on-ramp: "being black actually helped his case."
I have to agree.
Although OJ's charismatic celebrity transcended race. In fact, OJ took great pains to be more green (wealthy) than black until it became convenient to reclaim his blackness.
Most of the jury came from a pool that witnessed a lifetime of unfairness on the part of LAPD, and were happy at the chance to return the favor.
Someone could probably write a book on the subject... oh wait.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0380730596/102-7182296-1575359?v=glance