A Few Thoughts on "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story"

​Written by John Edward Betancourt

At some point along the line of getting to know new friends or learning more about old ones, we've all had the grand discussion of where we were and what we were doing when an important or fascinating moment in American history came to fruition. After all those moments not only define our nation in some or fashion, they can shape our lives or our future, and it's always fascinating to look back upon them to remember what it meant to you, or to look back upon them simply because...you never quite understood them. 

That's why I was instantly curious when FX announced it was bringing forth a new series about American crime and that the inaugural season would revolve around the O.J. Simpson trial, because while I remember hearing about the trial and where I was when the verdict came down...I never quite understood much of what was going on. For me it was simple. O.J. Simpson stood accused of murdering his ex wife and her friend and well...he was found not guilty. The nuances of it always escaped me simply because I was a high school student when this happened and my perception of the world was that of a teenager, my world mattered and not much else. In my later years I've come to find the world is a fascinating place for both the good and the bad that it exhibits and I'm thankful shows like The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story exist because it was able to transport me back to a case I never fully understood and teach me more about what I missed when it came to this incredibly controversial case and important moment in our rich history.

Now I say that because looking back at this trial now, I never realized the impact it had on modern American culture. This trial was in many ways the birth of Reality Television. We were front and center for every shocking moment, every important piece of information and we couldn't get enough of it. I distinctly recall it being on the news non stop back in 1995, and I even remember my mother watching it live on CNN when I would come home from school. Something about this case, about seeing a celebrity as beloved as O.J. stand trial fascinated us and I love that the show took the time to show not only the forthcoming obsession with our need for 24/7 news consumption, but the effect it has on the people involved. Several of the moments where Marcia Clark, portrayed brilliantly by Sarah Paulson, are absolutely heartbreaking to watch as her life is exposed to the public in the blink of an eye and well, that's often how it is today, private moments are often out there to see for those in limelight whether they like it or not.

Plus the series also brought to light the matter of racial injustice that was still at the forefront of everyone's mind being a few years removed from the 1992 L.A. Riots, and I am quite appreciative of the fact the show handled this with class. There is never an indictment of any one organization or person in particular, the show simply gives us the facts in the matter and that makes Johnnie Cochran's plight to bring about awareness of racial inequality all the more fascinating since this is the first time I've ever seen Cochran in that particular light and while it is an important message to get out to the people, it's clear that Johnnie picked the wrong time, place and case to go after this and in many ways...his decision to make that the focus of this trial truly did create more harm than he ever intended.

The series also does a fine job of keeping a neutral stance on the verdict and O.J.'s innocence. After all I do recall distinctly that the decision was divisive and everyone has an opinion to this day as to whether or not he did it and all the series does here is present O.J. as the man he was in 1995, and nothing more. If anything it asks you to do what you have already done, and make your own decision on his guilt or his innocence since this is truly a show that analyzes the failures of the Los Angeles District Attorney's office to properly put together a case against O.J. and the defense's desire to make this a media circus and revolve around bigger matters rather than stick to the facts. Either way, I have to say this was extremely well done, and the cast is absolutely top notch and I hear word now that FX's next chapter in American Crime Story is going to revolve around Hurricane Katrina and I honestly cannot wait to see what they do in regards to another important moment in American history.

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