Photo credits: Los Angeles Times
Author’s note:
It is commonplace for people to move past a culturally significant event shortly after it becomes “untrendy” or “outdated.” Yet, cultural phenomena were often so significant for a reason—they involved people or ideas that many onlookers found important. This description encapsulates the OJ Simpson murder trial. Although this case took place nearly thirty years ago, it revealed America’s racial divides and put a famous former athlete under the spotlight before the nation once again. I believe it is paramount to remember incidents such as this case that illustrated how one event could expose deep-rooted racial beliefs and divide an entire country over the fate of one public figure. OJ Simpson died mere weeks ago in April, and thus I wish to delve into the event that arguably defined his legacy.
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On the evening of June 17th, 1994, a white car flees from a parade of police vehicles. The white car’s driver hears the phrases “surrender” and “stop” yelled at him, yet he has no intention of doing so—not yet.
As news helicopters document the scene, 95 million Americans watch, eyes glued to their television screens, as the white car drives through freeway after freeway. The driver’s hands shake as he grips the wheel. He thinks about his ex-wife, who had been found dead just five days prior. He thinks about the number of people watching him; he’s no stranger to audiences, but this may be his biggest yet. He thinks about the people who want him to succeed, and then the overwhelming number of people who probably want to see him fail spectacularly.
His fear, stress, and panic grow over the course of an hour. Finally, as he turns a corner, he hits a dead end. Police sirens blare in his ears—beep, beep, trapped, panic.
He looks up at the helicopters as he steps out of his car, then the police as the handcuffs clasp around his wrist. What next, he thinks to himself.
What came next was a trial that encapsulated the entire nation, garnering a total of 150 million American viewers. During the course of the trial, many cable networks devoted a lot of time to speculation about the case and public opinion about it. Racism played an exceptionally large role in public opinion, with many African Americans supporting O.J. Simpson while white Americans advocated for his arrest. In fact, race played such a large role that Simpson himself mouthed the words “thank you” after seeing the predominantly Black panel of jurors.
Simpson declared himself not guilty while prosecutors claimed that Simpson had murdered his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, in a jealous fury. To prove this, they presented blood, hair, and fiber tests linking Simpson to the crime scene.
An immense portion of the defense’s argument was that racist white police had framed Simpson. This claim was further supported when Simpson’s attorneys revealed racist comments made by a detective on the case.
The trial lasted around eight months. An extremely memorable demonstration of Simpson struggling to put on gloves that were found at the crime scene, as well as one of his attorneys stating, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit,” contributed to Simpson’s acquittal.
After his acquittal, 16% of Black Americans expressed their belief that Simpson was guilty while 69% of white Americans claimed the same. As Professor Katheryn Russell-Brown of the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law stated, “the thickness of the divide was real.”
Even decades after Simpson’s acquittal, this trial maintains its grip on the minds of millions. Is this because of Simpson’s football career? Or the theatrical car chase?
Neither of the above contributed to the legacy of the trial as much as racial divides.
The case spotlighted issues such as race-based police brutality and domestic violence, both of which sparked racial debates. Regardless of whether or not Simpson was guilty, the reasoning behind many trial watchers’ demand for his conviction was his race. A famous black man accused of killing a white woman—the situation was bound to magnify racial divides within America.
Simpson maintained his innocence for the remainder of his life. Yet, it is paramount to remember the legacy his trial left behind in showing the impact of racism and prejudice on an entire nation through a single culturally significant event.
Work Cited
Adgate, Brad. “There Will Never Be Another Media Event Like Simpson’s Murder Trial.” Forbes, 12 April 2024, https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2024/04/12/there-will-never-be-another-media-event-like-simpsons-murder-trial/?sh=f380d852a333. Accessed 3 June 2024.
Dabruzzi, Anthony. “The OJ Simpson Case 25 Years Later: A Revelation in Race Relations.” Spectrum News, 12 June 2019, https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/news/2019/06/14/the-oj-simpson-case-25-years-later--a-revelation-in-race-relations-. Accessed 3 June 2024.
Dunham, Will. “O.J. Simpson, football star turned celebrity murder defendant, dead at 76.” Reuters, 12 April 2024, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/oj-simpson-former-nfl-star-acquitted-his-wifes-murder-has-died-his-family-says-2024-04-11/. Accessed 3 June 2024.
Yancey-Bragg, N'dea. “OJ Simpson's trial exposed America's racial divide. Three decades later, what's changed?” USA Today, 13 April 2024, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/04/13/oj-simpson-trial-exposed-us-racial-divide/73288882007/. Accessed 3 June 2024.
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