Lester Bangs wrote this about the song: "every four years Dylan writes a "new" protest song, and it's always about a martyred nigger, and he always throws in a dirty word to make it more street-authentic. I don't use the word "nigger" for effect or to make myself look hip, but rather because just like our fathers before us that is all Jackson and Carter have been to him: another human life to exploit for his own purposes." He goes on to say how Dylan doesn't give a damn about Carter or justice. Pretty harsh. And, I guess, not in any way a tribute to Carter like this thread is supposed to be. Seeing the name Rubin Carter again made me think of the Bangs article, that's all.