Television pundits have consumed oceans of water and writers have worn down a lot of keys trying to explain why a demand for accountability and justice from law enforcement doesn't negate a need to address violence in black communities; activists in fact say over and over again that they aren't mutually exclusive conversations. [...] Empire has featured all manner of head-thwaking and shooting before, but by making the fan favorite and sensitive son truly suffer over a number of episodes, Empire is banging us over the head to show the impact of violence that's woven in the hip-hop culture integral to the show. Does he sound sanctimonious?