White Reaction to Verdict

Re “How White People Riot: Quietly, but Lethally, at the Ballot Box,” Commentary, Oct. 11: As an African American, while I am more disheartened by some blacks’ response to the O.J. Simpson verdict, I cannot let a particular white view slip by without comment. Roger Boesche’s commentary states that “of course, white people don’t riot.”

Where have he and the others that think this way been? Blacks and other oppressed people riot for injustice. Whites riot if their sporting teams win or lose. It happens every year in every major sport. Has anyone ever read about British soccer? In 1984, although Detroit was over 70% black, the white fans of the Tigers celebrated with riots over their World Series win. In 1994, those civilized whites in Vancouver rioted when the Canucks lost in the Stanley Cup finals. This year there was almost a riot (excuse me, “civil unrest”) in Westwood when the Bruins’ basketball team won.

Whites do riot, just for different (and stupid) reasons.

KEVIN REEVES, North Hollywood

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Surely the white majority can vote against programs that benefit minorities, but each of them faces the issue of how he feels in his own conscience about depriving the needy of the basic needs of food, housing, medical care and education. Can he feel vindicated for allowing the deprived to suffer for the misdeed of one high-profile athlete? Where’s the justice in that?

ROBERT NAKAGAWA, Los Angeles

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As an African American man living in Orange County, I was asked many times: Do you think O.J. is guilty? I always replied, “I don’t know. I’ll wait for the verdict.”

Now that it’s in, I’m asked: What do you think? I say, “I’m as outraged as everyone.” A look of satisfaction crosses their faces. They think, he’s on our side. When I say, “I’m indignant, but for a different reason,” their faces drop. I say, “If O.J. did it, he got away with murder. But in this country, men have been getting away with murder for over 300 years. African American women and men have been raped, mutilated and murdered for centuries. For most of those years, there wasn’t even a pretense of justice. In the last 40 to 50 years trials have been held. Defendants have walked into court smiling, as if they knew a secret. Shortly thereafter they have walked out laughing and back-slapping.”

I ask, “Where has all of this righteous indignation been all of these years? African Americans have felt it all their lives. Welcome to the club. This is how it feels.”

One acquaintance said, “At least we aren’t rioting.” I said, “Wait until it happens for the thousandth time.”

HERMAN CLAYBORN, Fountain Valley