By Iconic American- African History Making Photo/Journalist Of The 20th Century Haywood Galbreath

 

A Decision to do the O.J. Simpson Book: Reference, Validation, Acceptance and Reward

In February of this year, I drove to Kenneth Hahn Park the urban oasis park that sits between La Brea Ave, to the east and La Cienega to the west bordered by Rodeo Road to the north and Stocker to the south.

Quite often, I go there to enjoy the scenery and to think. There is something about being in nature that helps you clear your head and think more clearly. On this particular day, I was thinking about Black History Month and how accomplishments of American-Africans are celebrated doing this month.

I began to think about the fact that seventeen years earlier I had pulled off the biggest media coo of the 20^th century! And had hoped with that accomplishment to be able to do many good things for myself and others.  In particular I desired to help young people of color get into the profession of photo/journalism as well as broadcasting. 

Seventeen years later, I’m sitting in my car frustrated that white America.  They turned their backs on me and continue to deny me my rightful place with awards and rewards for accomplishing such a great feat.

After seventeen years, I was still hoping and thinking that white America was going to validate my accomplishments and except that as a Black man had accomplished the greatest feat of the 20^th Century in reference to photo/journalism against all odds!

And even though, I did it in their face, as it is said in slang language, they were still going to lift me up to the people of America and the world. What Galbreath has accomplished even though we tried our best to stop him is simply extraordinary. These professionals were going to pay me a lot of money to tell the story about how they “mainstream media” (white owned media), misrepresented the truth about what took place in the O.J. Simpson trial and how race played a major roll.

 And in addition, how the trial was covered by them regarding what the police department the prosecution reference their presentation of the case and what they did to me.

As I sat there, I heard the voice of God speak to me as he so often has done. He said to me, “White male America in the area of photo/journalism and in the literary world is never going to give you the validation you seek from them! And they are never going to pay you a tremendous amount of money to write a book and tell the story about your journey and what they put you through!  About how they misrepresented the truth about the O.J. Simpson double murder trial! Do you actually believe my child that the people who have profited the most by keeping a lie going want the truth to be told and are going to pay you to tell the truth and make them look bad!”

“Furthermore, even though you would like to tell the story! And clear the lies about the O.J. Simpson double murder trial! You also wanted to throw it in their face—that you did what you did in spite of them.  Stand up!  Puff your chest out and talk about what you did, and make me a second thought!  As you talk about what I did to help you do what you did! That is not my way! I let you do this great thing so that I may be glorified in the site of people and that people would know that if they believed in me! Against all odds, they could accomplish great things!

What I permitted you to do is not about your ego! But about my righteous ways! I will not permit you to stick out your chest for the flesh! But, I will permit you to stand tall and be an example of my goodness!

Now reference you doing an O.J. book and getting the true story out there and telling the world about my ability to make the impossible possible! I have put everybody and everything that you need to do the book yourself in your life!

You have told different people and you are correct, I did not let you do that great thing for the pictures and negatives to be in boxes and the story never be told! And people not be able to be helped from what you accomplished! I don’t make any mistakes! “

As I sat there and thought about what God had said to me.  I realized that if I had been given an opportunity to do a book seventeen years ago and some other things that came along with doing a book. My time and my ability to do good works for God would have only lasted for a moment.  And the powers that be would not have permitted me to do for the people and glorify the power of God the way I would have wanted to and the way I feel God would want me to be glorifying His name.

With this book, I am going to tell the story!  Through the lens of my camera what I saw and what I experienced personally daily during and after the trial. I’m going to make it factual and truthful as I can.  There will be those who do not like what I have to say and deny the truth that I speak about them and the trial of the century. I promise you the people that I am going to give you the facts.  You can decide for yourself about this historical trial regarding the goodness or the badness of the individuals involved and what we call the system.

  Footnote: For a lot of the year's I've had much anger about what transpired In the courtroom what happened to me and what happened to the American-African people after the verdict of not guilty. Several years ago I came up with this phrase "Time takes care of all things and God is time" With that said In order for me to do the lord's work I must walk in his light and his way. I will now be obedient and do that! I give up the anger that I have held so long, so his light may enter my spirit completely and this book be an example of God's truth light and way.

⁸Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. ¹¹When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. ¹²Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love!

Haywood Galbreath 2011 ©Copyright

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