Interesting Facebook post by photojournalist Haywood Galbreath, who was the only photographer to be inside the courtroom every day of the Simpson trial.
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Interesting Facebook post by photojournalist Haywood Galbreath, who was the only photographer to be inside the courtroom every day of the Simpson trial.
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Posted in Authors, Bar association, Books, Cameras in the courtroom, courts, High-Profile trials, journalism, Los Angeles, movies, news media, O. J. Simpson, Radio, social media, Television, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged Black Press, FX, Haywood Galbreath, high-profile trial, Jeffrey Toobin, Jerrianne Hayslett, Judge Lance Ito, mainstream media, murder trial, The People vs. O.J. Simpson
In a recent Law Newz website post, O.J. Simpson Prosecutor Says Non-Black Writers for New Series Clearly Don’t Understand Race, former Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney makes a case for what I didn’t understand during that trial more that 20 years ago, but have a better understanding of now. Here’s an observation about the FX miniseries:
“I think you have a production done, I’ll say this, basically non-black writers, non-black producers then you want to take this iconic trial with these black lawyers and talk about race, I don’t see how you talk about race without including the people that are most affected by it.”
I wouldn’t have appreciated or even understood back in 1995 what Christopher Darden meant had I heard it back then.
I did hear someone back then say something similar to that and, while I went to bat for him, I didn’t really understand. Photojournalist Haywood Galbreath, who was the only photographer who was in the courtroom taking pictures every day of the trial. I describe my encounter with him in Anatomy of a Trial:
“He represented some two-hundred black-owned newspapers across the country, he said, who were fed up with the distortions of the white media. Exhibit A, a Time magazine cover with Simpson’s mug shot which had been altered, giving him a darker, more sinister look.”
With more life experience, I have a much better idea of what Galbreath was saying and totally agree with Darden’s observation about the making of FX’s “People vs. O.J. Simpson.”
Posted in Authors, Bar association, Books, Cameras in the courtroom, courts, High-Profile trials, Interviews, journalism, Los Angeles, movies, news media, O. J. Simpson, Radio, social media, Television, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged Anatomy of a Trial, Christopher Darden, FX, Haywood Galbreath, high-profile trial, law News, non-black, O. J. Simpson, race
As I watched the first episode of FX’s “The People vs. O.J. Simpson” tonight, which I had DVOed last night, I tried to think how to process what I had seen. I had the most trouble with Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson. He just wasn’t. Not in size, not in looks and definitely not in voice.
Before I logged onto this blog to write about it, however, I decided to read a review in “Connecting” newsletter by recently retired AP Special Correspondent Linda Deutsch, possibly the only person save the courtroom bailiff, the trial judge and his clerk, the parties to the case, and photographer Haywood Galbreath,
who spent more time in the courtroom than I did.
I’m glad I read Linda’s review before I wrote anything. So far as I’m concerned, she nailed it.
Because of that, instead of writing anything else, at least about the first episode, I’m going to provide the link to her review. http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Connecting—February-03–2016.html?soid=1116239949582&aid=tU78hcPb9YY
Thanks, Linda!
Posted in Authors, Bar association, Books, Cameras in the courtroom, courts, High-Profile trials, Interviews, journalism, Kardashians, Los Angeles, movies, news media, O. J. Simpson, Oscar Pistorius, Radio, social media, Television, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged Cuba Gooding Jr., FX, Haywood Galbreath, high profile trials, Linda Deutsch, The People vs. O.J. Simpson
In NPR’s Jeremy Hobson’s Here and Now interview with TV critic Eric Deggins on Feb. 2, 2016, about the FX drama “The People vs. O.J. Simpson” Jeremey said the show reminds us of so much we forgot about that happened in the 1994-95 Simpson trial.
So I told Jeremy (yes, I talk to the radio, also to the TV), “That’s because so much that’s being portrayed in the FX miniseries didn’t happen.”
An example is the prominent role Kris Jenner, ex-wife of defense counsel Robert Kardashian, has been given. Her pre-“The People vs. O.J. Simpson” comments have her in the courtroom, hanging onto every word throughout the trial.
No. She showed up on one day only. That was Sept. 27, 1995, more than nine months after the trial started and less than a week before it ended with not-guilty verdicts. She sat with her then-husband Bruce Jenner and friends Steve Garvey and Garvey’s wife.
Photo courtesy of MPJI/HGSTAR1 NEWSPHOTO taken on Sept. 27, 1995, by Photojournalist Haywood Galbreath
My huge problem with this series and with so much that has been written and portrayed about that case and the trial is the perpetuation of misperceptions, myths and fantasies that just didn’t happen.
