t i caroling Indian Voice
5 blished each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
VOLUME: 1 THURSDA Y, MA} 23, 1996 TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
A Front Page Editorial
Mike Mclntyre Plays the "Race" Card Against Rose
Marie Lowry-Townsend in the Race for Congress 1
Some Blacks are mad at Rose Marie L'oivry_ Town send because
most Indians voted for Vickie Locklear instead of Tom Jones, Jr. in the
Register of Deeds race. Ummm! Some Blacks are now supporting Mike
Mclntyre because of it. Go figure! ONL Y IN ROBESON.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN MAKE ANY SENSE OF IT! Unbelievably.
there arc some Blacks in Robeson Count) supporting Mike Mclntyre
instead of Rose Marie Lowry-Townscnd for Congress. But let us be quick
to add here that Blacks, like Indians and Whites, vote for whomever they
choose in the sanctity of the voting booth. Evidently though some Blacks
are mad and are going to punish the Indians, including Rose Marie
Lowry-Townsend, an innocent bystander, and, most of all. themselves
It's sad. And it makes one wonder if we have really made much progress
in Robeson County. We're all still driven by race in the end. and that's
the way it is shaping up in the June 4 run off The Blacks' (AT LEAST
THE ONES WHO ARE MAD) rationale is that they believe Indians
should have, some how. mindlessly and in loekstep fashion, voted for
Thomas "Tom" Jones. Jr., the Black candidate, instead of one of the two
Indians in the democratic primaiy for Register of Deeds; either Janet
Wynn or the eventual winner, Vickie Locklear Supporters of ShcrifT
Glenn Maynor, at least some of them, according to one political scenario,
had promised that they would try to support a Black for register of deeds
(Tom Jones, Jr.) in the 1996 primary if the Blacks would support now
Sheriff Maynor in the 1994 general election . Did anyone, including the
Blacks, keep thciijpromises, and who can guarantee anyone else' vole,
in the end. except oneself? All this in spite of the fact that hardly am
Whites voted for Jones, especially in Mike Mclnyrc's strongholds of
Lumbcrton Precinct #s 1 & 8. Jones received 67 votes in Lumberton # 1.
for instance, to BillicBritt's628.Count them! Jones rcceivcd67votcsout
of a total of 1197 voles cast in Lumbcrton # 1 Jones received 40 votes in
Lumberton #8; Billic Brill, the White candidate, in contrast, received a
whopping 462 It was unrealistic for Black politicians to believe that
Indian politicians could tell Indian voters who to vote for The Indian
electorate is especially independent-minded these days Times ha\e
changed considerably from the fifties and sixties when a handful of
Black, White and Indian polilicianscould get together in a back room and
decide the fate of a possible election. Not anymore Voters arc too
sophisticated for that, including whites. Blacks and Indians. People tend
nowto think for themselves and. more often than not. vote foroncofthcir
own if one of like color is on the ballot. Mostly.' whites vote for white
candidates; Blacks vole for Black candidates: Indians, w e hope, arc going
to vote for the Indian candidate in the 7th Congressional Democratic run
off-Rose Marie Lowry-Tow nsend The only ones who ever stray in any
considerably numbers arc the Indians, that concerns us in this election
Believe ii or not. there arc Indians, too, who swear they arc going to vote
for Mike Mclntyre. the white, conservative candidate Go figure! Only
in Robeson.
MIKE McINTYRE AND HJS PEOPLE MEET WITH A NUMBER
OF BLACKS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY; TELLS THEM
INDIANS ARE TAKING O VER!''
UMMMIMike Mclntyre and his supporters, including, according to
our sources, his campaign manager. David Branch. Eddie Musslcwhitc.
and others, have met with a number of prominant Blacks throughout the
county One of Mclntyrc's themes to the Blacks is the BIG LIE that
"Indians are Uiking over the county. and leaving the Blacks out "
Mclntyrc and his people refuse to talk on the record and have covered
themselves by issuing "no comment" to questions about the meetings
We understand that not all Blacks have received Mclntyrc's message
well Word has it that a Black candidate, and winner, on the school board
excused himself from the meeting Tom Jones. Jr should have, if he
didn't, remind Mclntyrc that he did not receive any votes from the
predominately White precincts like Lumberton #1. Mclntyrc's own
precinct. And also that it has not been too long ago that whites controlled
every political office in the countv They seem to think that when the
whites had total control that it was alright But now that Indians are
getting their righiful share of the political pic. Mclntry re and company
find something wrong with-that It is amazing that they assume that
Indians and Blacks have such short memories So. Mclntyrc is telling
Jones, and other Black leaders, that he will somehow help them if thev
will help him in the June 4 runoff As has been proven in the past.
