Lauryn Hill rants about racism and tax troubles

Prison-bound hip-hop star Lauryn Hill has taken aim at the legal system in a long, rambling rant online, insisting her struggles with the tax authorities are linked to years of black enslavement.

The former Fugees frontwoman was handed a three-month term behind bars in May (13) after she was convicted of failing to pay taxes and she has been given until 8 July (13) to turn herself in.

As the prison deadline looms, Hill has expressed her anger at what she perceives as a legal injustice in an open letter posted on Tumblr.com.

Hill opened the message with an observation about racism, writing, "The concept of reverse racism is flawed, if not absolutely ridiculous. Most, if not all of the negative responses from people of color toward white people, are reactions to the hatred, violence, cruelty and brutality that they were shown by white people for centuries. Much of the foundation of the modern world was built on the forced free labour of black peoples."

She moved on to express her disgust at the language used by prosecutors in her own trial, explaining: "I shuddered during sentencing when I kept hearing the term 'make the IRS whole'... make the IRS whole, knowing that I got into these very circumstances having to deal with the very energies of inequity and resistance that created and perpetuated these savage inequalities. The entire time, I thought, who has made black people whole?!"

Hill also admits she took offense to the judge's lack of empathy at her situation, insisting, "She sounded like the echo of the grotesque slave master, who expected women to give birth while in the field, scoop the Baby up, and then continue to work. Disgusting."