The RaceDoctor Speaks!

The media played a negative role in the original trial by framing the issue as though you had to believe that Simpson was innocent and was framed, or that he was guilty and the police did nothing wrong. My personal opinion is that Mr. Simpson did in fact commit the murders, AND that the police committed underhanded tactics in order to ensure a conviction. Given knowledge in the black community that police misconduct is much more common than is often discussed, the media’s framing of the issue tended to enhance racial differences in perceptions. 

As Mr. Simpson has emerged in the news again, some news organizations are publicizing findings that indicate that as many the number of people who think he is guilty has grown from 68% in 1995 to 80% now. Given the well-known racial differences in perceptions around this case, it is disappointing that media outlets seem unwilling to explore what is known about whether the previous racial differences in perceptions may or may not have changed.

My expectation is that people of all types are similarly fatigued by Mr. Simpson and his brushes with the law. It would not be surprising however if racial differences remain about his current troubles. Mr. Simpson has claimed that he constructed his own “sting operation” because the police are unrerponsive to him. Since skepticism about police behavior was one of the strong factors that influenced the racial differences in perception in the original murder case, it is probable that people of color might be understanding of Simpson’s claim of police under-responsiveness.

Although I am a black person who thinks that Mr. Simpson committed the murders, I cannot help but notice what appears to be an excessive amount of anger by white commentators and the white public at Mr. Simpson. If you compare the public opinion about Simpson to other famous celebrity alledged murderers (e.g. Robert Blake, Klaus Van Bulow), there is much less antipathy among white pundits and the general public.