Essay 121

MultiCultClassics Minutes with more reasons to hate Mondays…

• In the August 15, 2005 issue of Adweek, columnist Barbara Lippert critiqued the Chrysler spot featuring Snoop Dogg and Lee Iacocca. Lippert wrote, “Only in America, kids, could you have a former pimp and drug user and a retired CEO who once tried a hostile takeover of the company make beautiful music together in a commercial on a golf course.” Don’t mean to sound overly sensitive, but why make the pimp and drug user reference? Would it have killed Lippert to label Snoop as a rapper or TV and movie star? Damn, Iacocca probably committed far worse crimes in his career.

• A new study links eating french fries with breast cancer. According to the report, it’s not the potatoes, but rather, the trans-fatty acids and saturated fats that may lead to trouble. Hmmmm. Mickey D’s recently dealt with lawsuits and impending settlements surrounding the use of trans-fatty acids in food products (see Essay 25). Get a free McMammogram with every Happy Meal.

• A Manhattan graffiti block party will take place this week, despite New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s efforts to stop the fun. Fashion designer Marc Ecko planned the event, and artists are scheduled to spray-paint on models of subway cars. Bloomberg initially denied organizers a permit, arguing the exhibition would encourage people to tag real subway cars. But a federal judge ordered the city to let the artists perform their craft, proclaiming Bloomberg’s logic meant, “A street performance of ‘Hamlet’ would be tantamount to encouraging revenge murder.” Yo, judge, don’t give New Yorkers more crazy ideas.

• Dallas County prosecutors are guilty of excluding Blacks from juries at over twice the rate they nix Whites. A new report shows the exclusionary tactics have been taking place as recently as 2002. “The statistics may show we strike more Blacks, but it’s not because they’re Black,” insisted District Attorney Bill Hill. “It’s because for one reason or another, they (prosecutors) don’t think they are going to be fair and impartial.” Maybe because they’re… Black?

• In the August 22, 2005 issue of Adweek, the People page featured a photo of favorite icon nominees for the upcoming Advertising Week in New York. Contenders included Tony the Tiger, Cap’n Crunch and the Pillsbury Doughboy. Hey, how come Aunt Jemima wasn’t among the finalists?