Jussie Smollett's Dagger in the Heart of Crime Victims

An Actual Victim of a Hate Crime

One can only wonder if money changed hands in the Jussie Smollett case of engineering a his own hate crime. There seems like there was plenty of evidence to believe beyond a reasonable doubt that he did it. The prosecutors in the Smollett case may not have wanted to touch this case because the Chicago's history of their police brutalizing innocent black men. Whatever the reason, the damage is done. Actual victims of crime, who already are frightened to confront perpetrators, will now reckon with, 'why bother, no one will believe me anyway'.

Every victim of a real crime knows this routine: men in power and people of means know how to circumvent the legal system. This is precisely why real victims of crime do not come forward. What Jussie Smollett's case has done is reinforce stereotypes espoused by Trump and other perpetrators: that they are the victim here. Smollett's case is even more deplorable because of being an openly gay African American and having media visibility. Women and minority victims already face incredible obstacles in the criminal prosecution of their offenders. This is a phenomenal setback for all victims of crime not matter what their race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion is. 

I am not a fan of 'Empire' nor will I be now that they are welcoming him back with open arms. They are his institutional co-conspirators in the decline of justice. Mr. Smollett got what he wanted in designing his victimization: more media coverage and probably a raise. But he will not be so easily released from his karmic debt of falsifying his victimization for fame and fortune. 

My only suggestion is that everyone boycott 'Empire' until he is terminated from employment.