Essay 4023

Friday evening news in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• The NAACP is cutting about 40 percent of its staff nationwide, and temporarily shutting down seven regional offices. Interim president and CEO Dennis Hayes said, “We are right-sizing our organization to meet the present circumstances.” Meanwhile, organizational racism and discrimination seem to be healthy and growing with each fiscal quarter.

• About two years ago, investigators found $90,000 in cash packed in the freezer of Congressman William Jefferson—not to be confused with Congressman John Conyers (see Essay 4019). Jefferson was indicted this week and charged with soliciting bribes, ironically prompting a federal judge to freeze the politician’s assets. Wonder how long before Jefferson’s on ice.

• Free at last, free at last. Looks like Paris Hilton didn’t last a week in jail, released to serve the remainder of her 45-day prison sentence under house arrest. Congressman William Jefferson better hook up with Hilton’s lawyers.

UPDATE: Oops. Typed too soon. A judge reversed the decision to let Paris Hilton serve out her sentence in the luxury of her rich person’s house. Seconds after Hilton’s lawyers pleaded for her home confinement, the judge declared, “The defendant is remanded to county jail to serve the remainder of her 45-day sentence. This order is forthwith.”