Reflections are pouring in for the former NFL star O.J. Simpson after his family shared the news he passed away from cancer this week at the age of 76. Simpson was an American cultural figure for decades and a star running back for the Buffalo Bills before he became a symbol of domestic violence and racial division after the infamous murder trial of his former wife and her friend that captivated the nation.
Imani M. Cheers is an associate professor of digital storytelling at the George Washington University. Cheers is an award-winning digital storyteller, director, producer, and filmmaker. As a professor of practice, she uses a variety of mediums including video, photography, television, and film to document and discuss issues impacting and involving people of the African Diaspora. Her scholarly focus is on the intersection of women/girls, technology, health, conflict, agriculture, and the effects of climate change in sub-Saharan Africa. Cheers is also an expert on diversity in Hollywood, specifically the representation of Black women in television and film.
Cheers can discuss Simpson’s cultural legacy, the role he played in race relations, and the impact of Simpson’s media coverage on the news business and news consumption as a whole, among other related topics.
In a recent interview with NBC4 Washington, Cheers discusses the role O.J. played in race relations from how Black and White Americans perceived him to the fallout of his murder trial:
“It’s actually really tragic when you look at someone who had such an illustrious athletic career to then see where things went. I think people really need to remember that this O.J. Simpson trial came directly after the 1992 riots in Los Angeles, where we saw the acquittal of five White police officers for the beating of Rodney King,” Cheers said. “So, there was already so much tension around here that unfortunately a lot of individuals, especially within the Black community, viewed his acquittal as some sort of payback, as some sort of redemption for the fact that Rodney King’s case was very much so seen as an injustice.”
“It's really important when we look back, we’re talking about well over 30 years, we do understand the cultural context in which this acquittal came and how it impacted communities.”
If you would like to speak with Prof. Cheers, please contact GW Media Relations Specialist Cate Douglass at [email protected].
-GW-