Posted in Authors, Bar association, Books, Cameras in the courtroom, courts, High-Profile trials, Interviews, journalism, Kardashians, Los Angeles, movies, news media, O. J. Simpson, Radio, social media, Television, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged Bruce Jenner, Eric Deggins, FX, Haywood Galbreath, Here and Now, J, Jeremy Hobsin, Kris Jenner, MPJI/HGSTAR1 NEWSPHOTO, NPR, Robert Kardashian, Steve Garvey, The People vs. O.J. Simpson, TV critic
Photojournalist Haywood Galbreath, the only photographer who shot pictures in Judge Lance Ito’s courtroom every day of the O.J. Simpson trial, saw a previous blog post in which I wrote that the only day I knew of that Kris Jenner attended the OJ Simpson trial in person was Sept. 27, 1995, less than a week before the trial ended in not guilty verdicts. Here’s the photo Galbreath took that day, Sept. 27, 1995, of Kris Jenner, her then-husband Bruce Jenner on her right, and to her left Steve Garvey’s wife and Steve Garvey.
MPJI/HGSTAR1 NEWSPHOTO
Galbreath says he took took pictures of people (who thought they were somebody) who showed up in the courtroom.
Posted in Authors, Bar association, Books, Cameras in the courtroom, courts, High-Profile trials, journalism, Kardashians, Los Angeles, news media, O. J. Simpson, Radio, social media, Television, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged Bruce Jenner, Haywood Galbreath, high-profile trials, Judge Lance Ito, Kris Jenner, MPJI/HGSTAR1 NEWSPHOTO, O. J. Simpson, photojournalists, Steve Garvey
Posted in Authors, Bar association, Books, Cameras in the courtroom, courts, High-Profile trials, Interviews, journalism, Los Angeles, movies, news media, O. J. Simpson, Radio, social media, Television, Writing
Tagged "60 Minutes", African-American journalists, Andrea Ford, AP, Bill Whitaker, black journalists, CBS News, Dennis Schatzman, DeWayne Wickham, H.G. Star- News Photos, Haywood Galbreath, Janet Gilmore, KTTV, Linda Deutsch, Los Angeles daily News, Los Angeles Sentinel, Matthew Carey, Myra Ming, O. J. Simpson, O.J. Simpson trial, Rodney King, Rodney King beating trial, Star Jones, Tom Elias, USA Today
Because he was–and still is.
I’ve written about Mr. Haywood Galbreath before, both in my book Anatomy of a Trial and on this blog. In this post, Haywood Galbreath does the writing. Below is a Facebook status update he posted yesterday. I’ll thank Haywood right here for paying me perhaps the highest compliment any member of the news media has ever given me.
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Today is a very historic day for the Black Press of America reference photojournalism. 21 years ago today the honorable judge Lance Ito who was presiding over the O.J. Simpson double murder trial. I made a very controversial and courageous decision. When he agreed to give the Black Press of America a photo position inside the O.J. Simpson double murder trial. Never before in the history of America had a judge been courageous enough or believed in equality enough to make that type of decision.
On July 22, 1994 when I stepped into that courtroom on behalf of the Black Press of America history was made. I however had no idea what lay ahead for me and the Black Press of Americas for the next 15 months. And I like many who had come before me in the fight for equality for black Americans. I now understand what it’s like to be put through hell in life on earth! For standing up for what you have a right to be a part of.
Mainstream medias biggest argument (mainstream media meaning white owned news organizations) their biggest argument was that the Black Press of America did not have the skill to be able to shoot such a major and import and news event. That black photojournalist could work for them but could not because of lack of skill set beside them as an equal!
On July 22nd 1994 that myth that they created that still exist today. That myth should have been put to rest. When I standing beside their best photojournalist captured an image that they messed and thay had to call my organization representing the Black Press of America for the image!
Even though I advocated for the Black Press of America to have equal access. If not for the help of Ms.Jerrianne Hayslett and the honorable Judge Lance Ito this historic event of equal access for the Black Press of America in what became the largest media event of the 20th century never would’ve happened!
For myself and for the Black Press of America. I am eternally grateful Ms.Hayslett and Judge Ito recognized how significant it was for all parties involved to be represented equally in the area of media. Especially in the area of photojournalism because of the power of the images!
The photo below is the photo that mainstream media had to get from the Black Press of America. The same Black Press of America that they argued adamantly should not have a photo position in the courtroom because we didn’t have the skill like they did to capture the moment!
Sincerely,
-History making photojournalist Haywood Galbreath/On behalf of the Black Press of America-
Below is a comment photojournalist Haywood Galbreath posted on my “Anatomy of a Trial” by Jerrianne Hayslett Facebook page in response to the link I posted to yesterday’s “Anatomy of a Trial blog post.
Haywood first crossed my path during the Reginald Denny-beating trial (referred to by some in the media and the court as son of Rodney King-beating trial) two years after I became the Los Angeles Superior Court’s first ever director of public information. Haywood was nothing like I had ever encountered.
I mention that encounter in Anatomy of a Trial: Public Loss, Lessons Learned from The People vs. O.J. Simpson, and describe how he became the only photographer to have daily courtroom access to photograph the O.J. Simpson trial, how he got to be the only pool photographer on the Simpson jury crime-scene visit, as well as some of the challenges and confrontations we weathered.
