Multiple legal trials have vied for our attention in recent weeks. It’s been interesting observing the verdicts unfold. It’s been equally interesting observing those who have strong opinions on what the verdict should/should not be. No judgment, friends. I get it. I’ve done it, too. I’ve also gotten to a place in life where I’ve realized that if I’m not in the courtroom, most likely my perspective is narrow and thus my view incomplete.
One trial has prompted increased ponder on my part. I speak of the legal fate of Jussie Smollett, the biracial American actor who was found guilty of staging a fake hate crime about himself.
As one who’s big on mercy triumphing over judgment, let me encourage no pouring on of shame on Smollett. Chances are his professional career will forever be derailed, and he alone will have to wrestle with his choices. No need to make it worse.
But what intrigues me is something bigger. When Smollett told police in January of 2019, that he was attacked by two Pres. Trump-supporting men, using racial and homophobic slurs, who beat him up and tied a noose around his neck, the bottom line is he was doing one thing: he was making himself a victim.
In a succeeding television interview with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts — an interview she would later say was a “no-win” situation, as she, too, is a gay person of color — Smollett got angry and cried, indignantly sharing his self-invented horror and how dare anyone doubt it… “I’m p—ed off… At first it was a thing of like, ‘Listen, if I tell the truth, then that’s it — cause it’s the truth.’ Then it became a thing of like, ‘Oh, how can you doubt that? Like how do you not believe that? It’s the truth.’”
That was all a lie. The story. The horror. The feigned indignation. All untrue.
What intrigues me today, though, isn’t as much the prodigious unhealthiness that would prompt an individual to intentionally, inaccurately paint oneself as a victim, but rather, how attractive victimhood is to us.
Note in the immediate, 24 hour aftermath of the reported assault — not known yet to be a hoax — what was publicly said about Smollett:
From then presidential candidate Joe Biden: “What happened today to @JussieSmollett must never be tolerated in this country. We must stand up and demand that we no longer give this hate safe harbor; that homophobia and racism have no place on our streets or in our hearts. We are with you, Jussie.”
From then Sen. Kamala Harris: “@JussieSmollett is one of the kindest, most gentle human beings I know. I’m praying for his quick recovery. This was an attempted modern day lynching. No one should have to fear for their life because of their sexuality or color of their skin. We must confront this hate.”
Except that it wasn’t. It wasn’t hate. It wasn’t homophobia. It had nothing to do with Smollett’s skin color or sexuality.
So why did people immediately assume what Smollett said was true? Biden and Harris were by far not alone. Why did people not only believe Smollett was speaking truth, but also use his self-invented story of oppression to call out a bigger narrative and assume the worst of other people?
Why — with all due respect — are we so attracted to a victim?
Not knowing Smollett, I have actually no idea what was in his head… Was he trying to divide us more? … Was he trying to start a race war? … Was he hoping to advance his acting career? … Who knows. But my guess is, whatever the motive, he knew that America likes a good victim; he knew we would work to empathize. He must have also believed that our affinity for his shared suffering would prompt us to omit the scrutiny of his lie. He utilized victimhood to veil truth.
I will say I am bothered by how Smollett’s chosen behavior may affect future, actual victims. Oppression of any person — on the basis of race, sexuality, age, ability, you name it — is unholy and immoral.
I am also bothered, no less, by how in our attempted empathy, how fast many were to assume the worst of others. Because Smollett’s tale fit into a narrative that fits how some of us think, truth mattered less than the narrative. Allow me to respectfully rephrase: truth did not matter.
Friends, we have work to do in this country. In a democratic, free society, such will always be the case. Eden doesn’t happen this side of eternity. But a point I think we’re poignantly missing — which was glaringly evident in the foolish fraud of Jussie Smollett — is that victimization is not a virtue.
Let us empathize always. But let empathy not blind us to what is true.
Respectfully…
AR