Essay 1253

Examining the body of evidence in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Foxy Brown (pictured above) was sentenced to three years on probation for beating nail salon workers with her cell phone. The hip-hop diva fought hard to reverse her guilty plea, but the judge wasn’t buying it. Ms. Brown rapped, “I just feel like I was coerced into a guilty plea! … I was tired! I felt rushed! It was late in the day. I was threatened with going to jail! … [Her ex-lawyer] told me they’re out to get you — to put you away — that I needed to plead guilty to get this over with. … If this was any other girl except an entertainer, this would never happen. … I can walk and talk with a smile on my face, and a Bible in my Louis Vuitton bag, because I know what this is.” Sounds like the lead track for her next music collection.

• Busta Rhymes was in court too, refusing a plea deal stemming from allegedly beating up a fan for spitting on the rapper’s ride. Unlike Foxy Brown, Rhymes remained silent. It’s a sign that the apocalypse is upon us when one rapper can serve as a legal role model for another rapper.

• The LAPD is still struggling to promote minorities in its ranks, despite creating official diversity objectives and programs. Goals were not met for Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and women. “When we talk about … coveted assignments, if you talk to most African Americans they really don’t feel it is equal,” said a police official. “Most African Americans on this department will tell you our White counterparts promote two or three times faster than we do.” The White counterparts will probably tell you they get promoted ten times faster.

• Reports show Whites pursued more Hurricane Katrina complaints than minorities. According to an Associated Press analysis, while poor and minority communities suffered the most damage from the hurricane, folks from White neighborhoods have been three times as likely as folks from Black neighborhoods to seek state help with insurance problems. Experts believe the reluctance to ask for assistance may be rooted in lack of trust and lack of connection with government agencies. Or maybe, contrary to popular belief, White folks are more inclined to look for handouts.