Nationwide — Dr. Rudolph Alexander, Jr., who was a Professor at Ohio State University for 25 years, was once a victim of both racial discrimination and criminal injustice. His story begins in 1967, when, at age 17, he was wrongfully convicted of murder in Savannah, Georgia, and sentenced to death in the electric chair.
Dr. Alexander’s defense was severely compromised by ineffective legal representation. His attorney failed to present critical evidence that could have proven his innocence. Furthermore, the trial judge, Dunbar Harrison, was openly racist, contributing to a biased and unfair trial. Harrison’s behavior in the courtroom and his deeply prejudiced views towards Black people set the stage for a wrongful conviction. Alexander’s case mirrored the systemic racism present in the judicial system at the time.
After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Witherspoon v. Illinois that states could not automatically exclude jurors opposed to the death penalty, Alexander’s death sentence was reduced to life imprisonment. He was eventually released on parole in 1975, after serving several years in prison. Despite this, the systemic failures of the justice system persisted, with Alexander learning years later that his conviction had been illegal due to a biased juror.
Following his release, Dr. Alexander turned his life around, earning multiple degrees, including a Ph.D. in social work. He went on to teach at Ohio State University for more than two decades, retiring as a full professor in 2014. However, his career was marred by further discrimination when the College of Social Work’s new dean, William Meezan, attempted to impose controversial policies and retaliated against Dr. Alexander when he refused to comply.
In response to this mistreatment, he filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against Meezan and Ohio State University. The federal judges assigned to his case, both with connections to Ohio State, ruled against him in what Dr. Alexander perceived as a deeply corrupt and racially biased decision. Despite overwhelming evidence of discrimination, including documented lies from Meezan, the courts dismissed his case, demonstrating the ongoing prevalence of racism in the federal judiciary.
Dr. Alexander’s memoir highlights the long and painful journey he endured, not only in surviving a wrongful death sentence but also in fighting institutional racism throughout his academic career. Only God Almighty Could Have Brought You Back serves as a critical reflection on the broader issues of race, justice, and discrimination in America.
Sadly, his book has never really seen the day of light. Dr. Alexander has been trying to hire a literary agent to present his book to a major publisher since 1987 and has queried over 500 agents without success.
For press inquiries or media interviews, contact Rudolph Alexander, Jr. at DrRalexanderjr@gmail.com or 614-330-1218.
