Essay Seventy-Four

Thank Whatever-Deity-You-Worship It’s Friday with MultiCultClassics Minutes…

• President George W. Bush addressed a supportive crowd at the Indiana Black Expo, taking credit for lessening the gap between black and white elementary school students’ test scores. The results were released July 14 by the Education Department. Wonder how Bush’s test scores would compare to the students’ marks.

• Newspaper stories reported a Neo-Nazi group received a certificate of appreciation from the city of Cadillac, Michigan for participating in a park cleanup. Officials claim they did not realize who the group was when issuing the award. However, the group insists the city had to be aware, as the Nazis showed up for the event in t-shirts bearing swastikas. Regardless, here are some headline ideas for the story:

>Human garbage picks up garbage and wins award.
>Nazis clean up park, but fail to clean up their act.
>Michigan recognizes Nazi group for its trash-filled efforts.
>Neo-Nazis a hit(ler) with city officials.
>Nazis love pretty parks, hate everything else.

• Crash Moment of the Week:
Illinois State Senator Reverend James Meeks was involved in a traffic stop that resulted in the White cop pulling out his gun and aiming it at Meeks’ face. But wait, the details get crazier. It all started when Meeks’ 1993 Olds Delta 88 was stopped for alleged traffic violations by a 10-year veteran police sergeant. Meeks was with his wife, son and security guard/driver — and they were heading home from Bible study at Salem Baptist Church, where Meeks serves as the minister. When Meeks exited the car and identified himself, the cop snarled, “Get back in the fucking car.” Meeks repeated his identity, at which point the cop drew his revolver, stuck it in Meeks’ face and said, “I know who you are… get back in the fucking car.” Chicago Mayor Richard Daley called the incident “an embarrassment,” and demanded an immediate investigation.

• White House press secretary Scott McClellan was asked if President Bush would meet with new NAACP President Bruce Gordon. McClellan replied he was certain Bush would find time to sit down and chat with Gordon. Granted, the press secretary didn’t specify when this meeting might happen. Note to NAACP President and former Verizon executive Gordon: Don’t wait by the phone for Bush’s call.

• The American Association of Advertising Agencies appears to be making another attempt to address diversity issues. The organization created a new position for its agency diversity programs, hiring Don Richards to fill the post. Richards has served as director of resource development at Leo Burnett and associate national director of affirmative action and diversity at Screen Actors Guild. Let’s hope Richards can accomplish more for diversity in this new role than he did for lily-White Leo Burnett.