April 6, 2010

Lil’Wayne Live Blogs Prison

Flickr/<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryan_fors/" target="_blank">ryan_fors</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>)

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 If you haven’t been obsessively following rapper Lil’Wayne’s is-he-or-isn’t-he-finally-headed-to-prison after all that emergency dental work/courthouse fire/Jay-Z duet-that-never-happened sentence suspension biz, you should know that not only has Weezy begun his year-long stint behind bars (after he pled guilty on weapons charges last October), he’s blogging about it. The F’s–that’s friends, family and fans–can catch Young Money’s jail house musings at Weezythanxyou.com, but if you’re not that committed, you might still be able to follow his thoughts on the world of sports at ESPN.com. For the record, the ESPN told the AP that’s not happening, but we can hope, right?

There’s no telling how often the blog might be updated, or what future wisdom we can expect from the genius beloved by both the Billboard charts and the New Yorker. Though blogging and tweeting from jail seems a bit…frivolous I think is probably the right word….there is something touching and sincere about the rapper’s personal notes to fans who have written to him: 

Mia Edwards (Southern California) – I wish you nothing but the best for you. Earning your Masters in Library and Information Science is beautiful. I’ll keep you in mind whenever I decide to do an autobiography on my life.

Kelly Holloman (Brooklyn) – I still remember your letter. You have a great spirit. Thank you for the words and being a real fan. I love you.

 

Nurris Terrero (New York) – Your letter was so thoughtful and sincere. The way you worded everything left me in awe. Please send suggestions on books I should read. I look forward to checking them out.

 And although we might not think we need more rapper-felon role models, maybe the world could use a few more superstars hyping library science. Even if they are hyping it from jail. On Twitter. 

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WHO DOESN’T LOVE A POSITIVE STORY—OR TWO?

“Great journalism really does make a difference in this world: it can even save kids.”

That’s what a civil rights lawyer wrote to Julia Lurie, the day after her major investigation into a psychiatric hospital chain that uses foster children as “cash cows” published, letting her know he was using her findings that same day in a hearing to keep a child out of one of the facilities we investigated.

That’s awesome. As is the fact that Julia, who spent a full year reporting this challenging story, promptly heard from a Senate committee that will use her work in their own investigation of Universal Health Services. There’s no doubt her revelations will continue to have a big impact in the months and years to come.

Like another story about Mother Jones’ real-world impact.

This one, a multiyear investigation, published in 2021, exposed conditions in sugar work camps in the Dominican Republic owned by Central Romana—the conglomerate behind brands like C&H and Domino, whose product ends up in our Hershey bars and other sweets. A year ago, the Biden administration banned sugar imports from Central Romana. And just recently, we learned of a previously undisclosed investigation from the Department of Homeland Security, looking into working conditions at Central Romana. How big of a deal is this?

“This could be the first time a corporation would be held criminally liable for forced labor in their own supply chains,” according to a retired special agent we talked to.

Wow.

And it is only because Mother Jones is funded primarily by donations from readers that we can mount ambitious, yearlong—or more—investigations like these two stories that are making waves.

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