When the Smollett case erupted, though, there seemed to be no time to waste in the national conversation about race and tolerance. The symbolism of the crime as advertised was so awful that some observers showed little interest in verifying initial details of Smollett’s claim. Opinions filled the void. Social media was abuzz, with both outrage and skepticism. Presidential candidates weighed in with their thoughts. Smollett appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” to describe his victimhood. And a CNN newsreader punctuated a Smollett story with the freighted “This is America in 2019.”