Essay 558

Stepping into the weekend with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Stepping is gaining popularity among White kids and others in Washington-based middle schools. Blue Ridge Middle School (from the Loudoun County town of Purcellville) took home the trophy in a recent competition, fielding a team that included students who are White, Black, Korean and Turkish. “You would be really surprised at how many White kids like it,” said the coach who introduced the dancing to Blue Ridge students. “They don’t feel like they should be doing it. They know it’s a Black thing, but they love it.” Imagine that. White kids biting Black culture.

• Folks are expressing nasty reactions to the Spanish version of The Star-Spangled Banner (see Essay 549). Apparently, some view it as obscene that the song might be performed in another language. “Would the French accept people singing the La Marseillaise in English as a sign of French patriotism? Of course not,” said one irritated person. Then again, the French have also exhibited some questionable reactions to immigration in their own country.

• Naomi Campbell expressed a nasty reaction to a maid, whacking the worker’s skull over a clothing-related argument. “She hit me over the back of my head … She said it was to teach me a lesson,” the maid said. Given her constant run-ins with maids, maybe Campbell should seek housekeeping services from the WWF.

• Snoop Dogg and his entourage allegedly staged a wrestling melee at London’s Heathrow Airport. The group was denied access to the first-class airline lounge, leading to a bottle-throwing scuffle with police. Naomi Campbell denied any involvement.

• Alabama Governor Bob Riley signed measures that may lead to pardons for civil rights icon Rosa Parks and others (see Essay 541). The new law will be named “The Rosa Parks Act.” Snoop Dogg and Naomi Campbell are not eligible to benefit from the proposed measures.