Rochelle Ritchie: Jussie Smollett Really Has Done a ‘Disservice’ to Hate Crime Victims

EXCERPT:

RITCHIE: “At this point, even though this is a lie by Jussie, it does not negate the fact that racism is real in this country. And I really think he has done a disservice to people who are going to be unfortunately victims of hate crimes. But I think we also have to recognize that racism has been used as a tool in this country, black people using it against white people, white people using it against black people, and I think j Jussie’s case highlights that fact. Who can forget in 1994 when Susan Leigh Vaughan Smith accused a black man of murdering her children when in fact she is the one who murdered 3-year-old and 14-month-old? Also, the most egregious case I can think of in our history that got national attention was that of Carolyn Brian who should still be held as an accomplice to the murder of Emmett Till. So it’s unfortunate and I think we have to find a way to silence bigotry and hate so we cannot use it against each other."