Mclntyrc's form of help will not manifest itself in votes for a Black
candidate Whites cannot point to any election in the past where thev
supported a Black candidate IN ANY SIGNIFICANT WAY. Indians, oh
the other hand, can point to Rev Joy Johnson's historic election to the
house and. later, the elections of Blacks Bob Dav is. Rev. Sidney Locks
and Frances Cummings to the same post aflcr Dr Johnson Another
rumor floating around the Mclntyrc camp is the one that Mclntyrc might
? put Alex Killcns. or another Black, on his staffif he wins. We don't know
if this rumor is true or not Both Mclntyrc and Branch simply retreat
behind a "no comment " when questioned about these matters We ask.
" At What price"'" Killcns is Rev Joy Johnson's son-in-law. and was
recently ousted from his position as director of the Department ofMotor
.Vehicles in Raleigh. Killcns essentially resigned in disgrace because of
a bad audit from the state auditor's oificc Is Killcns now supporting
Mclntvrc''
MORE (>\ DR. JOY JOHNSON, BROKEN PROMISES ETC
Some Blacks, with the most prominanl one being former slate legislator
Joy Johnson, believe that there arc political leaders in the Indian
community who can force Indians to v ole forsomeone other than one of
their ow n Still, the truth of the matter is. Jones received some voles in
predominate Indian precincts, one example being Back Swamp where he
polled ll>7votcsloLocklcar's 15X Jones even received a handful of votes
from Pembroke North and South Precincts, as well as Prospect and other
predominate Indian precincts . For him, or Dr. Johnson, to expect more
is to be unrealistic and naive to say the least. Othar Black candidates.including
incumbent school board member and May 7 w inner. Rev John
Campbell, iceci.cd strong Indian support. If the troth be known, the
Indians kept their promise to the Black electorate, and Tom Jones. Jr
specifically as well as they could under the circumstances Vickie
Lock leap and Janet Wynn did not check in with any powers (hat be; they
ran forthc office of register of deeds because they wanted to. and because
the constitution said thev could. After becoming a candidate any way, it
was not unreasonable to expect Indians to vote, in large numbers, for
them. Is this not what happened when Black Troopcr Ennnitt Brown ran
for sheriff in the 1994 primary? Most Blacks voted for him in the pri diary
As vvc recall. Blacks made certain promises in the sheriff s race that they
could not. in the end. keep because of Brown's entry into the shcrifTs
race Dr Joy Johnson w as one of those w ho had to. as he saw it at the time,
renege on a promise he had made to the SherifTMaynor campaign. That
is not unreasonable, and no one has the right to be mad because Blacks
voted for one of their ow n. Really. they (the Indian electorate) ought to
be commended in many ways, not condemned as some arc doing
presently. It's just not fair! We should add here, again, that Rev. Joy
Johnson, a long time hero of ours, was elected in the 1970s to the house
of representatives to the North Carolina General Assembly with the help
of Indians. It was one of the first times that a candidate put together a
truly, ecumenical campaign in Robeson County. We hope Dr Johnson
has not forgotten that wonderful and historic event of yester year We
haven't!
