Why was OJ Simpson recently in the news?

Answer 1

OJ Simpson's trial was culturally important because it raised the issue of black and white race relations. It was also one of the first court room trials to be completely televised. Most people felt OJ was guilty, so the verdict of not guilty resonated especially because of OJ's wealth and position, which were thought to influence the outcome, which left the murder victim's families without the justice they deserved.

Answer 2

It highlighted certain taboo issues which are virtually banned from public debate, but which remain front-of-mind with many people.

One of these was mixed marriage, and the tendency for successful black men to date/marry white ("Get rich and switch"). Another was the credibility of young blacks, since they overwhelmingly claimed "OJ is innocent".

It was also controversial because of the justice system, and the understanding whites had of it which totally differed from blacks and other minorities. Believing that if one had enough money they could get off with anything, and that the system was flawed because of this, more blacks felt it helped to prove a point on why whites, who generally have more money, could get off with crimes they did commit as opposed to minorities, who aren't as well off, being convicted of crimes they didn't commit. However, this point was usually stamped out and only the point of some blacks believing him to be innocent was shared around the world, likely as a way to discredit blacks in America for anything in legal/court matters.