Press Play with Madeleine Brand
'OJ: Made in America:' The Rise and Fall of a Hero Through the Lens of Race
On October 3, 1995, more than 95 million people gathered in front of their TV's or radios to learn OJ Simpson's fate in what was dubbed "the trial of the century." And when the verdict was announced, the response on the streets in Downtown Los Angeles was immediate and it was visceral.
By Madeleine Brand • • 1 min readOn October 3, 1995, more than 95 million people gathered in front of their TV's or radios to learn OJ Simpson's fate in what was dubbed "the trial of the century." And when the verdict was announced, the response on the streets in Downtown Los Angeles was immediate and it was visceral. To a majority of black Americans, the not-guilty verdict was a sign of the criminal justice system working for one of their own. To a majority of white Americans, the verdict was evidence of the justice system breaking down. At the time, more than 70 percent of African Americans thought OJ was innocent, while over 70 percent of whites thought he was guilty. The question of why that is is the subject of an upcoming five-part series called OJ: Made in America that examines the epic rise and fall of a hero through the lens of race.
From O.J.: Made in America. Courtesy of ESPN Films
From O.J.: Made in America. Courtesy of ESPN Films