“I would like to thank Ms. Jerrianne Hayslett, for acknowledging me in her “Anatomy of a Trial blog”. She may not have completely understood my passion and what was behind my passion. She was however understanding and became an ally. When all is said and done no matter what the situation.
“If the people in your life do not completely understand but are understanding. Then you have been blessed more than you understand or know until time does what time does. That is brings about wisdom and understanding in you! I will be eternally grateful to her and what she did for the Black Press of America and me.”
Haywood taught me a lot, some of which took a while to understand and appreciate. I thank him for that and for his generous comment above. Haywood remains a friend and continues his successful career in photojournalism and other media.
Posted in Authors, Bar association, Books, Cameras in the courtroom, courts, High-Profile trials, journalism, Los Angeles, news media, O. J. Simpson, Radio, social media, Television, Writing
Tagged Haywood Galbreath, Los Angeles Superior Court, O. J. Simpson, photojournalism, r, Reginald Denny, Rodney King
Jury took a trip
By motorcading through town.
A crime scene visit.
2/12/95
This event was one of, if not the, most elaborately planned and surreal situations of the Simpson trial.
Here’s the description in Anatomy of a Trial of the lead up to and day of the jury’s crime-scene visit:
“The trip included quick stops at the apartment complex where Ronald Goldman had lived and Mezzaluna Restaurant, when he worked, then tours of the Bundy Drive condominium crime scene and Simpson’s Rockingham Avenue home two miles away.
“Ito oversaw the meticulous details of the trip, from police escorts and traffic blockades along the route to restriction of airspace to pool reporters’ cell phone use to unfurling curtain barricades and providing umbrellas and wide-brimmed hats at each stop to shield jurors from cameras.
“The entourage, which included police motorcycles, a bus with darkened windows for the jurors, and vans for court staff, the prosecution and defense teams, and the media, created almost as much of a spectacle as had Simpson’s slow-speed Bronco chase along the Los Angeles freeway system before his surrender and arrest nearly eight months earlier. Police blocked the Harbor and Santa Monica freeway ramps between downtown at the courthouse, where the session convened , and Brentwood fifteen miles to the west.
“The media rented rooms with street-facing windows and stationed equipment vehicles along the route. Screaming, sign-waving mobs lined the curbs, stood on rooftops, hung out of windows, crowded overpasses, and posed for photographs as the caravan passed in the background. Kids on roller blades and skateboards raced alongside on streets and behind the bizarre parade.”
And it was all professionally and well documented photographically by pool photojournalist Haywood Galbreath.
Posted in Authors, Bar association, Books, Cameras in the courtroom, courts, High-Profile trials, journalism, Los Angeles, news media, O. J. Simpson, Radio, social media, Television, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged Anatomy of a Trial, Bronco slow-speed chase, Haywood Galbreath, Ito, jury crime scene visit, Los Angeles, O. J. Simpson, Ronald Goldman
A photojournalist I met well before the infamous 1994-95 O.J. Simpson criminal trial invited me to Like the new Facebook page for his project, OJ “Trial Of The Century” Through The Lens Of A Black Press Photojournalist,
At this point this project is a work in progress, but the creator, photojournalist Haywood Galbreath has impressive plans.
In addition to an ebook in different format, “I also am working on a documentary and stationary photo exhibit as well as a traveling photo exhibit to tour different cities and talk about my experience in the trial next year,” Haywood said when I asked about the status of his project.
Here are a couple of his Status Updates from that page:
* * *
So far as I’m concerned, Haywood Galbreath personifies persistence and determination. He first crossed my radar in during the 1993 Reginald Denny-beating trial. I mention Haywood several times in Anatomy of A Trial, including his request to staff a separate camera pool to represent African-American-owned and operated news organizations.
“But the Denny judge, while sympathetic, denied Galbreath’s request because he had submitted it after the trial had begun and logistics were already in place,” I wrote. “Galbreath didn’t make that mistake twice. …”
Although Haywood could be disruptive and was sometimes a pain, I came to respect not only his persistence, but his exemplary skills with a camera.
Although he has always maintained that the black perspective on the American condition and issues is different and stressed the importance of photographing events and situations from a black perspective, his recent comment says it best:
“I was of the strong opinion then and I am of the strong opinion now that anything that takes place in America, black Americans in all walks of life as well as Black Media if they choose to should have the right to have the same equal access as mainstream media.”
I eagerly await Haywood’s documentation of the Simpson trial as he photographed it.
Posted in Authors, Bar association, Books, Cameras in the courtroom, courts, High-Profile trials, journalism, Los Angeles, O. J. Simpson, Radio, social media, Television, Uncategorized, Writing
Tagged Anatomy of a Trial, Black Press Photojournalist, Facebook, Haywood Galbreath, Lance Ito, O. J. Simpson, Reginald Denny, trial of the century