OJ Simpson and the ever changing definition of racism

A new poll is showing that a majority of blacks now believe OJ Simpson is guilty of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman 20 years ago. That’s a stark contrast to the feelings at that time when the courtroom drama was playing out on national television.

The same report shows that only 16% of blacks in 1995 ascribed guilt to OJ. A vast majority of whites, then and now, are convinced of his guilt. It was truly a nation divided and cries of racism were aplenty for anyone accusing OJ of murder.

There’s been a renewed interest in the trial with FX’s The People vs. OJ Simpson and ESPN’s epic documentary series, OJ: Made in America. But as Newser points out, it’s not clear that any series is responsible for the changed minds. That has left them to reason that it must be all of OJ’s trouble with the law since his acquittal:

[T]he former NFL superstar and actor has seen his public image decline amid road-rage charges and a conviction for kidnapping and armed robbery in a Las Vegas hotel room. Simpson was also found guilty in a civil trial for the deaths of Goldman and Brown Simpson.

Hmm, yeah, that could do it.  Plus there are rumors from a close friend that OJ is going to finally confess to the killings.

As adamant as blacks were in the ’90s about OJ’s innocence, it’s odd to see the tide turn in a completely different direction.  This is yet another example of the ever-changing definition of racism in America.