passed muster when so many others fail --- Tulane's dean stands by his decision:

"We evaluate each law school applicant as an individual, taking into account all available information bearing on their character, life story and academic qualifications," said Dean David Myer in a statement. "Our admission process also allows for exceptional circumstances if the prospective student's experience and background will contribute to his and his peers' study and appreciation of various aspects of the law."

The NAACP has yet to release a statement.

In addition to the scholarship from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Reilly also received a Dean's Merit Scholarship.

Many advocates will say that Reilly has served his debt to society and should be allowed to re-enter freely and succeed on his merits, not fail because of his past --- and they would be correct; however, when you factor in the glaringly obvious standards by which a white ex-con in the United States of America is held next to his Black counter-part, many will find it nauseating that a white man who freely admits to cold-blooded murder at the age of 20 is becoming the face of fairness and justice while Troy Davis --- and others like him --- face imminent execution for murders when no evidence even exists that they're guilty, in fact, it points to the contrary.

Maybe Tulane feels that now is an appropriate time to conduct a pseudo-scientific study gauging law students' reactions to having a murderer in their midst, forcing them to come to grips with their own prejudices and biases, subsequently enabling them to approach the law from a more holistic, brutally honest perspective --- I don't.

Reilly holds no illusions about his notoriety, and is open about his regret even as he benefits from his heinous crime:

"In some ways I deserve this. I brought this on myself," he told The Times-Picayune. "For the last 19 years, I've had to come to grips every day with the terrible thing I've done. I took a man's life. How can I possibly brush that off, or make up for it?"

I have no idea how you'll "make up for it," Mr. Reilly---that's between you and your conscience---, but the NAACP is apparently going to help you pay for it.

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Kirsten West Savali is a Senior Editor and writer at Your Black World. You can connect with her on Facebook and Follow her on Twitter: @KWestSavali