Page 2, The Carolina Indian Voice
I
EDITORIAL
OPINION
? PAGE
❖.
|AND
Put it before them briefly so they
will read it, clearly so they will
appreciate it. picturesquely so they
will remember it. and, above all
accurately so they will be guided by
its lights.
•Joseph Pulitzer
AS I SEE IT
Bruce Dorron .
ELIAS ROGERS-A VICTIM
OF THE TIMES
There is an old saying
attributed to Catholics that is
very appropo to our peculiar
situation in Robeson County.
Catholics purportedly are fond
of saying, "Give us the child
until he is six and he will not
depart from our doctrine...” I
don’t know whether that is
true or not but it is food for
thought as far as the develop
ing Indian political muscle is
concerned.
8 INDIANS and 2 BLACKS
CAN’T OR WON’T ELECT AN
INDIAN TO LREMC
PRESIDENCY
It is stranger than fiction but
true nevertheless. The new
board of directors of Lumbee
River Electric Membership
Corp. is made up of 8 Indians,
2 Blacks, and 2 Whites.
Believe it or not but an
Indian. Elias Rogers, could not
win the presidency of the
board from one of the two
whites. (Hubert Prevatte) at
the last organization meeting
of the newly seated board.
Rogers lost seven votes to
four. One of the Indians voted
for another Indian on the
assumption that they were
balloting for another position.
Rogers was the first minor
ity to ever serve on the co-op
board and he had to take them
to court to gain the right to
serve. Rogers caught the (then,
president of the board stuffing
the ballot box and jamming up
the electoral process with
bogus proxy votes. Rogers
won a sizable settlement from
the Lumbee River Electric
Membership Corp. and was
seated on the board initially as
a result of the suit.
On the face of it, you would
think that Elias Rogers would
be in a formidable position on
the board; especially since he
sacrificed so much to open the
co-op to the membership.
Alas! Such is not the case.
Rogers, because of his aggres
sive and hard hitting approa
ch. has created many ene
mies...many of them Indians
and Blacks. They never fail to
slap him resoundingly in the
face because of his hard
hitting stance on the board.
Surprisingly, many minorities
think Rogers is a little too
Indian...and strongly identi
fied with the Tuscarora group
who made their presence felt
in the county during the course
of the last few years.
Is Rogers qualified? Many
people think so, including the
writer of this article. He is
knowledgeable about the pro
blems and travails of co-ops
because of his self instructive
course in the operation of the
co-op as a result of his suit
against them. He had to know
something about the inner
workings of the co-op to win
the .suit. Also, he has served as
vice-chairman of the board for
a number of years. Remem
ber? We (minorities, that is)
suffer from vice- president this
and vice-chairman that...He
also has served for the last
few years on the state co-op
board. He has traveled widely
in his role as a member of the
co-op board, attending meet
ings and seminars all over
America.
Why can.'t he get elected
president of the co-op board?
God knows! But I do have
some conjectures to make on
the subject. He is one of the
few Indians ever elected to a
board or commission who was
not overly concerned with the
status-quo. the middle class
syndrone. He is a man of the
people, a fundamentalist
preacher, a painter by trade, a
working man. He is not a
friend of Ben Floyd or Sam
Noble or any of the other big
wigs in politics locally. He
operates mostly by himself,
keeping closely in touch with
the consumers of the co-op. He
is passionate abut his position
as an Indian. He talks loudly
sometimes and is not versed in
the art (sic) of compromise and
give and take. If he thinks he is
right...well, he can say it
louder than just about anyone I
have ever met.
I honestly believe he is the
kind of elected official we
minorities need to break the
psychological barrier keeping
us from our greatness and our
share of the Robeson County
(and Hoke County, etc.) pie.
But we have a long ways to
go before we can achieve any
kind of parity in politics and
economics. Indians have been
force fed condescension. They
(deep down in the recesses of
their hearts) do not believe
they are as good as the
average white man in Robeson
County. It is understandable,
but we should not accept the
situation as it now stands.
Indians and Blacks are
flexing their political muscle.
The next step is to elect
Indians and Blacks who are
Indians and Blacks, not carbon
copies of the existing order.
