"https://www.manhattan-institute.org/...than-you-thinkA political scientist found that fewer than 1 in 3 of 346 such allegations was genuine.
While Smollett's is the latest big story, the professor of this study looked at 346 reported "hate crimes" and found that fully two-thirds were false. The professor also wrote a book entitled "Hate Crime Hoax: How the Left is Selling a Fake Race War".
In Smollett's case, liberal media pushed the hoax as being true, and from the beginning I think anyone who read the entire account knew something was fishy. I was certainly skeptical because the "facts" didn't add up.
If the professor's data is accurate, why is this happening? I scanned some of the book reviews. Most of the positive reviews were "verified purchases" but not one of the negative reviews were, which indicates the negative reviewers didn't bother to read the book (or, they might have picked it up at a bookstore).
I'm interested in hearing ideas about what's triggering these hoaxes (if you believe the professor) and what will stop them. I didn't read the book so I can't judge its authenticity, but if he's accurate -- what's going on here? Why would anyone want to make it appear as though race relations are worse in this country than they really are? We heard Smollett did it for money -- hoping for a better-paying spot on his TV show -- but what about the rest?