Is racism a factor in all the comparisons to OJ Simpson

[ecstatic]

that sprout up whenever a black man is on trial? The cases could be totally unrelated to each other (i.e., Michael Jackson, Kobe Bryant, etc.), yet OJ's name is always brought into it.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

1. You're forgetting that..

Jackson is no longer black.

Also, you're conveniently forgetting to mention Robert Blake, who also happens to be white. He was certainly compared to OJ Simpson. You see any racism there, too?

[Tomee450]

6. Nonsense

People need to stop saying Jackson is not black when they know that he is. I don't care how white he looks, he remains black in the minds of the entire world. And there is indeed racism involved in the level of outrage shown here and elsewhere. I did not see this kind of vitriol directed at Blake, acquitted of murder, that is being directed at Jackson. This happens all the time. There is a certain segment of this population that always becomes outraged when a black person is accused of a heinous crime. They always believe he is guilty, even before the defense puts on its case.

People aren't even talking very much about Blake but are reaching ten years back to bring up OJ and it's because he is a black man acquitted of killing whites. The coverage in the media has just been awful, the kind you usually see when the defendant is black. Just look at how the media treated Russel Crowe who injured a hotel worker by throwing a phone in his face. Oh, that's just Russell Crowe being Russel Crowe, one hears. Imagine if a black star had done that. The first thing would be heard is he is an animal and should be put in jail. I remember when those black basketball players got into a fracas after a fan hurled something at them. The media was all over them, saying they should be punished severely. Yet they are not saying that about Crowe who has been involved in similar incidents before. There is a double standard applied when it comes to black people.

Michael Jackson has only been accused, and by people who had axes to grind. There have been no witnesses to support allegations of molestation. So now when it's a black man being accused, he is automatically guilty? Michael Jackson is weird but that does not mean he is a child molester. I think Boy George is weird and so is Elton John but I see no one pursuing them with the hatred that is directed at Jackson. And it's all about race.

A white man is acquitted and that's accepted and he is allowed to get on with his life without harrassment. A black man is acquitted but it means nothing, he is still guilty to many in the majority community and he is harrassed forever. I heard a black man commenting on a black oriented station. He said exactly what a lot of African Americans that I've spokent to are saying: If they can do this to Michael Jackson they can do this do any black celebrity. There are, and always have been, people who want to bring down a black person. Sadly, I believe he is correct.

[ecstatic]

11. I agree completely!

Weren't the Kennedies accused of rape or something?

[democracyindanger]

2. Not black men on trial; celebrities.

Martha Stewart was compared to OJ.

[48pan]

3. It's a celebrity thing...

Anybody who gets off because they are rich invites comparison. Robert Blake is the most recent to come to mind.

Any time a rich, guilty person gets off, OJ will be recycled.

[SteppingRazor]

4. Racism is a factor, but not how you thought it was.

OJ's obviously guilty -- but he's found innocent
Michael Jackson's obviously guilty -- but he's found innocent
Martha Stewart didn't really do anything wrong -- but she's found guilty.

The racism lies in the primarily white media immediately assuming guilt on the part of black people who are accused of a crime.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

5. It actually sounds more like sexism to me. (nt)

[Tomee450]

7. That's your opinion that

Simpson, Blake, and Jackson are guilty. I don't think at all that Jackson and Simpson are "obviously guilty." It looked to me that Blake might be guilty but I accept the jury's verdict of NOT Guilty. It was the jury who heard all the evidence, not me. And I harbor no resentment towards Blake and if he revives his career, fine with me.

[SteppingRazor]

10. No, that's not my opinion...

That's the opinion of people like Nancy Grace. Perhaps I should've been more specific

[ecstatic]

8. obviously guilty?

Too bad a jury of their peers didn't agree. And how is Martha Stewart innocent?

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Did You Read What Happened To Her?

She got convicted for lying about a crime they said she didn't commit. She didn't commit a crime, lied about not being involved and knowing nothing, but if she did know something she would have been guilty of the crime that the D.A. said she didn't commit.

That's not railroading?

The Professor

[Tim4319]

9. Just like those officers in CA and NY were obviously guilty....

The Rodney King beating, found not guilty.
Amadu Dialo (fired at 41 times, hit 19 times), found not guilty.


These are some other cases where the also tell us, what see, isn't actually what we see!

[ecstatic]

12. Bad example

Those officers were clearly at work. Their acquittal was just another example of racism.