(ThyBlackMan.com) Black people in America know that in many situations we are seen as guilty until proven innocent. Public opinion has always had a profound effect on our rights in the legal justice system. The wants of the public was so strong at times in history that they would dispense their brand of “justice” before we could make it to the courts. This ended in murder…and what we know as lynching. Some can argue that this still happens today when black people are killed by the police instead of being properly detained so that they can have their day in court. We are aware of the horrors we face in this country until we have to deal with our own people.
It is unfortunate that many of us have decided to take part in the court of public opinion where our people are concerned. The conversations are not confined to simple community discussion. It has become full blown social media fights. Those that would oppress us are privy to the fights we have amongst ourselves regarding why we do or don’t support each other. It seems we have a difficult time allowing the legal process to run its course before deciding to condemn someone we don’t know.
The 16 charges against Jussie Smollett have been dropped. Some people took the position, beforehand, that he was guilty. It was a situation where someone that would be seen as the victim became the defendant quickly. Many of our people were quick to believe Chicago PD which has no credibility for justice. The problem was many of us became a part of the court of public opinion. Before facts could be verified properly many took the police word on face value. I admit I didn’t know if I believed him or not…which was why I had nothing to say throughout the entire ordeal.
I wanted to wait for more solid evidence before I formed an opinion either way. As the situation developed, I was glad I refrained form speaking because everything became one confusing mess. Jussie Smollett was drug by the media, and many black people. One could wonder if this same situation happened to a woman would we have tried to believe her, or would we have at least waited a bit longer before joining the court of public opinion?
What we do know is there are still questions left unanswered. Either he was assaulted, and justice needs to be served, or he lied, and justice needs to be served. With the charges being dropped we are left to wonder what will happen next. However, many in the public opinion court stand by their position of seeing him as guilty, while others feel validated in supporting him from day one.
The problem is we, as a people, have to remember our plight in the justice system. It is important to remember that we are just as expendable as the person(s) we condemn. There are many of our people serving time for crimes they didn’t commit. Many of our people are dead because someone thought their opinion equated to justice. In situations where all the evidence has yet to be weighed, even when we think someone could be guilty, maybe we should consider refraining from the court of public opinion. Black people have enough to face in this county without having to fight our own in a space we know can kill us.
Staff Writer; Christian Starr
May connect with this sister over at Facebook; https://www.facebook.com/christian.pierre.9809 and also Twitter; http://twitter.com/MrzZeta.