Burning Questions from The Meltingpot

Hi Meltingpot Readers,

So much going on in the world. So many questions to be answered. Here's some I'm hoping you can help me with.

1. Is it just me, or did everyone else out there assume that the chambermaid at the luxury New York City hotel that IMF chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn is accused of sexually assaulting, had to be a woman of color? I made that assumption based on the economics of New York City and who makes up the majority of hotel staff. Indeed, it turns out the woman is an African immigrant from Guinea. Her identity has been revealed in the European press. Here's a link to the story. Do you think race will become a factor in the trial or will be used in Strauss-Kahn's defense that the sex was consensual? Dear Lord, I hope not. But I'm sure it will. I've already seen a headline insinuating the woman ( a widow and mother of a young teen) may be HIV positive. Stay tuned for what I'm sure will be a whole lot of dirt be flung on this poor woman.

2. Did anybody else see the Psychology Today headline, "Why Are Black Women Less Physically Attractive Than Other Women?" and think it was a joke, only to find out it was an actual story the magazine ran on their website? Yes, it's true that the pseudo-science magazine published an article written by one Satoshi Kanazawa who actually claimed "scientifically" that Black women have more testosterone which makes them a less attractive species. Excuse me? If you don't believe me, check out the story here. And then check out the Colorlines analysis written by journalist Akiba Solomon.

3. Can anybody help me figure out why I keep weeping at the recent final implosion of Kinky Gazpacho II? I'd like to blame it on pregnancy hormones because I knew it wasn't going to work out. But to see my sister-in-law and my little brother destroyed, has truly become unbearable to witness. While the romantic writer in me wanted a happy ending, I suspected all along that lightning doesn't generally strike twice in the same family. I need a cross-cultural romance story to revive my spirits. Can you recommend one to me? Fact or fiction.

4. And finally, is anyone else just a little peeved and kind of curious why the producers of Good Morning America seemed to have dismissed any need to diversify their on-air anchors? Now the morning news on ABC is delivered by Robin Roberts and four other White people. I like White people as much as the next guy, but I kind of thought there was an unspoken rule of morning shows that you want the cast to reflect America's diversity. See the Today Show for an example. Yes, it's tokenism (Al Roker, I'm talking to you), but the point is made. Head scratching on that one. So does GMA just not care? Hmmm... it's a burning question for me.

Thanks for any answers you can share.

Peace.