Give us an Indian with a
feather; give us a Black with a
clenched fist. They keep the
rest of us honest.
According to local wives
tales, Indians are violence
prone . They are violence
prone, but only against one
another. How many Indians
have ever traveled to Lumber-
ton and unloaded their frus
trations on the streets of the
county seat? How many Indi
ans have ever honestly acted
violent against one of our
white brethern?
1 do not condone violence in
any form. 1 am a pacifist of
long standing. 1 simply point
out the above to show case a
psychological shortcoming in
the make up of Indians and
Blacks.
I do not condone condescen
sion. I do not appreciate
Indians (or Blacks) who are
magnanimous for the wrong
reasons. Mutual respect is the
only true arbiter between the
racial groupings in the county.
Racism must be thrown out on
its prickly ear if Robeson
County is to over come her
present doldrums of economic
deprivation and voter discrim
ination.
But what about Elias Rog
ers? Should we reward him for
speaking out in our behalf:
Should we reward his militan
cy? should- we encourage him
to continue to speak out on the
issues effecting the members
of LREMC? Put yourself in his
place. Would you be anxious
to speak out against injus
tices?
Anyway, here is how the
vote went for the presidency of
the Lumbee River Electric
Membership Corp;
Hubert Prevatte (a white)
won with seven votes. Those
voting for Prevatte were:
Ward Clark (Indian), Bradford
Oxendine (Indian), James H.
Hammonds (Indian). J. W.
Hunt (Indian), Frank Warren
(Black), Davis K. Parker
(white), and Prevatte. Prevatte
received all of the white votes
(two) and also received the
votes of five minorities which
was the margin of victory.
Rogers received four votes.
He voted for himself and
received the votes of Frank
Jacobs (Indian), Harold Dean
Brewer (Indian), and Alton
Dudley (Black).
According to information
received. John Paul Jones
(Indian) was committed to
Rogers but voted for Frank
Jacobs in the mistaken belief
that they were voting for
treasurer.
How does one explain the
vote as pointed out above? Did
they honestly 'believe that
Rogers was not qualified to be
president of the board? Do
they simply mistrust Rogers
and believe that he is a wee bit
too militant for their craws?
We do not know.
We only hope that their
votes against Rogers were
based on clear thinking logic.
And not on the Robeson
substitution for the Catholic
rule that "if you give us the
children for six years they will
not depart from our doctrine.”
If so, it is time for Indians and
Blacks to adamantly demand
their good self esteem to be
returned to them forthwith.
The solace, I suppose, for
Rogers is that he is a victim of
the changing times.
Ptmbrohe Drug Centtr, Ode
V. 3rd. Pembroke. NC. Dial 521-^805
Thoughts to correct a
grossly deficient diet
Are the Nutritionalists
correct? Is your diet
“j^ossly deficient” in vita
min content? If so, which
vitamins and in what
doses?
Many people “play it
safe” by routinely taUng
multiple vitamins. Yet,
they may need to do more.
First, multiple minerals
taken along with the
multiple vitamins will in
crease the body’s absorp
tion of both. S«ond, vita
min E capsules should be
taken four hours after your
mineral tablet to improve
absorption chances of this
vitamin. And third, al
ways try to take vitamins
and minerals after eating.
Nutritional supple
ments will put you on the
safe side of better health.
Ask your pharmacist.
We’re not only your drug
•tore, but your fk-iend.
Come see ua soon.
pemBRolCc‘’.ri.^i
In the 17908, one of the
most popular theatrical
companies in the new
states was called the
Old American Company.
The manager and leading
actor of the company was
a man named John Henry
who brought plays by
Shakespeare and Richard
Sheridan to the American
stage. One of the leading
attractions of this theatri*
cal group, however, was
Henry’s lovely and talent
ed wife, a famous actress
of the time. Who was
that lady? Maria Henry.
How or Who
Princess Blueberry had
been absent from her tepee
for several months. Alas,
she returned pregnant. En
tering the tent, she raised
her hand and said to her fa
ther, “How.” “Never mind
how,” he replied. “ I want
to know who!”
