Essay 1896

Flying solo in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• 23-year-old Barrington Irving (pictured in plane above) is out to become the youngest person and first Black pilot to fly around the world solo. Irving built his own plane from over $300,000 worth of donated parts. Before takeoff, Irving proclaimed, “I want this completed before the year is over so kids can see that someone who started off with nothing set a goal and completed it.” Wonder which advertiser will be the first to tap Irving.

• Mel Gibson got into an argument with a college professor at California State University, Northridge, during a campus screening of “Apocalypto.” The professor was allegedly questioning the historical accuracy of the movie before Gibson told her, “Fuck off.” The woman, who was escorted out of the building, is now demanding an apology, “not only to me but to the Central American program at CSUN, to the university and most importantly to the Mayan people and Mayan community.” Looks like Gibson is out to become the first Hollywood superstar whose career goes down in flames around the world.