Thursday, July 27, 2000 | 11:28 a.m.
Black community leaders and human rights activists are alarmed over a racial slur made by Clark County School Superintendent Carlos Garcia during the taping of a radio interview.
A word long considered to be an unacceptable term cropped up as Garcia spoke with several black high school students who serve as interns at KCEP 88.1-FM.
On Wednesday the issue was raised at a press conference about test cheating allegations at Robert E. Lake Elementary School.
On the radio station's tape, Garcia said he finds bigotry unacceptable, then adds: "I never see colors. To me, people are people. I always say this, and it sounds strange. Niggers come in all colors, and a nigger is someone who doesn't respect themselves or any others. Everybody has them."
Garcia, who became superintendent on July 5, sounded shaken this morning about how his comment was received.
"I feel really bad, and I apologize if I have offended anybody in any way," he said. "I was trying to send a strong message that I will have zero tolerance against racism. I've been the victim of it myself."
Garcia added that he would have welcomed a dialog with those who were offended.
"But nobody called me," he said.
When a student asked Garcia what he plans to do about racism in the district, his initial response was, "I guess I could help a lot. I'm the first Hispanic superintendent, and it's nice to have a minority superintendent. It ain't business as usual."
Those who criticized the use of the racial slur said they understand its context. Still, they question why it was used at all.
Others expressed disbelief.
"What?" said Gene Collins, president of the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "He said what?"
State Assemblyman Wendell Williams, D-Las Vegas, also found Garcia's choice of words upsetting.
"I was a lot more upbeat on this (testing) issue today, until I heard the high school students interviewing Garcia," Williams said. "It's very disappointing."
Issues of race and testing cannot be separated because there are too many inequities in student performance and resources for students, said Gary Peck, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada.
"This brings into question his judgment and and sensitivity to the kids he is dealing with and that is very troubling," said Peck. "Equally troubling are his remarks about using the welfare system and district attorney's office to punish parents."
Those comments came after students asked Garcia how he plans to improve the district's dropout rate, the worst in the nation.
Garcia said the court system should intervene or "cut off welfare" for parents who are not taking responsibility for getting their children to school.
He also suggested the district attorney's office send letters to families of repeat offenders as a wake up call.
Garcia said a similar program he employed in Fresno, Calif., was very effective.
"This is troubling because it suggests people of different economic circumstances should be treated differently," said Peck.
At the very least, Garcia's comments were in poor taste, said Patricia Cunningham of the Alliance for Social Justice.
"It shows a lack of good judgment and if it surfaces now, then it will surface again," she said. "The thing that's the most frightening to me is that it was a contradiction. He used a negative term to try to send a positive message. I know he wasn't using it in a derogatory way at all, but he should have never publicly taken the position that he did."
Cunningham also called Garcia's statements "an inappropriate way to relate to children."
School Board president Mary Beth Scow, reached Wednesday evening at home, said she had not heard the tape. But she did express concern.
"Everything was going so well," Scow said. "It's too bad this had to happen. But I would hope that people will take it in the context it was meant."
During the radio station's interview, Garcia said he feels racism has no place in education.
Then, without missing a beat, he added: "If anybody who works for the Clark County School District makes those overtones, that's unacceptable."
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