541-4848
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JOB WORK • SMAU PROdOaKM RUNS
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AL OEMERY - OWNER - OPERATOR
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
Strong shouM advocate
rights of the weak
Dear Mr, Barton:
As taxpayers and human
beings, we have rights. I am a
firm believer in the operation
alization of the rights that
were bestowed upon each
human being as a result of the
composition and implementa
tion of the Constitution of the
United States. I also firmly
believe that those who possess
greater strength and power
should protect or advocate for
the rights of our weaker
brother. I feel that through the
publication of The Carolina
Indian Voice that you and your
staff are adequately and effec
tively fulfilling this responsi
bility. The Carolina Indian
Voice constantly exposes the
roots of individual, social and
institutional racism. My only
concern is that people often
have a tendency to console
individual . behavior, or the
behavior of others by ignoring
the unpleasantness of an act of
The 1976 General Election
has been completed. We have
elected those individuals that
we feet are most competent to
advocate for our rights as well
as the rights of our children
and serve in the differential
capacities. Except in the case
of Shirley Britt and Camel!
Lcicklcar. If an individual is
experiencing difficulties in da
ily activities or fee! that his
rights have been violated and
mere is a need to express
oneself, he should feel obli
gated to write to those indi
viduals that have been elected.
If their behavior is not in
conformance with expectations
this should be remembered
when re-election is duly exe
cuted again. R has long
exceeded the date when the
public should demand accoun
tability of incumbents' beha
vior. One accountability is
demanded, then it will be
ascertained that human needs
will be adequately and effec
tively met. The concept of
social eqaity will then become
victorious.
One last comment. It has
been my experience thus far
that as one proceeds northward
in “these great states” the
more covertly racism is ex
pressed. (especially insti
tutional racism), In southern
areas, racism is overtly mani
fested in behavior such as
double voting, allocation of
public monies for educational
purposes, etc., while in the
nothern areas racism takes the
form of sophistication such as
blaming the student for a low
SAT score by identifying him
as a culturally deprived or
establishing institutional poli
cies that eliminate only minor
ity students. 1 challenge you to
continue to expose racism
regardless of its form and
protect the rights of others
through the continuation of
The Carolina Indian Voice.'
My sincere wishes and
support for the future succes
of The CatoUna, Indian Voice
is apparent. 1 Icior forward to
receiving my issue weekly to
"keep in touch” with Pem
broke while in grduate scho
ol. The South shal rise again.
respectfully,
Linda Faye Johnson
University of Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland
United Cherokee Nation
seeks members
Dear Bruce:
Print this notice to all Lumbee People:
“Let it be known that all Lumbee Indians
who are one—fourth or more can now be
members of the United Cherokee Nation,
Inc. of N.C. and will receive a roll number
and be recognized as Cherokees by the
U.S. Government. Also each member will
receive a certificate and a roll card. Fill out
the membership form below.”
I have spoken.
Chief Greywolf Webber
Grand Council Head Chief-Lumbees
Send Membership form below to us here:
UNITED CHEROKEE NATION
Membership Form (Please Prim)
Name
Address-
- Birth-
Wife or Husband-
Children:names and ages-
How much Indian
Tribe
Membership $5.00. Must be sent with form
to UNITED CHEROKEE NATION,BOX
778, BRYSON CITY, N.C. 28713
Courthouse Squares
Before Cutting
To keep meringue from
tearing when you slice it,
brush the sides of the knife
with cooking oil before cut
ting.
Quick Supper
For a quick supper, com
bine any style of frozen broc
coli with canned tuna and
cream of mushroom soup.
Top with potato chip crumbs
and bake for half an hour.
