Top 4 Things OJ Simpson should Immediately Do
Dear OJ,
Today is a big day for you.
You are scheduled to appear before a parole board in Nevada in a hearing that will decide whether you can receive an early release from prison.
We affectionately referred to you as “Juice” and you were a hero to me and many of my peers — a legend of sport, film and pop culture. Despite your god status, fame quickly turned to infamy with the 1995 acquittal in the grisly slayings of your ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in what was called the “trial of the century.”
Since many believe that you may be released today, here’s my “top 4 things” you should immediately do list:
- Atone.
Most everyone know’s you did it. And if you didn’t do it, you had everything to do with it (the murder of ex-wife and her friend). Like anything of this magnitude taking responsibility for your actions helps the healing process. It is your intransigence which keeps loved ones in fight mode triggering an unhealthy cycle of attention in the society at large. Owning up to your actions will give everyone the opportunity to move forward, even you. - Forgive yourself
All of the prophets and wise sages spoke of the power of forgiveness. The most essential of all forms of forgiveness is the “forgiveness of self”. Forgiveness will allow you space for self study, to figure out what you truly did and why you did it? Maybe it was your masculine beliefs which give way to anger and aggression towards your former wife? Maybe it was residual usage of testosterone or drugs— holdovers from your football days? Whatever the case, it’s important to distinguish what you did, from who you are. - Use your Awareness
Take a look at your cellmate. Now look at your prison mates to the right and left of you. Chances are they are black or brown men. By now you have become familiar with the criminal justice system and the disproportionate numbers of black and brown men serving time in jail. Many of the men surrounding you are serving long sentences for petty crimes simply because they cannot afford bail in order to get out. Many men are locked up, wrongly convicted, victims of the justice system waiting, hoping, praying to be exonerated or let go on appeal. Use your empathy to understand the brokenness of your fellow incarcerated inmates as well as the broken system of justice which imprisons them. - Give Service
Jay-Z recently wrote a song about you called “The Story of O.J”. In it, he describes how your life of privilege deluded you into thinking you were different and therefore exempted from the reality of black life in America. Hopefully by now you know your privilege was a false promise. As you leave prison, become a fighter. In your previous life of privilege and entitlement, you fought for golf tee times and your favorite table in a restaurant. Hopefully, your experience doing time has showed you there is so much more to fight for. Fight for women, victims of domestic violence. Fight for men and boys to strive for a mature masculinity, with tools to manage anger and aggression. Fight for your own people of color who far too often are victims of a system of injustice. The warrior, prophet, boxer and humanitarian, Muhammad Ali said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” Become a warrior in the cause of others.
I wish you well, and more importantly wish upon you the choice to take your life in a different direction. A life direction that will serve to benefit others, not just yourself.
Warm Regards,
Marcus