Torrence Hatch, known better by his informal moniker Lil Boosie, was released from Angola prison last week after serving five years on possession charges. During his time in prison, the “Free Boosie” movement spread through Louisiana like wildfire. Almost anywhere in the state, one could find people wearing shirts that proudly proclaimed their adoration for a convicted criminal.
All we really know about Boosie is that he pleaded guilty to attempted drug smuggling and was acquitted of murder, yet it seems almost unanimously the people of this state wanted him to be free. Boosie’s story is just one example of our society prioritizing celebrity over all else.
It’s easy to understand why Boosie’s story is so appealing. He came from a notoriously bad neighborhood in Baton Rouge, and clearly there is something to be said for the potency of the redemption tale. It’s a story that speaks to the heart of the American dream. Disenfranchised youths overcoming the challenges that face them to mass acclaim, it’s hard to imagine not wanting someone like this to succeed. But apparently it’s even harder to imagine that the realization of the American dream may not be a positive thing.

There is a dichotomy between the man Torrence Hatch and the character of Lil Boosie. While Boosie raps about murder and drugs, Hatch is supposedly a changed man deserving of his freedom. Does the public want Hatch or Boosie to be free? These are the questions that our culture must ask itself before it is able to justify movements with such severe political implications like this one.
Though many would argue that Boosie’s crimes were victimless, he still broke the law. Why does he warrant the love and affection of the masses when there are so many forgotten faces locked away for the same reasons? Do we support Boosie because we truly believe he deserves his freedom or because we refuse to believe that our judgment of him was wrong? We need to think about whether the problem is with the laws, or if our problem is with admitting that we are wrong.