RACE AND MEDIA REPORTAGE : JUSSIE SMOLLETT AND HIS CO-CONSPIRATORS
The recent ‘alleged’ attack (alleged, as there are
insinuations he masterminded same for personal gains) on Jussie Smollett, a
singer and thespian popularly known for his role as Jamaal, the gay son of
Lucious Lyon on Empire, an awards winning series has once again brought to the
fore, the elitist, supremacist and overtly racist tones, reportage of issues
concerning Nigeria and its citizens the world over.
While allegations and counter allegations as regards the
attack is being debated by the relevant security authorities in the Unites
States of America, an issue that is worth discussing is the attackers and the
perceived slant in the reportage as regards the nationalities of the men
involved.
Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, 2 American men of Nigerian
descent were allegedly contracted by Jussie Smollett to carry out the said
attacks on him and various evidence (including a copy of the cheque issued to
the brothers by Jussie Smollett) are in the custody of the Police.
The reportage by the United States media of the attackers
Nationality was skewed to the point where an image of the brothers just
stepping off a plane from Nigeria weeks ago was painted while in reality, they
were born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago with brief, infrequent visits to
Nigeria.
This brings sharply to mind, the earlier moments of the
ascension of Anthony Joshua into the limelights as the heavyweight champion of
pugilism. AJ as he is fondly called was praised in the British media as a local
boy who’ d done good for himself and his Nigerian descent glossed over.
Various opinions abound that Africa, Africans and Nigeria in
particular needs to, as a matter of urgency, develop broader and better media
platforms to counter the narratives from the Western media – Until the lions
have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the
hunter.
A country can only be as good as its best and its worst and
Nigeria, currently regarded as the failing giant of Africa would keep being the
butt of jokes until we pull ourselves by the bootstraps and kick start a
reorientation campaign that should reach the ends of the world showcasing and
dictating the tones and the narratives as regards Nigeria and Nigerians. Until
then, God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.