Blacks in the recent election, like the Indians and Whites, mostly
voted"for their own. including District Court Judge Candidate. Judith
Milsap Daniels, who lost a close election to Jeff Moore, the Indian
candidate and eventual winner We can't imagine an Indian anywhere
in Robeson County being disappointed that Blacks, in over whelming
numbers, voted for Daniels. And we certainly have not heard of any
Indians suggesting that Blacks should necessarily have voted for Moore
rather than Daniels. If candidates arc of like ability, and similar in
political philosophy. Robeson's electorate, more often than not. w ill vote
for their own. This fact doesn't mean anyone is evil; it 'sjusl telling it the
way it really is in Ol' Robeson The only irony of the most recent
campaign is the fact that Lumbcrton native and Black candidate for
Congress in the primary . Marcus Williams, received hardly any voles
from the Black community Maybe they didn't know he was Black. The
fact that Williams didn't receive any votes from the Black community is
almost as intcrcstingas the fact that some Blacksexpectcd Indians to turn
from Indiancandidatesandvote for Thomas "Tom" Jones. Jr .the Black
candidate for register of deeds. It's just not a reasonable assumption to
make Indians, in the register of deeds, mostly split their votes between
Janet Wynn and Vickie Locklear. the ev entual w inner Does that surprise
anyone0 It certainly doesn't surprise us. or offend us It's just the way
of the human heart here in Robeson County and elsewhere in America,
and that is to vote for your own unless there arc extraordinary
circumstances leading one away from this social norm.
We hope one day our Robeson County electorate (Indians. Blacks
and Whites) will put race aside and vote for the candidate with the best
platform. If so, we believe Rose Marie Lowry-T ownsend will win hands
down. In our opinion, she is eminently more qualified than Mclntyre
In the interim, until reason overtakes us, we want to encourage Indians,
and Blacks and Whites too, to turn out in overwhelming numbers and
vole for Lowry-Townsend on June 4 She is going to need every vote she
can get. As noted earlier in this editorial, Mike Mclntyre and his
campaign staff" have met with a number of leaders in the Black
community, including the political action committee of the Black
Caucus, and have received some endorsements of support. Mclntyrehas
played the ' 'race'' card. - In spite of Mclntyre's trump of the ' 'Race
Card' \ a number of Blacks have indicated that they are going to vote for
Rose Marie Lowry-Townsend on June 4 because Black candidates
received practically no White support at the polls, especially Tom Jones,
Jr If that is so. and it is, why are some Blacks mad with the Indians and
not the Whites? Go figure! Only in Robeson! More next week.
Tribal Council elections
set for August 24
Pembroke, N.C.-The Lumbee
Tribal Council Elections Board has
set August 24, 1996 as Election
Day forthe LumbceTribal Cpuncil.
Seven scats will be filled, including
1 vacancy in District 15.
Those interested in filling for
office have been from June 3 thru
June 28 to make application at the
tribal officein Pembroke. The office
is open weekdays 9:00a.m. to
5:00p.m. According toMr. Harbert
Moore, Chairman of the Tribal
Elections Board, each candidate
will have to meet the qualifications
for office as stated in the Tribal
Constitution. Those qualifications
are: (1) Must be Lumbee and 21
years of age: (2) Must reside in the
tribal district; (3) Cannot hold any
public elected office; (4)Cannotbe
subjected of a felony conviction for
the past 7 years to include any
probation or parole time
Incumbents arc Mr Eugene
Lowery.District 2; Rev. Jerry
McNeill.District 5; Mr Robert
Locklcar, District 8; Mr Ponce'
D.Chavis Jr., District 11. Rev
Steve Locklear, District 14; vacant.
District 15; Rev. Hilton Dcesc.
District 17; Mrs. Zelma Locklear.
District 20. Each candidate is
required to pay a $50.00 nonreturnable
filing fee For further
information, please call 910-521 9999.
(The Tribal Elections Board
has provided that where an election
arises as a result of a vacancy and
no more than one (1) qualified
candidate exists, that candidate
shall be declared the winner, and
immediately sworn into office.)
Multiage and Fifth Grade!
What a Good Combination!
The multiage classes at Pembroke Elementary School are working
together with the fifth grade to produce outstanding books. These
classes meet every Tuesday for ninety minutes. The fifth grade
students are considered to be buddies by the S-l multiage children.
Together we work through all of the stages of writing: graphic
I organizers, rough draft, editing and published book. It has been an
outstanding learning experience for all of the students and the
teachers. The teachers Involved in the project are Mrs. Tina Coleman,
Mrs. Angelia Blssell, Ms. Kay Thompson, Mrs. Hrendu Strickland and
Mrs. Debbie I.ocklear.