Food Facts
Prunes are a variety of
plum that has a sugar con
tent high enough so that the
fruit can be dried without
fermenting. Pectin is the
ingredient that makes jams
■'jam" and jellies “jell ”
The Shirley Britt Affair:
An Assessment
With the 1976 election for the Robeson
County Board of Eiducation now history, a
few comments concerning the effort to
unseat Shirley Britt are in order. After the
Democratic Primary in August, many
Indians were alarmed at the results; two of
the top five slots were occupied by whites,
and Shirley Britt, considered by many to be
an anti—minority candidate, was near the
top. It was felt that by joining forces with
the Camell I.ocklear effort that, at the very
least, Shirley Britt could be held to a
two-year term. This was important as she
would then be in a position to be replaced
by an Indian from the Saddletree
community in the 1978
elections;Saddletree being the only major
Indian Community without representation
on the new Board of Education. Many
observers contend that a political thrust
against Mrs, Aileen Holmes, who was
defeated in her abortive effort for a seat on
the Board of Commissioners, was
primarily responsible for Saddletree not
being represented on the oncoming board
of education. Had Mrs. Britt received a
four—year term, then the Saddletree
representative would have come at the
expense of an Indian or a Black; this, of
course, would have been poor politics.
It is important to understand that the effort
was directed at Shirley Britt ^one. No effort
was made against any Indian, the Black,
David Green, or the other white, Bob
Mangum. Furthermore, the effort was
above the belt; attention was focused only
on her voting record. It was not a vindictive
or personal campaign. It was an issue
orientated effort.
The results of the effort were impressive
indeed. Shirley Britt came in last place for
the nine available seats. She was clearly
out-distanced by the Black, David Green,
in Pembroke and Prospect — a
turn—around from the Democratic
Primary.In Back Swamp she received only
14 votes compared to 496 for Ralph Hunt,
the Indian front runner.
It is true, of course, that Shirley Britt will
sit on the new board of education, but only
for a two—year term. Had it not been for the
placid Democratic Primary and the
Democratic sweep in the General Election
she would now be ancient history instead of
a politicalanachronism.But the people of
Robeson now know Mrs. Britt, and they
have served notice that they do not
appreciate her racial attitudes. The people
have spoken in a quiet voice but they have
spoken.
Camell Locklear will not, of course,
occupy a seat on the new Board of
Education. Had he been a Democrat, does
any rational person doubt that he would
have replaced Mrs. Shirley Britt? Note also
that Camell did better in the Indian
heartland of Pembroke — Prospect than did
Avery Nye in his hometown of Fairmont.
Pembroke — Prospect gave Camell fully
better than one—half of his total vote; with
better than 900 votes in Pembroke. It was
a magnificient effort by Camell and his
supporters.
In conclusion, we would say that the
message was delivered to the white
dominated political machine in I.umberton.
The Indian people of Robeson are
becoming more politically aware; our lines
of communication are improving; and the
atmosphere is electric with excitement for
the next contests. Let us begin today to
build on this foundation for the political
battles of 1978.
AL'S REMODELING
•Room Additions or any Remodeling
18 Yeors Experience
For Free Estimate Coll Al Lowery
After 5 p.m. 739-2459
THE CAROLINA
INDIAN VOICE
n
Thursday, November 18, 1976
Know Your Bible
By Rev. D.F. Lowry
□
Chri.sl told Nicodemus, ex
cept a man be born again he
cannot enter the Kingdom of
God. Nicodemus did not under
stand what Christ meant.
However, Christ led him to see
that there are two births: the
natural and the spiritual.
Nicodemus had had the natur
al birth; however, he had to
have a spiritual birth to be
saved.
Christ finally said: There is
a natural birth and there is a
spiritual birth. The natural
birth is being born of water-
not the water but of water.
Every person living or having
lived, except Adam and Eve
was born of water. Adam was
made of dust and Eve of
Adam’s rib. •
Now, when Christ told Nic
odemus he must be bom again
he meant the spiritual birth.
Also called the second birth.
Ther are only two births, the
natural and the spiritual. A
birth puts anything where it
has never been before. This
includes people and all ani
mals of the entire world. If you
will think of chicks, birds, and
all things that are hatched
from eggs and even crickets,
all are where they have never
been before. All creatures
born or hatched are in a new
world.
Lastly, water baptism, whe
ther immersed, sprinkled or
poured is notandcannot be a
birth. If any kind of a water
baptism was a birth .there
would be three births, the
natural, spiritual and water.
The Gentiles had been born
twice when Peter said, “Can
any man forbid water?”
