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Dr. Boyce discussing Don Imus and Rev. Al Sharpton

 
I felt a little silly when the CNN producer called me to talk about OJ Simpson.  I thought, “You mean the white guy who used to play football?”  She explained that OJ wasn’t white.  I then thought long and hard, suddenly realizing that he was, in fact, a black man.  I would never have guessed such a thing before 1994, when he was accused of murdering his wife. 
 
Before the accusations, OJ had become America’s favorite white man…doing one commercial after another, appearing at celebrity functions, getting leading roles in pathetic, tacky-ass movies.  He had it made. 
 
His whiteness even extended to his drugs of choice.  You know, the ones he shared with his wife, the angelic figure who wouldn’t hurt a fly.  At least that’s what you would think with the way the media portrayed her after the murder.  The image of a big, scary (darkened in some photos) black man next to a blond, beautiful, serene-looking Caucasian woman reminds you of movies where some wild beast gets a hold of Snow White and rips her to shreds.
 
Black men are scary to America.  They are also a nice source of entertainment in everything from sports, to American idol, to the evening news.  OJ was the greatest source of entertainment during his murder trial.  But toward the end, you could hear the entire country at breakfast saying “No more OJ please, even if it’s fresh squeezed!”  He was truly the Paris Hilton of his time, dominating the media and making everyone throw up.
 
Well, Simpson is not done.  His recent arrest for burglary and kidnapping is right out of the movie “Good Fellas”.  I am sure Snoop Dog and Ice Cube might approve, since his actions were indeed quite “gangsta”.  I am not sure how or why 60 year old men go breaking into other people’s hotel rooms.  That’s just insane.  The way OJ was cussing up a storm on the audio tape, you could clearly see that he was never the conservative white man we thought he was.  I was actually impressed with the way he carefully and strongly pushed together powerful curse words, controlled the room and made things happen.  It reminds me of my mother on Saturday mornings, getting me and my sister to clean the house.
 
“Pick your clothes up motherf*&^*, and don’t let me see you leave that sh*t in the sink this time.”  Yes, OJ brought back fond memories of my mother in the 1980s.
 
As I prepare for the roller coaster ride yet to come, I can only say that OJ should write another book.  It should be called “I might be hated by America, but I’ll still rob yo ass if I you steal my sh*t”.  The title would be enough to get me into the bookstore.
 
Can “The Juice” wiggle his way out of this one?  I don’t think so homey, I don’t think so.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of "What if George Bush were a Black Man?" He makes regular appearances in national media, including CNN, FOX, MSNBC and ESPN.  For more information, please visit www.BoyceWatkins.com.

Related OJ Simpson News:

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Why Black People Don't Give a Damn about OJ - Valencia Roner

OJ Simpson is Innocent. OK, Maybe Not - Dr. Boyce Watkins

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