So, I started Without a Doubt, Marcia Clark's memoir of the Orenthal James Simpson murder trial, kind of thinking I had an idea of what went down. But, damn it, I was so, so wrong.
First of all, let's address the negative media attention Marcia got throughout the trial. Oh, I'm sorry, a woman prosecutor is hard to swallow? What, can't comment on her questioning but oh, god, she changed her hair?!
Yeah, America. DEAL WITH IT.
The most sickening part of all is that nothing has changed (see: media reaction to Hillary's pantsuits). It is unbelievable to me that something so benign as the reproductive organs of a particular person can completely paint the way the media portrays them. I guess it shouldn't be unbelievable. It's been happening this way for centuries. But, c'mon, aren't we all a little bit grossed-out by now? She is more than her hair or her clothes or her goddamn vagina. Get. Over. It.
Anyway, moving on.
HOLY SHIT OJ KILLED NICOLE AND THAT OTHER GUY! (this is seriously how the media reacted. Nicole and "that other guy." Very few people ever discussed the murder of Ron Goldman, despite the fact that it was incredibly brutal and happened literally feet from the murder of Nicole Brown.)
But, seriously dawg? OJ guilty. How could people not see how guilty he was? A glove with Nicole's and Ron's blood was found on his property. Ron's blood was found in his Bronco. They even found bloody clothes at his house.
The thing is, this investigation was a cluster fuck.
The persons in charge of collecting evidence missed more trace than they collected. Bloody socks and sweats? Nah, dawg, leave 'em. Bloody fingerprint on the gate? Eh, could be anything. The incompetence in the crime scene department was appalling and now I know why Assistant Chief Pope was all about starting up a Priority Murder Squad.
Brenda Leigh Johnson is my spirit animal.*
Along with the failure to collect all of the glaring evidence against dear old Orenthal, the cop that collected the huge piece of evidence--that notorious glove--was seriously racist. Like, actually racist. Do I think he planted that glove? Hell, no. There is even photographic evidence supporting the fact that he didn't plant the glove. But, seriously, how are we supposed to take his testimony at face value when he lies about his past and has a history of racist behavior? Maybe as a cop he was fair--actually, he let OJ off once on a domestic call when Nicole was still living at Rockingham--but as a person, I don't think any of us would have trusted that dude.
"Uh...so, there's this thing that might hinder people believing me when I'm on the stand."
"Oh, yeah? What's that?"
"I like calling black dudes ni**er."
"Yeah...that's gonna be a small problem there, friend."
Fucking unbelievable. Or, is it? SMDH
There is so much to this story that is absolutely insane. It truly is no wonder that it completely captured the imaginations of nearly all Americans for 134 days. 134 DAYS. It is no small wonder that Marcia retired from prosecuting pretty much the day after the verdict. HOW COULD YOU NOT?
Also, I should mention, during the trial Marcia was going through a divorce and child custody hearings. I'm surprised she had any hair left after this case, because god knows I'd be pulling mine out Chris Turk style.
There is so, so much nuance to this trial, I can only really give you my reaction, and that is HOLY SHIT. Let's take the jury. It was practically impossible for them to find a non-biased jury, and that bias leaned heavily toward OJ because of his celebrity in the Black community and the Rodney King trial's recent wrap up where those involved in his beating were completely acquitted. Then, let's take Lance Ito. He used to be a prosecutor, and while it shouldn't affect the way he behaves as an objective judge, it does. He goes easy on the defense when they clearly step over the lines of the law and appropriate courtroom etiquette. He wants to be Johnnie Cochran's friend. The impression I got from Johnnie was that he was everyone's friend until he didn't need them anymore. This is also true in regards to Shapiro. Just not cool dudes. Both of them wanted to be the star of the show, and that just wasn't happening. But, instead of keeping the huge legal team Simpson hired in line, Ito just sort of let them shit all over.
Dude, you can't try on an already form-fitting glove with latex ones on beneath and expect it to fit.
Chris Darden, that shit's on you, bro.
Basically, what I took from this book is this: when you are a disenfranchised, poorly treated community and one of your heroes does something despicable, it's really hard to allow yourself to not be biased. Against the police who brutalize your community and constantly work to keep you down. And against someone like OJ, who came from the bottom and made a name for himself. As with many idolized men and women, their actions at home are typically overlooked for the good they do for the greater community. It's unfortunate, but try taking away or diminishing someone's hero and see how well they react to it. It won't go well.
Even though there was more evidence than they needed to convict OJ, the perspective was that the law enforcement system was attacking a prominent Black hero, and that is ultimately why OJ walked.
And, you know, if the LAPD--and many, many other law enforcement agencies--would have treated those members of the Black community as equal and as humans, that bias might not have existed. I think we should all be glad OJ got himself locked up before he killed again.
So inappropriate. And, yet, so fucking funny.
This book...read this book. If you know all about the trial and followed it on TV or if you've only just heard about OJ thanks to the FX docudrama with Cuba Gooding, Jr. If only just to get a new perspective on Marcia Clark herself, read this book. I do not think you will regret it. I know that I don't.
*also: if you have never watched The Closer, you, friend, are seriously missing out!
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