The death of San Francisco native Orenthal “OJ” Simpson to cancer this week has the country grappling with how to define a man who was both loved and reviled in his lifetime. But his trial and acquittal for murder may have also been one of the most divisive times of the 20th century and the beginning of what some are calling a “post-truth” society.  

Simpson was raised in the housing projects of Potrero Hill. He then rose to prominence for his football skills playing for City College of San Francisco. From there he won the Heisman Trophy in 1968 for University of Southern California, then went pro, playing for several teams but ending his career with the San Francisco 49ers in 1979. 

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Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.