Personal Narrative: The O. J. Simpson Trial

My family shaped my entire life. Yet, so did I. I went down a road that many do not travel on until they are teenagers or in their early twenties. I was born in Hayward, Ca. and lived there for about twelve years. In those twelve years, I went through a lot. I went to Palma Ceia Elementary School, constantly getting into trouble every day. My mother had been told by many teachers that I would never pass the sixth grade, let alone go to college. They suspected I would either be in jail or dead by now. Yet, here I am. A grown, mature woman with a good head on her shoulders. It amazes my family members and those who knew me. Even my own mother still does not understand what changed me. The truth it, I was in there the entire time. I just needed
Looking at the O.J. Simpson trial, many buttons were pushed. Buttons that need to be pushed and made aware, “The Simpson trial demonstrated the polarization of racial attitudes on issues such as law enforcement that still exists in our country. It may be for that, more than anything, that the trial will be remembered. But it had other effects. It created a greater awareness of domestic violence issues, provided lessons in how not to run a criminal trial, slowed the trend towards the use of cameras in courtrooms, and created a new type of ‘immersion’ journalism that still flourishes today” (Linder). The police officers who questioned Simpson did not ask questions that could have led to advantageous information. When Simpson was arrested, political and racial decisions were made to put him away for good. However, Simpson was a good suspect and his past actions against his wife did not help the matter at all. Simpson had beaten his wife severely on many occasions, yet the police did nothing. With the trial, all of Simpson’s deadly actions were shown in court and the inactions of police
has its own famous murder case. When police Officer Darren Wilson was not charged with murdering Michael Brown, the city went crazy. The case was a mess, similar to Simpson’s, and it was too difficult to prove Wilson had indeed committed a crime. The Ferguson riots brought attention for people wanting less police force and brutality. However, even police departments are feeling the pressure, “Around the nation, communities and police departments are struggling to adapt to an era of heightened scrutiny, when every stop can be recorded on a cellphone” (Oppel). Homicides rates are increasing and occurring due to ridiculous arguments and gangs. Nonetheless, race is scrutinized in every aspect of the crimes