Patricia Kim '14 discusses the experience of belonging to two cultural worlds, and learning to navigate the differences. 

The controversial immigration law in Arizona has prompted a debate over what the so-called American Dream really is.

When Mike Wallace asked for his thoughts on Black History Month, Morgan Freeman famously responded that it was “ridiculous” to “relegate my history to a month.”

“I don’t want a Black History Month,” he stated. “Black history is American history.” Wallace had no response, save “how we gonna get rid of racism?”

“Stop talking about it,” Freeman responded. “I’m going to stop calling you a white man. And I’m going to ask you to stop calling me a black man.”

“Our legacy is reflected in the diverse composition of our community, the breadth of our curriculum, the strength of our public service, and the depth of our commitment to freedom, equity, and reason. Each member of the Cornell community has a responsibility to honor this legacy and to support a more diverse and inclusive campus in which to work, study, teach, research and serve.”

— Cornell’s statement on diversity, from: www.cornell.edu/diversity/history/statement.cfm

A major problem of diversity at Cornell is how to include American Indians and American Indian Studies into the broad University community. American Indians are not simply another “ethnic minority” here at Cornell; instead, it should be remembered that American Indians are the indigenous people of this land. Thus, indigenous America is distinctly important, and should be understood in its relationship to “Euro-America” and all other “Americas.”