Race and Justice: Rodney King and O. J. Simpson in a House Divided

Inthisbook,psychologistandscholarJewelleTaylorGibbsputstheRodneyKingandO.J.Simpsontrialsunderthemicroscopetoshowthattheissueofracewasattheveryheartofbothoftheseemotionallychargedcases.And,sheobserves,giventheracialandethniccompositionofthemembersofthetwojuries,theirverdictswereallbutpredictableinviewoftheirdifferentexperienceswiththepolice.Thebookreviewstheturbulenteventsoftheso-calledtrialsofthecenturyandexaminesthemfromasocialandpoliticalframeworkofracerelationsandpolicemisconduct.TheauthorpointsoutthatKingandSimpson,twoapparentlydissimilarmen,camefromremarkablysimilarbackgrounds.AndsheshowshowtheirtrialshavelinkedthemforeverassymbolsofthedifferentworldsinhabitedbyblacksandwhitesinAmerica.