By: Ian Haddock
On January 31st, I wrote an article that took a clear position on the Jussie Smollett case. Yesterday, after being charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly filing a false police report, Smollett turned himself in. For those of us who were writing dissertations on social media in support of him, many of us felt like the hope that we had centering this investigation had been wiped out by a well-orchestrated lie from Smollett. For the others who never believed him, there was celebration in finding out “the truth.”
I don’t particularly lean to either response from this situation. So, just to be clear, I still believe Jussie.
Right here in Houston, there was a young transgender woman who was brutalized by an angry man who told her that he would kill her. She had bruises all over her shoulder, back and neck. She was in fear for her life because, if someone driving by hadn’t seen her getting beaten, she may have died. She went to the police and gave them the entire story with her attacker’s name, contact and all other information.
As the investigation continued, she was told that they found the man and that he was filing charges against her for harassment. Because she was a transwoman and there are hundreds of stereotypical implicit and explicit biases, she was now perceived as a criminal in a crime against her body.
This is amongst the many reasons why I am not buying this story from the Chicago Police Department. Many times as black queer folks, we are denigrated in society and in policies that contribute to the ease of being one of the most hunted sects in our communities. Further, though the Chicago Superintendent reported emphatically that Smollett was part of the orchestration that sent the letter that was the beginning of this whirlwind of a story, the FBI reports that they are still under investigation into where and who this letter came from.
What else isn’t the Chicago Police Department getting right and why are they so insistent on finding issues from his past to dig up in efforts to discredit him and diminish his character? If we find it hard to believe that MAGA supporters would stop a black, gay man at 2 a.m. and beat him using homophobic and racial slurs, then we don’t believe a gay man would pay someone with a checkin 2019 and do it because he wants a higher salary, do we? I mean, which one is harder to believe in AmeriKKKa in 2019?
I bet this has more to do with the upcoming city election on February 26, 2019 than much of anything else. These receipts that they have are way more unbelievable than his story; it’s like a poorly written episode from Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.
The truth of the matter is, him turning himself in is not an admission of guilt, it is just what is right by law. Once he posted the $100,000 bond, TMZ reports he went to the Empire set and said, “I’m sorry I’ve put you through all of this and not answered any calls … I swear to God I did not do this.” Afterwards, he left and said he had been betrayed by the criminal justice system.
And that’s my sentiment. And I believe that we are showing that we believe a corrupt criminal justice system before we will have a glimmer of hope for black and/or LGBT people. Remember Sandra Bland, who was ruled a suicide that sparked a national debate? Haven’t been #SAYINGHERNAME anymore, right? Alton Sterling? Philando Castile? Chyna Gibson? These were national stories that showed the impact of racism, sexism and homo/transphobia, but it seems the more incessantly law enforcement displays fault with the victim, the quicker we let the story—and our beliefs—go.
Personally, I will ride for those who look and love me until the end because I know how it feels to have people believe in you when everyone is against you. Even still, I realize society is not that gracious; the public court of opinion will break you faster than any law enforcement agency. So, if we are going to get on this cancel culture with Jussie Smollett, can we at least be considerate enough to love him through this journey into forgiveness?
As black queer activist George M. Johnson says to The Grio, “Although us as the public don’t have the full details … it’s important to discuss that Jussie’s story—true or not—does not negate the fact that black queer people experience this type of hate on a regular basis.” Don’t let this take us away from the central point: we are being hunted and that can’t be overlooked.