According ro Scriprure
John 1:15 “John bore wit-,
ness of him, and cried saying,
this was he of whom I spoke.
He that cometh after me is
preferred before me, for he
was before me.”
The preaching of John was
stong and hard. The Bible says
he came preaching in the
wilderness, saying "Repent,
for the Kingdom of God is at
hand. Prepare ye the way of
the Lord. Make his path
straight. In John the Baptist,
preaching was straight. It was
of the Lord who John said was
preferred before him. John
was so straight, or you might
rightly say, a God-fearing
man. A man’s whose food was
locusts, wild honey. John
preached so well that the Jews
sent priests and Levites from
Jerusalem saying. "Who art
thou?” John confessed and
denied not. John said “I am a
servant. Just a preacher. But I
am not the Christ, nor am 1
Elijah.” John’s life was so
clean and holy they thought he
might be Christ or Elijah who
walked with God. The priests
cried out and said, "Who art
thou? That we may give an
answer to them who sent us.”
John said, “I’m only a voice
crying for the lost to be saved,
trying to make straight the
way for my Lord.” Then the
Jews said, "Why baptize the
people if you be not the
Christ? Why live a clean life
and eat only honey and
locusts?” John said, "1 bapti
ze with water. But there
cometh one mightier than I
who is able to take away the
sins of the world. And he that
is to come and is coming after
me who was preferred before
John was a man who sought
and did the will of God. He did
it in such a way, his way was
with sin, the people thought
he might be Christ of Elijah.
But what is so startling or a
surprise is that John said to
the people was that he said
that he who is coming after me
is preferred before me,
"Whose shoe latchet I am not
worthy to loose.” John 1:27. If
we read on in this book we will
' the truth. John lived a Christi-'
an life in a way people thought'
he was Chirst. And yet John
said he was not worthy to
unloose Jesus’ shoe latchets. 1
want to ask* you, do people
see Christ in your life? Would
you give your life for Christ: I
know some of you will say that
was back then, we don’t live
under those rules or command
ments now. The Lord said he
has no respect of persons with
God. Rom. 2:11. If John gave
his life foi righteousnessand he
lived it, so shall you and I. If
God demanded John to live
this life, so shall you and I. If
we got by with less than God
ask of John, then God would
have to apologize to John and
say, “John, you died in vain. It
is alright to have your bro
ther’s wife. It’s alright to sin
now and then. You could have
had strong drink or eat the
food you liked.” But God had
said to John’s mother in Luke
1:15 "John shall be great in
the sight of God. And shall
neither drink wine nor strong
drink. And he shall be filled
with the holy spirit from his
mother’s womb.”
You and 1 shall neither drink
strong drink, and we too.
must be filled with the holy
spirit. In Romans 12; 1 Paul
said-"I beseech you therefore
brethern, by the mercies of
God, that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is
your reasonable service.”
I love the word holy which
means to separate from the
unclean things of the world.
Paul said to transform our
minds by the renewing of
God’s word, “so that ye might
prove that which is good and
acceptable and the perfect will
of God.” Praise the Lord,
words like this just lead you to
do the will and to live a
Christian life for Jesus and to
know John the Baptist’s way of
life for Christ was not in vain.
It was the only way.
Yours in Christ.
Evangelist Ted Brooks
Rt. 2 Box 339
Pembroke. NC
521-2626
THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
Published Each Thursday by
The Lumbee Publishing Company
Druce Dorron, Monaging Ediror
Connee Droyboy &
Garry L. Dorron, Associore Edirors
Donnie Locklear- Circulation Manager
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS:
Mrs. Bazie Hardin
Violet Locklear
B. Locklear
Elmer W. Hunt
Jackie Lugene Lowery
Mailing Address:
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Post Office Box 1075
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Tel. (919)
521-2826
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God gronr me rhe serenity td accept the things I
connol chonge: courage ro change rhe things I
con. and the wisdom to ki^ow rhe difference.
The CoroiinQ Ihdion Voice desires to be notified
promptly of Q chonge of oddress. Send your
oddress cl'Cinge toi the Corollno Indion Voice, P,
O, Box 1075. Second Class Postage Paid or
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