OJ Simpson No Longer a Touchstone of US Racial Politics

Caroline Davies, Guardian (Manchester), October 4, 2008 Thirteen years to the day of his sensational acquittal on charges of double murder, the conviction of OJ Simpson for conspiracy to kidnap and armed robbery looks unlikely to have the same dramatic impact. Back in 1995, US opinion was instantly divided along racial lines. There was widespread outrage among white Americans when the footballer-turned actor walked free after being cleared of the brutal murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman. Many African-Americans, however, saw it as justice for a black man persecuted and framed because of the colour of his skin. Much was made of the fact the jury was predominantly black. And the world was transfixed as Simpson’s lawyers were accused of playing the “race card’ throughout a trial that lasted... [read full story]