ROBESON COUNTY, N.C.
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UNC
WILSON
CHAFLL :iILL,..w /
...A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE
THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
....***^ Dedicated to the best in all ol us
PEMBROKE, N.C. THURSDAY, MAY 26, 1977 se* dcd ?
VOLUME
PublicQfion No. 97S3dO
15it PER COPY
... About Town Manager
Complains of Trooper
Lumbee Drutolily and Abuse of Power
Indians
EDITOR'S NOTE; Recently Bryce
Nelson. Midwest Bureau Chief
for The Los Angeles Time*
visited Robeson County and
wrote a story about the Lumbee
Indian community. The article,
entitled “Lost Colony-Tribe
Claims Key to Riddle of
Roanoke," appeared in the May
12 issue of The Los Angeles
Times.
We consider the article fairly
accurate and reasonably
; well-written. We wish to share it
: with our readership. We
gratefully acknowledge
^ permission of The Los Angeles
'■ Times to reprint the article.
'LOST COLONY'
Tribe Claims
Key lo Riddle
of Roanoke
BT BRTCE NELSON
TlmM St«H Writtr
PEMBROKE, N.C.—“We’re an an
thropological delight; everybody
comes to study us,” said Bruce Bar
ton, a Lumbee Indian, who edits the
weekly Carolina Indian Voice here.
Taking note of his own appearance,
Barton added, “And you can see with
these curly locks and pale complexion
that something strange has been
going on here.”
Most Lumbee Indians believe that
the complexion of many members of
their tribe provides the answer to the
riddle of what happened almost four
centuries ago to Sir Walter Raleigh’s
“Lost Colony” of settlers.
The Lumbee Indians, whose home
for centuries has been the swamps of
Southeastern North Carolina, have no
federal reservation of their own, but
an estimated 40,000 of them live here
in Robeson County and surrounding
counties. Thousands more live in oth
er parts of the United States, includ
ing several hundred in the Los An
geles area.
The Lumbees are by far the largest
Indian group east of the Mississippi,
one of the largest tribes in the nation,
and, by all recent accounts, one of the
most successful economically.
“I have seen tremendous accom
plishments here I would never have
believed possible in an Indian com
munity in the United States,” said
Vine Deloria Jr., a Standing Rock
Sioux and an acclaimed writer on In
dian topics.
Deloria, who grew up on the Pine
Ridge reservation in South Dakota,
spoke recently to a Lumbee' group
here on a humid, Southern spring
day. He called upon the Lumbees to
pPDonce ine-nistonans ana commura-
cators to tell the story of American
Indians to the rest of the world. He
said only the Lumbees and the Iro-
guois have the educational base to
produce a large number of such spe
cialists.
“niough little noticed, the Lumbees
have started to make dramatic im
provements, in the last few years, in
their economic, political and educa
tional position.
The Lumbees, who never engaged
in large-scale battles with the whites
and who were never conquered by
whites or put on reservations, adopt
ed the white man’s language, life
style and Baptist and Methodist reli
gions so long ago that no one remem
bers when anything was different.
Jimmy Carter would feel right at
home listening to the soft, Southern
accents of Lumbee tobacco farmers or
attending the well-built churches of
the Lumbee Baptists.
And, in fact, most Lumbees think
there is good reason for Southern fa
milies descended from the English to
feel right at home with them.
The firm belief of many Lumbees,
and a fair number of Indian and white
historians, is that the Lumbee people
are the descendents of an amalgam of
the Hatteras Indians and the 117
CONTNJED ON PAGE 7
Pembroke’s town manager, McDuffie
Cummings, has found himself at odds with
two troopers of the N.C. State Highway
Patrol concerning an arrest made in front of
his house on April 22. 1977 “in front of my
children,”
O’Neill Oxendine, on April 22, was
arrested by state troopers, Hubert
Covington and T.J, Evelyn, on charges of
drunken driving, driving without a valid
0|>erator’s license and resisting arrest.
The incident occurred on Union Chapel
Road in front of the home of Pembroke
Town Manager, McDuffie Cummings.
Cummings has complained to Sgt, G.D.
Dodson of the area highway patrol office in
Lumberton, District Attorney Joe Freeman
Britt, Governor Jim Hunt, and Col, John
Jenkins, recently named head of the North
Carolina Highway Patrol.
