An Ode to Jussie Smollett – A True Freedom Fighter?

Jussie Smollett (Photograph by Brian Cassella-Pool/Getty Pictures)

The Jussie Smollett saga is lastly coming to an finish – or so it appears. After a three-year drama, a decide slapped the previous Empire actor with 150 days in jail together with a sequence of fines for staging a homophobic and racist hate crime. He blamed the assault on Trump supporters carrying MAGA hats, and shortly after the information broke, the main points of Smollett’s story have been so sketchy even Stevie Surprise might see that one thing wasn’t proper with this image.

Jussie Smollett (Photograph by Brian Cassella-Pool/Getty Pictures)

After the decide handed down the sentence, Smollett made certain everybody knew he was going to take his personal life. “I’m harmless, and I’m not suicidal,” he declared. “If something occurs to me after I go in there, I didn’t do it to myself and it’s essential to all know that.”

Is the actor pondering of pulling a pretend Epstein and trying to exit in a blaze of glory? Or maybe he has grime on the Clintons he plans to launch throughout his incarceration. In fact, additionally it is doable the washed-up hoaxer simply needs to get consideration, which is why he concocted the hate crime stunt within the first place.

However what if America is taking a look at this case fallacious? What if Smollett is being wrongly punished? He appears to assume that is the case, in keeping with TMZ:

“Sources with direct data and in fixed contact with the ‘Empire’ actor inform TMZ … Jussie absolutely anticipated to get jail time. He advised his protection group earlier than sentencing he felt he can be handled extra harshly than different defendants convicted of a non-violent crime … all due to the colour of his pores and skin. He thinks it’s extra proof of systemic racism within the judicial system.”

Others appear to agree with Smollett’s good evaluation and expressed their outrage at what they argue is unfair punishment. His sister, Jurnee, took to Instagram with a put up that includes a black sq. with the hashtag #FreeJussie. “Black Individuals are incarcerated in state prisons at practically 5 occasions the speed of white Individuals,” she wrote.

“Jussie is harmless,” she continued. “And…you don’t must consider in his innocence to consider he ought to be free. #FreeJussie #StopLockingUpOurPeople.” Nevertheless, Jurnee forgot to offer knowledge detailing the sentences white Individuals usually face once they pull of elaborate hate crime hoaxes. How peculiar.

Smollett’s brother, Jocqui, took situation with the truth that Jussie was being held in a psych ward. “So Jussie is at the moment in a psych ward on the Prepare dinner County Jail. What’s very regarding is that there was a notice hooked up to his paperwork immediately saying that he’s prone to self-harm,” he wrote on an Instagram put up.

Jocqui Smollett (Photograph by Scott Olson/Getty Pictures)

Jocqui insisted his brother isn’t prone to doing something unhealthy to himself. “I wish to make it clear that he’s under no circumstances, form, or type prone to self hurt. He needs to let of us know that he’s very secure, he’s very sturdy, he’s very wholesome and able to tackle the problem that… has been put up in opposition to him,” he wrote.

In fact, one may anticipate Smollett’s household to return to his protection. However even of us who are usually not associated to the actor have expressed righteous indignation at his incarceration. Actress Indya Moore additionally took to Instagram, which appears to be the social media hub of the #FreeJussie motion, to specific solidarity with the beleaguered hoaxer. “I acknowledge that You’re so sturdy, past measure and exterior foresight. you’re so courageous,” she wrote, additionally insisting that the actor “shouldn’t be in Jail.”

Kendrick Sampson, one other actor, shared Moore’s put up and wrote:

“Breonna Taylor’s assassin, and an limitless checklist of different cops, can’t be held accountable…however Jussie is locked in a CAGE for allegedly mendacity to police? What number of Karens have lied to the police UNDER OATH a la Emmett Until with no accountability?”

Taraji P. Henson, who starred alongside Smollett on “Empire,” posted a message saying, “I’m not right here to debate you on his innocence, however we will agree that the punishment doesn’t match the crime.” It seems that some on the left, unwilling to acknowledge Smollett’s guilt, have gone from “he didn’t do it,” to “okay, he did it, however y’all are nonetheless racist.”

And maybe we’re. Maybe persons are so deeply ingrained of their racism they’ll’t see that the actor was making an attempt to do a public service. They don’t appear to understand the complexities of the message he was making an attempt to ship when he paid two Nigerian brothers to don pink MAGA hats and tough him up a bit. Certain, this was a pretend hate crime, however what about all of the actual hate crimes that plague black Individuals every day? By no means thoughts that this degree of deception solely makes it more durable for them. As fellow pretend information peddler Michael Wolff mentioned, “if it rings true, it’s true.”

The truth is, that’s in all probability the difficulty proper there. Smollett, a famous political scholar, was merely influenced by Wolff’s phrases, so it’s actually the creator’s fault. Shouldn’t he be punished as nicely? The place is the Cancel Tradition Group once you want them?

Ultimately, Smollett seemingly received’t serve his full sentence. The fines he has to pay are however a pittance to him. Apart from his profession being ruined, Smollett will make out fairly properly after having pulled the nation by way of a large hate crime hoax. However you recognize what they are saying: Being woke means by no means having to say you’re sorry.

~ Learn extra from Jeff Charles.