Would the black community be behind O.J. Simpson if his ex had been black?

Question

I know I was very young when it happened so I don't a whole lot about it, but I hear black people say things like "That gold digger got what she deserved!" and I'm really shocked by this. Even sister Oprah said she did't agree with it, but she understood it. I don't unserstand it. I've read about the murders, and O.J. seems guilty 2 me. Why do most black people think he's innocent (and I am black)?

Well I know black people that say the cops framed him, so some do think he's innocent. I think it's bull too. He must have done it. I think his ex's was just trying to get out of an abusive marriage, and her new b/f showed up at the wrong time. They didn't deserve to die. Any black person...esp. a black woman is stupid to want OJ to go free.

And so what if Johnny Cochrane got him out of a murder charge? How does that help any black person other than Johnny Cochrane??? That's just wrong!

Answer 1

If you killed someone, you're guilty. Color doesn't matter in any situation anyway.

Answer 2

This is actually a pretty good question. I have studied the O.J. Simpson murders for 11 years now and you are correct--of course he was guilty. But the racial issue is a fascinating one. I too have wondered if many Blacks would support O.J. if Nicole had been black. I think if she had been famou they would NOT have been so supportive of him. Also if she was beloved by blacks they wouldn't have forgiven him so quickly either.

A few points:

1. Race is the biggest factor in determing Simpson's guilt or innocence--black (nearly 80%) believe Simpson was not guilty or they claim they "don't know if he did it or not...I wasn't on the jury." This however contradicts the opinion many blacks have that blacks WERE victims of murders at the hands of whites in the past. They weren't on THOSE juries either yet they have no trouble taking a stand on those cases.
2. Education level also played a big role in determining Simpson's guilt or innocence. Those with less than a high school education tend to believe Simpson was framed (almost 70%). Those with a high school education and some college are less likely to accept Simpson's guilt (about 35%), and those (of ALL races) with a college education or higher tend to believe Simpson was guilty (nearly 88%).
3. People who read more are less likely to accept Simpson's innocence--people who rarely read nearly all believe he was innocent.

These statistics are all taken from a Newsweek Poll conducted the week following the verdict in the spring of 1995.

Answer 3

I have not been around any person of any ethnicity that have expressed that "the gold digger got what she deserved" I personally feel that O J is guilty, we applauded at the idea of one of our own beating "the man". "The man" (white government officials) targetted a black male for a crime and used the under-handed techniques that they use on any average man of color to convict him. This time OJ scored one for our team, and that's what we appauded. One may ask, how can you allow a murderer to be free? In my opinion OJ paid a price, not to the extent that Nicole Brown or Ron Goldman did, but, it cost him his lifestyle and fame and to him I think that was detrimental enough and sweet irony, considering how he turned on his own people to garner the cross-over fame he so desired. At the end they showed him he was still "just another ******" ! Yes, your a black woman.

Answer 4

I think he did it, personally. I don't care what color he is or his ex, some people were killed horribly. They were butchered.

I think the government as a whole has a large hand in how we view justice because although we understand the racial injustice of the 50's, 60's, slavery, etc. to be over, it still continues today in the form of how they punish offenders.

My personal opinion is it seems that african-american offenders tend to receive the death penalty more often that their caucasian-american counterparts. (they seem to receive more life in prison sentences). Especially in drug cases, since I believe that african-american people are seen to be the "cause" of all drug problems (which is not accurate, and stereotypical) They are more likely to receive jail time, but often caucasian americans often receive probation for the same offenses. Although, I don't have any statistical findings to support my opinion, I just want the system itself to be fair, so that we can believe in the system set up by our governmental forefathers.

Answer 5

money talks an old men mumble.. i to believe he did it.. the glove scene in court OJ trying 2 put his gloves on over rubber gloves.. of course they are not going 2 fit like that.. what a joke that was.. and OJ doesn't like women of color.. always with a white.. and no i have nothing against mixing it up.. just stating a fact.. if we all came together at the begining of time, i think we would all be the same color.. OJ was a stalker of Nicole no doubt about it.. a women beater and a murder..

Answer 6

I have asked a few blacks why they supported OJ. They felt it was about "turnabout" being "fair play". If you know black history at all, especially in the south, but not exclusively, black men were often jailed for crimes they did not commit. Some were also executed. they historically did not have the same rights as whites. It's a matter of evening up the score just a little bit.

Answer 7

It's not that we believe he's innocent and he's this great fantastic guy.

The problem was with how his case was prosecuted. From the gathering and most likely tampering of evidence. To the state's star witness being a confirmed Neonazi KKK lifetime member. The case the state presented was flawed from the beginning.

As a community we were just tired of flimsy cases being presented where men usually got sent up the river for life.

Answer 8

Most black people don't really think he's innocent, according to both CNN and New York Times surveys. They're just glad he got away with it. Think it's a combination of reasons. A lot of black women were glad to see a blonde white woman who had "taken" one of their most high profile men get what was "coming to her". Also, a lot of blacks just didn't want to see another black man go to prison, no matter what. The general attitude seemed to be: Yeah, I know he killed her...but damnit, white folks been getting away with stuff like that for years. It's about time one of US got away with...and wasn't old Johnnie Cochran cool?

Answer 9

i've never heard that, and Im white. Some black people might think he is innocent because they want to support him. I mean, its about time a black guy went free.. usually its the other way around.. he is innocent and still locked up. I think he is guilty, I dont think she was a goldigger..

Answer 10

I don't think people agree with him killing his wife because she was white. I just think people were glad that johnny was able to get him out of a murder charge.