The Big Payback: O.J. Simpson
by Jasmyne A.
Cannick
When boxer Mike Tyson was convicted of raping Miss Black Rhode Island,
Desiree Washington , in an Indianapolis hotel room., for which he served three years in
prison, we threw him a parade upon his release.
When singer R.
Kellyly went to trial for 12 counts of child pornography, after a video of what really
looked like him urinating on an underage girl surfaced online and in every hood across America, we stood in
front of the courthouse with signs that read "Free R.
Kelly" and continued to flock to his concerts and buy his albums.
And even when football legend and actor O.J.
Simpson was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson , a white woman, and
her friend Ronald Goldman in 1995, much to the ire of whites across America, there was a since of
vindication not only for Simpson but for Black America. I remember hearing the shouts of praise,
hallelujah, and glory to God coming from houses up and down the street as Black people came out of their
homes and celebrated.
However, when the verdict came down this weekend, in record time I might add, that Simpson had been found guilty by an
all white jury in Las Vegas, Nevada of robbery with a deadly weapon, burglary with a firearm, assault with a
deadly weapon, first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon, coercion with use of a deadly
weapon, conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and conspiracy to
commit a crime…not a word from Black America.
Whether it's admitted publicly or not, Black America is not found of Black men, especially sports
athletes and celebrities, who choose to marry white women. To be fair, neither is white America, who has
had a hatred for O.J. since his murder acquittal 13 years ago.
All that withstanding, Black America still stood by Simpson's side throughout his murder trial,
assuming he'd learned his lesson.
The lesson that dictates if your Black ass gets off for murdering a white woman once, you do not take your ass back out
there and find yourself another white woman while turning your back on the people who had your back when no one else
did.
Unfortunately, for O.J., his
biggest mistake was choosing to abandon the community that stood by him in spite of his indiscretions.
As my Aunt so plainly put it, "he's never been one of us. He's always thought he was one of them.
"
I think it's clear that Black America is no longer in O.J.'s corner and once your ghetto pass is revoked,
it's almost impossible to get it back.
Just ask country singer Cowboy Troy , who sung at this year's Republican National Convention,
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice , Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas ,
commentator Armstrong Williams , and Bill and Hillary Clinton .
That's why you can have grown women including Angieniki, Jerhonda, and friends, standing in front of a
Chicago courthouse holding signs
by Jasmy
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