OJ Simpson

Student’s name

Institution of Affiliation

Instructor

Course

Date

OJ Simpson’s criminal case

Owing to just how controversial this particular case was and still is, one may be forgiven for regarding it as a race-based case rather than the common crime of murder it was seen as. This 1995 case left the American society with more questions than answers on just how they perceived justice and race within the country (Brown et al.,1997). The individual being tried and accused of the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown alongside her friend Ronald Goldman was in large part seen as a great pillar of black excellence in the African-American community hence the reason why the case gained such a large viewership in the country. For most minority groups this was nothing more than a bogus case being framed on an innocent black man due to his exceptional success in life. For others and mostly for a large white population of people this was a case of justice for the murder of an innocent white woman alongside her friend by her jealous husband. Due to this case’s sensitive nature on race, it’s no wonder as to why it gained such a large media attraction and is still a hot-button issue in America no matter who discusses it (Pitts et al.,2008).

OJ Simpson by many accounts was a successful and highly talented individual. From being a former player in the Nations Football League (NFL), actor and then broadcaster OJ Simpson had truly made it and succeeded where so many had failed especially due to the ever tense race relationships in America in the 1990s (Mixon et al.,1995). His celebrity status eventually became the number one factor that fueled the wide coverage of his entire trial for a large part of America to see.

In more ways than one the O.J. Simpson murder trial became a kind of blueprint that dictated race relations in America and the events that later followed 20 years later along the line such as the Rodney King riots (Mueller et al.,1996). Although Simpson’s trial in no way eased up race relations in America it certainly to a great extent reveals just how tense and lose those relations are within a country that prides itself to be diverse and a multi-racial place.

Crime’s historical setting

The 1990s although not the most noteworthy time for the civil rights movement in America is still considered a key factual time for many black people struggling with the issue of race within the country. For many, the trial of O.J. Simpson was a culmination of many factors about race that have been fomenting in America at the time. The major undeniable factor was the racial tensions and suspicions about police bias that were finally being made aware at large in the country’s consciousness (Fairchild et al.,1997). This trial eventually made it clear that both wealthy and white individuals were treated differently from everyone else. The double standard was also examined during this trial especially when we see just society applied it to both men and women most often to professional working women.

The People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson was considered the case of the century in America. The trial took 11 months from November 9, 1994, up to January 24, 1995. The eventual consensus and end of that trial were that Simpson was eventually acquitted of both counts of murder in the same year. Although the trial ended years ago its coverage and over publicizing remains to this day a key undeniable example that shows just how race relations are in America.

The reaction to the verdict was the significant factor that greatly showed the divide within the nation. Although almost every individual who followed the trial was presented with the same evidence a difference of opinion along racial lines eventually emerged in observer’s opinion of the verdict’s outcome with many feeling that the concluding opinion was either false or unfair while a vast majority of the individuals in the African-American community believe that the decision had been just and fair for all involved (Pitts et al.,2008). This difference of opinion further showed how the divide in opinion had greatly affected race relations within America.

Theoretical analysis of the crime event

Due to the sensitive nature of race relations in America in the 1990s different theories have sprung up as to what exactly might have led to the death of Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman (Brown et al.,1997). Although the major and general consensus is that Simpson did kill his wife for many especially in the black community this is seen as not to be true but rather an overzealous opinion by many who wish to incarcerate an innocent man.

Although major evidence showed the constant abuse that Nicole brown experienced during the marriage was real it, unfortunately, did not in any way seem to be a relevant factor in determining if O.J. Simpsons was an actual murderer.

Although both sides tried their very best to show and sway the trial in their favor, it was strangely the comic idea of Simpsons’ lawyer that since the glove did not fit he could not be the killer (Mixon et al.,1995). This argument in practice seems to be completely absurd but in one way or another gained support by a large number of the juries to a shocking extent further showing us just how unclear and surprised a lot of people were by this trial.

Media Involvement and Coverage

The general public’s opinion on this particular case fueled by the ever-increasing voice of the civil rights movement continuously encouraged this particular trial to be ever followed and thus eventually concluded upon. The consensus seemed to be that this trial was more about the opinion than the actual justice of the murder. The differences in opinion seemed to be constantly perpetuated by just how different news organizations formed their own opinions about the entire trial (Pitts et al., 2008). The 11-month trial was surrounded by weird and somewhat iconic moments that later on gave comedians a sure punchline that they would occasionally use in their jokes and thus further fueling the need for much of the country to pay attention to the trial. Media coverage of the whole trial seemed to greatly be influenced by Simpson’s celebrity status which became the key underlying factor that shows why a large number of Americans were interested in seeing the entire trial.

A key example to show just how wide the coverage on Simpson’s trial was in the 1994 low-speed pursuit which was broadcasted by major TV stations in which others also interrupted their coverage of the 1994 NBA finals just to show the life-on-going pursuit. The coverage of the pursuit was estimated to have been seen by 95 million individuals. This pursuit was considered among the most publicized events in American history to date. The need to gain more viewership and ratings seems to be the constant factor that ensured that major TV networks kept close watch of the murder trial to somewhat unimaginable lengths (Fairchild et al., 1997). The 11-month trial although long seemed to in no way hinder media networks from following and keeping their audience up to date with everything that took place during the trial.

Media effect on the case outcome

Continuous follow-up and constant coverage of this trial during its eleven months’ duration led to an understanding of just how fragile and complicated race relations are in America. We further see that the urge for sensationalizing news that did not help anyone only to televise because of ratings revealed that major media networks had been turned into nothing more than just infotainment meant to be enjoyed by the masses (Mueller et al.,1996). The media coverage of Simpson’s case showed just how terrifyingly people view celebrities’ life and just how absurdly interested and involved they are in their lives in a kind of strangely addictive way.

Although most media outlets used the trial as a means of boosting ratings most keenly identified and showed the dire race relations situation in America. This does not in any way mean that the key underlying issue had been fixed since then but rather it showed just how divided the country was in a time whereby most people felt as if they lived in a fair and just world (Pitts et al.,2008). The difference of opinion between people of different racial backgrounds on just how Simpson’s trial should have gone is coined by many in the media industry as the ‘racial gap’ of the country at the time.

The culture of infotainment in America has greatly distorted journalism from actual entertainment and has thus made it hard if not impossible to know the difference between actual truth and useless information in current-day media. Simpson’s case showed and brought a lot to light especially about race relations in America but it also revealed just how unhinged and irresponsible some networks are in the content they choose to display to various people. This irresponsibleness seems to be fueled by the need to gain a large viewership of individuals ready and willing to view any relevant content (Brown et al.,1997).

References

Brown, W. J., Duane, J. J., & Fraser, B. P. (1997). Media coverage and public opinion of the OJ Simpson trial: Implications for the criminal justice system. Communication Law and Policy, 2(2), 261-287.

Fairchild, H. H., & Cowan, G. (1997). The OJ Simpson trial: Challenges to science and society. Journal of Social Issues, 53(3), 583-591.

Mixon, K. D., Foley, L. A., & Orme, K. (1995). The influence of racial similarity on the OJ Simpson trial. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 10(3), 481.

Mueller, C. B. (1996). Introduction: OJ Simpson and the criminal justice system on trial. U. Colo. L. Rev., 67, 727.

Pitts, W. J., Giacopassi, D., & Turner, K. B. (2008). The Legacy of the OJ Simpson Trial. Loy. J. Pub. Int. L., 10, 199.