Monday, October 2, 2017
OJ Simpson - American Hero?
Currently, in class, we are watching a documentary about the very controversial Orenthal James Simpson. Throughout his life, OJ has always been the center of attention whether it's in sports or social issues. OJ gained fame through his amazing athletic ability in football. Coming from a rough background and becoming an absolute star in the media showed that OJ had made it in the world. He started his football career at the University of Southern California, and there that's where he started gaining popularity. OJ made that famous run against UCLA, and his fame went through the roof. Everyone started to see OJ as a hero across the campus because of how good he was on the field. In that same season OJ was so good that he won the Heisman Award, and because of this season, he got drafted by the Buffalo Bills. His first season at the Bills wasn't too great and the fact is OJ hated Buffalo. Though his first season wasn't the best, the next season he showed how good he was. That season he got 2000 rushing yards and established himself as a record breaker in the NFL for history. OJ was a national hero because of his ability. The fact is that OJ didn't see himself as black but just saw himself as OJ and nothing else. OJ was a person who cared about doing his job and being OJ. It may sound selfish but he gained success from this so it must have worked. Not only did OJ not see himself as black but the people around him thought the same way. When white people thought of OJ they didn't see him as a black person, in fact, they saw him as something much higher than them. OJ was this superior athlete that everyone looked up to. He was everyone's national hero. Even though he had such an upbringing there are still some factors that are very controversial when it comes to OJ. One thing that he did that was controversial was that he cheated on his then-wife, Marguerite Whitley multiple times. The most notable one was when he wanted to marry Nicole Brown even though he was still married to Marguerite. OJ married Nicole soon after. Another factor to which OJ was controversial was that he was a famous black athlete and he did nothing for civil rights. This caused many of the black community to be upset with him because he was a huge figure in the media but he didn't give back to his roots. It almost seemed like OJ didn't care about where he came from. Now the most controversial thing that OJ allegedly did was the murder of Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman. From the start, OJ would beat Nicole a lot, and Nicole hated him because of that. Eventually, Nicole and OJ got divorced, and she started getting close to Ron Goldman. Naturally, OJ would get jealous, and since it already seemed that he had anger issues, and even though he wasn't acquited to the murders it seems like he would be the one who killed Nicole and Ron. At the end of this all, who is OJ Simpson and who does he represent?
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I agree with you about OJ being a national hero and inspired many people, lots of people looked up to him. But it was very odd how OJ never wanted to get political, he was kind of two faced. to the public eye he was this big hero, kind, generous, caring, and the list goes on, but behind the closed door you saw his true scary side. Violent and firm. Ojs way or no way. he was a smooth talker and knew his ways around everyone. OJ comes from nothing and a rough background so I am sure he knows how to talk to vulnerable people and look vulnerable when he needs to, he knows how to play the role. OJ was also all about business, and he took classes to speak better and clearly. People like when someone speaks clear,and know what they are talking about. OJ was clear and always knew his way out of situations. OJ represents a snake.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you guys that OJ was a national hero, but only at first. I don't find it odd that he never wanted to get political. It makes sense he didn't want to because in reality, he only cared about his career and how far he made it in life. He COULD have though used his "smooth talking" to make a change, but he only cared about himself. And that fact that people still looked up to him after it was public he cheated on his first wife and that he physically and mentally abused his second wife is sickening. He was the first major suspect of Nicole and Ron's murder, yet people still want to "free" him.
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