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U.I. Dialogue narratives |
RetireTheChief
The following is the transcript of a Foellinger balcony narrative from April 14, 2000. It is an unedited excerpt from the original Chief dialogue document.
MS. KATERI GARCIA: My name is Kateri Garcia. I am proud to say that I am a Native American. It's taken me a long time in my life before I was able to accept that this is true and be proud of my heritage because of certain racism that I saw in the media, that I saw in the community and finally, I have been able since going to college at Northwestern University to accept that I am a Native American and to be truly proud of my heritage. My family is from the Turtle Mountain tribe in North Dakota, my father practiced law until his death and my grandfather is still practicing law.I have always been taught that racism can only be fought with the unification of all those people who have been and still are being oppressed by dominant white culture. I have sat here for hours listening to ignorant U of I law students and undergraduates and I do not understand and I cannot fathom how the Board of Trustees can listen to the ignorance and racism of their students. Those people representing this institution without shuttering in disgust.
I don't understand how minorities can sit on the Board and allow money to outweigh humanity. As a founder of Northwestern's first annual diversity conference, I can't understand any institution supporting racism like this institution is doing right now. Thank you.
See the U.I. Dialogue on Chief Illiniwek page for more transcripts and information.