Essay 418

Reading the Sunday papers with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• U.S. speedskater Shani Davis became the first Black athlete to win an individual gold medal in Winter Olympic history. “Maybe I can be the Michael Jordan of speedskating,” Davis said. Well, Jordan already has two gold medals, plus six NBA championships and other assorted accomplishments. Nonetheless, Davis deserves serious accolades for his breakthrough achievement.

• Michael Jackson is close to releasing the Hurricane Katrina charity tune featuring an all-star lineup including Snoop Dogg, R. Kelly, Ciara, Keyisha Cole, James Ingram, Jermaine Jackson, Shanice, the Rev. Shirley Caesar and the O'Jays — about six months after the disaster. And just in time to help offset Jacko’s disastrous legal bills.

• An Illinois woman has filed a lawsuit against Mickey D’s for its french fries containing wheat and milk ingredients (see Essay 405). The woman suffers from celiac disease, which can be triggered by consuming gluten, a protein in wheat, rye and barley. After eating the fries, the woman allegedly suffered health ailments that included stomach pains. Good luck winning a court case arguing that Mickey D’s food gave you a tummy ache.

• Busta Rhymes refuses to be interviewed by cops seeking information regarding the recent shooting (see Essay 407). But weeks before the incident, Rhymes was interviewed by various hip-hop magazines — and he blasted other New York rappers for their guns-and-drugs lifestyles. Looks like he’s rapping out of both sides of his mouth.

• Two Black firemen in Jacksonville, Florida found hangman’s nooses on their work gear, prompting the closing of the firehouse and an official investigation by the city’s Human Rights Commission and the General Counsel's Office. Don’t look for information from Busta Rhymes.

• The president of a Kentucky coal company sparked controversy when he wrote a memo suggesting the state mining board should relax its English-only policy for workers. The president sought to hire more Hispanic immigrants and stated, “It is common knowledge that the work ethic of the Eastern Kentucky worker has declined from where it once was” — plus, he even cited bad attitudes and drug abuse among the workers led to poor attendance and reduced productivity. The negative response is two-fold: 1) folks are pissed off over being called druggies with attitude; 2) no one wants Hispanics around. However, the critics argued it’s an issue of safety versus immigration, claiming workers who couldn’t speak English would have trouble in emergency situations. Then again, do typical Appalachian citizens really speak English?

• The N.A.A.C.P. requested that the Department of Justice postpone upcoming elections in New Orleans. “We’re worried about the voting rights of our people in New Orleans who are not, for the most part, in New Orleans,” said N.A.A.C.P. president Bruce Gordon. “People should still have a say in what happens in the communities that were ravaged by Katrina.” Then again, did these folks ever really have a say in what happens in their communities?

• The Idaho Black History Museum has quite a challenge generating interest — and not just because the state’s population is less than 1% Black. Most folks are hard-pressed to realize Black history even exists in Idaho. “It’s interesting, when you talk to people, what they know or they think they know,” said the museum’s director. “African-Americans have made a significant contribution to this state… It’s easier when you have a million Black folks in a city to make sure they are represented, that there are programs and there are opportunities in every sector. [Black Idahoans] had to shine a little brighter, work a little harder, just to get an equal place at the table.”