The details of the Jussie Smollett case are as sensational as they are disturbing, but the bigger story is why a successful actor would invent such a racially-tinged plot out of whole cloth. The inconvenient truth is that his actions didn’t spring from a vacuum. Far from it, our society actually incentivizes this kind of toxic behavior by glorifying victimhood.

Two primary ingredients make up this noxious stew. For years, progressives have sought to weaponize identity politics and wield it as a tool of political power. You’ve likely heard many of the associated phrases bandied around, such as critical race theory (CRT), White fragility, antiracism, intersectionality, and so on. These craven ideologies have become ubiquitous in nearly all facets of life. 

The second element is the nefarious role played by legacy media outlets. Newsrooms today are packed with political activists masquerading as journalists. The institutional rot began long before Donald Trump came along but by 2017, they were busy torching what was left of their reputations on the false altar of Trump and Russia-gate stories.