An outstanding student
at Swett High recognized
Angela Galloway, a sophomore, is considered as an outstanding
student by teachers and coachesfor her determination to perform well,
although she is a victim ofprosthesis. Angela is a picture of health and
seems like any other student, yet she has only one leg. She is not
hindered by this handicap and participates in sports and activities with
stamina and much effort. "Angela works hard and if other students
worked as hard as she does, they would do great, " said Terry Jacobs,
Angela's track coach, her ROTC training and activities allow her to
also demonstrate physical activities which involve repelling, obstacle
training, march, and physical training. Instructors, Major Augustine
Vendetti and Sgt. Major Ramie Razor share that Angel has a good
attitude, has matured and students have a lot to learn from her.
' 'It makes no difference about my handicap,'' said Angela, ' 'I'll do
anything any others will do. I know if / can do it. these students can
doit."
Communities in Schools
Program honors Volunteers
The Communities in Schools
Program held an appreciation
dinner for volunteer tutors and
teachers working with students of
Prospect Middle School. Purnell
Swett and Pembroke Middle School,
on Monday. April 29
The master of ceremony was mr
Wadc C. Hunt, the area coordi nator
Mr Bill Brcwington. principal of
Purnell Swett High, welcomed
everyone Mr Donald Bonner,
former assistant superintendent of
Robeson County Schools, gave the
invocation The Rams; singes,
directed by Mrs. Ellen Jackson, sang
sev eral musical selections.
Mr Noah Woods, principal of
Pembroke Middle School,
introduced special guests Mr
Johnny Hunt, principal of Prospect
School, introduced the guest speaker
which was Mr. Tommy D Swett
who emphasi/.cd how insignificant
students may feel at times. He
encourages the volunteers with "1
hope that you can make a
difference.'' Mrs. Brcnda Hunt gave
a testimonial. *T find great needs
for students and children will always
be a part of me."
The Presentation of Certificates
was made by Mrs. Shelly Cummings
and Mr. Johnny Hunt of Prospect.
Mrs. Sharon Locklearand Mr. Bill
Brewington of Purncll Swett High
School, and Mrs Maureen Regan
and Mr. Noah Woods of Pembroke
MiddlcSchool. Thcclosing remarks
were by Mr Wade C. Hunt.
??
The Red Man's Journal
by llruce Barton
This column is brought to you
as a public service from time to
time by Friends or the Carolina
Indian Voice, Inc. a non-profit
organization devoted to the cause
of enhancing the Carolina Indian
Voice newspaper Membership
dues arc $ It) aycar and anyone can
join. The only requirement for
membership is a desire for the
Carolina Indian Voice newspaper
to prosper and continue to grow
Friends of the Carolina
Indian Voice, Inc. calls for
open, membership meeting
Officers arc Paul Brooks.
president. Rik Barton, vicepresident.
Cynlhia.Hunt. secretary
and treasurer, and sours truly as a
director A meeting is announced
for Tuesday. May 2X. 1996 at 7
p m at the offices of the Carolina
Indian Voice. College Pla/a. across
from Pembroke State University
All members arc encouraged to
attend this verv important meeting
Call 9IO-52I-2X26 for further
information, or write Friends of
the Carolina Indian Voice, P 0
Box 1075. Pembroke. NC 2X172
Officers will be chosen and other
necessary business will be
transacted at this lime
C '(immunities in School C 'ommittee held an appreciation dinner for
volunteers whoa assist students from Prospect, Pembroke Middle and
IhtrneU Sivett High Schools in the Sivett High Cafeteria April 29.
Shown left to right: John Ray, Harold (iodivin, Hade Hunt,
Jonathan Joliceur, Ramona Maynor, Tommy Sivett, Maureen Regan,
Donald llonner, Maxine Elliot, and Wendy Harrell.
Tissue Typing
planned at
Shannon
Assembly of God
Shannon Assembly of God
Church will be (he site for a tissue
typing on Saturday. May 25, from
10 a.m. until 2 p m. Tissue typing
is a procedure whereby two
tablespoons of blood arc draw n to
see if a person is a possible match
for a victim of a blood disease such
as leukemia Many times a bone
marrow transplant is the only
chance a victim of this disease has
to survive Tissue typing
opportunities arc being held across
the county to increase the number
of potential bone marrow donors
on the National Bone Marrow
Registry It is important for Native
Americans to be added to the list of
potential donors This is because
the matching of bone marrow is
genetic