[Peace-discuss] Regarding the *Chief* from News-Gazette 11/16/08

[Rachel Storm]

Dear AWAREfriends,
   As one of the protesters, I was very disappointed in the new coverage this has received. Naturally, this only supports my growing disdain for the media.
   "Students with their faces painted black" were actually two black students and not merely with black face paint, but with BLACKFACE. (They also were with two friends: an Indian woman dressed in a sari and bindi and an Asian student in a karate outfit, also representing their distinctive stereotypes.) Their political statement was most poignant, in my opinion, as they asked a student wearing a "Screw Liberals! Save the Chief!" t-shirt to explain how the chief dance is any different from minstrel shows. 
   I am the student pictured in the DI and two of my friends (* who, too, are white) were pictured. I am disappointed that this picture was chosen as it didn't include people of color, wasn't an accurate representation of who was there, and especially, failed to highlight those who used creative activism: those wearing their own stereotypes!

Grrrr,
Rachel

---- Original message ----
>Date: Sun, 16 Nov 2008 22:04:35 -0600
>From: Jan  Durl Kruse <jandurl at comcast.net>  
>Subject: [Peace-discuss] Regarding the *Chief* from News-Gazette 11/16/08  
>To: peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
>
>The dance brought up memories for others, too.
>
>In a statement released late last week, Robert Warrior, professor and  
>director of Native American House and American Indian Studies, said the  
>group's students, faculty and staff are "dismayed" about the plans "to  
>bring back the university's offensive former mascot."
>
>"The planned event represents a step backwards in the process of  
>changing the climate of intolerance, insensitivity and dehumanization  
>that Native American people experience at Illinois," Warrior stated.  
>"Those who have planned the upcoming event and those who participate in  
>it are heading in the wrong direction by promoting a caricature, a  
>stereotype and an insult."
>
>About a dozen protesters – some with signs, a few with their faces  
>painted black – stood in a group outside as attendees began to leave  
>just after 4:30 p.m. A few police officers waited nearby.
>
>"At least we were noticed, and that was the whole point," said student  
>Vanessa Gutierrez, who rallied with protesters. "It wasn't to change  
>things, but things like this are an uphill battle. We're very low in  
>minorities, and it's reflective of the people that came here today. So  
>our voices are usually invisible."
>
>More Chief events
>
>The University of Illinois campus will host two more events during  
>which Chief Illiniwek will be discussed:
>
>— 'What's the Deal with the Chief?'
>
>Several UI organizations will hold an informal discussion about  
>Illiniwek from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Monday in room 314A of the Illini Union,  
>1710 W. Green St., U.
>
>The event will be facilitated by staff from the Asian American Cultural  
>Center, Bruce Nesbitt African-American Cultural Center, La Casa  
>Cultural Latina, Office of the Dean of Students, Office of Women's  
>Programs, and other units from student affairs.
>
>Light refreshments will be served.
>
>— 'Do Racial Mascots Honor or Offend? The Legacies of Chief Illiniwek  
>and the Pekin Chinks'
>
>At noon Tuesday the Asian American Cultural Center, 1210 W. Nevada St.,  
>U, will host another related discussion.
>
>The program will provide information about the history of mascots, pro  
>and anti opinions and their legacies.
>
>http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2008/11/16/ 
>large_crowd_gathers_at_assembly_hall_for_chiefs_next_dance
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