Monica Faith Stewart (Finding Aid)

Monica Faith Stewart

1952 -

Favorite Color: Peach

Favorite Food: Seafood

Favorite Time of Year: Spring

Favorite Vacation Spot: Chicago

Interview Length: 136 minutes

Interview Date(s): August 24, 2001

Interview Location(s): 1900 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, Chicago, Ill

Abstract

Foreign trade reporesentative for the state of Illinois, Monica Faith Stewart, details her family background and childhood on Chicago's South side. Managing Director of the Illinois Africa Office located in Johannesburg, South Africa, Monica Stewart details he post-secondary academic career at Vassar College and her early political career as an alderman and later in the Illinois General Assembly. Illinois foreign trade representative, Monica Faith Stewart, details her tenure in the Illinois House of Representatives. She details her disillusionment with the machinations of Democratic machine politics and how she found herself on the outside of mainstream thought. Her independent streak brought her to the attention of reformer and Chicago mayoral candidate, Harold Washington, who soon became her mentor. Illinois foreign trader representative, Monica Faith Stewart, details her tumultuous term in the Illinois General Assembly and field campaign with Harold Washington's mayoral race. Shaekn by his withdrawl of support for her after his win, Stewart left Chicago for the Kennedy School of Government. Illinois Foreign Trade Representative, Monica Faith Stewart, discusses her work with Nelson Mandela on his historic Presidential election in South Africa. She also details how she landed the plum post of Foreign Trade Representative for the state of Illinois under then governor, George Ryan. The interview closes with her assesment of her legacy and black politicians responsibilities to their constituents.

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