In a letter to Col. Jenkins, McDuffie
Cummings stated:
“On the 22nd day of April, 1977, while
cutting the grass in my front lawn, I
witnessed two state troopers, without hats,
conducting a traffic check less than 100 feet
from my position. A car with a lone male
occupant approached the trooper’s position
slowly and executed a right turn about 30 to
40 feet in front of them, driving under the
carport of a nearby house. One' of the
troopers, Covington, approached the auto
and engaged the driver in conversation.
The driver then got out of the auto and
placed his hands on the auto while Trooper
Covington conducted a search of his
person. He then walked with the .trooper,
voluntarily and without any resistance
whatsoever, over to the passenger side of
one of the patrol autos about 40 feet away.
At this time the person involved, whom I
recognized as O’Neil Oxendine, was
confronted by the other trooper, Evelyn,
who began talking to Oxendine in what
appeared to be-based on' his gestures,
flushed face and posture-an angry tone of
voice. Evelyn, while leaning forward, put
his left finger in Oxendine’s chest, then
striking Oxendine in the face with the fist of
his other hand. This was done without any
provocation or resistance on the part of
Oxendine. Oxendine attempted to defend
himself and he was then attacked by
Covington, being struck by the trooper’s
convoy. Oxendine fell and while on the
ground with Covington on top, he was
struck solidly on the back of the head by
Evelyn.
“Appalled by the savagery of the two
troopers involved, I now was in the
immediate vicinity of Oxendine, Evelyn
and Covington. Oxendine, now
handcuffed, said: “I’ll get in the back
seat.” Evelyn tartly responded; “No you’ll
get in the front seat or I'll put some more
knots on your head. ’ ’ I then began to get the
numbers of the two patrol cars; they being
H45 1 and H452. Covington said: “Mister
if you would have asked we would have
given you the numbers.” I responded by
saying that I now had the numbers.
Covington then said: “I thought that you
thought that we had done something
wrong.” I responded by saying that 1
thought that the troopers had provoked the
violence. Covington responded by saying:
“If you have a complaint place it with the
sergeant. ’’ He then asked Evelyn to call the
sergeant for me. Evelyn responded by
saying: “1 have to go lock this drunk up. If
you (meaning myself) have a complaint get
fn your car and go make it.” Evelyn then
looked at my panel truck across the road
and said: “Home Florist.” After nodding
his head, he said again: “Home Florist.”
To which remarks Covington responded by
saying: “1 patrol this area, don't worry;
nothing will be done about it.” Evelyn then
said in a slurring manner: “Since you are
such a friend of his (Oxendine), would you
mind looking after his car?”
“After the two troopers left I went
immediately to the Pembroke Police
Station, where 1 asked the dispatcher on
duty to call the local Sergeant of the
Highway Patrol. Sgt. Hathcock answered
by saying that he was off duty but that Sgt.
Dennings was working. About an hour later
he arrived with a lieutenant whose name I
do not recall. The following Wednesday,
Sgt. Dennings and Sgt. Dodson were back
in touch with myself.
Since the incident in question there have
been several traffic checks at the very same
location. On April 30 three troopers were
checking traffic. I noticed that should
anyone drive into a house in the vicinity a
trooper would immediately go into rapid
pursuit and come to a sliding stop at the
residence to which the auto in question had
stopped. On one occasion a trooper drove
through my father’s yard to get to a nearby
mobile home, even though the mobile
home had its own driveway to the public
road.
“On May 2nd I passed Trooper Evelyn at a
stationary position while going home for
supper. He recognized me and followed me
to Sandy Plains Church, which is almost
directly in front of my home, where he
parked. After supper, approximately
twenty minutes later around 6:30 P.M.,
while leaving my home, I noticed that
Trooper Evelyn and another trooper were
conducting a traffic check at the identical
spot of the original incident.
“I find it interesting that the troopers
involved in the original incident,
Covington and Evelyn, did not take
Oxendine to the Pembroke Police
Department for a breathalizer test even
though the station is only three or four miles
from the scene of the arrest. The Pembroke
Police Station has a breathalizer and a
qualified operator is available. Given the
fact that Pembroke is a predominately
Indian town and that the two troopers had
just savagely beaten an Indian without
cause or provocation, I can only question
whether racism did not rear its ugly head. I
have it on reliable information that Trooper
Covington stated that he was going to
police in and around Pembroke in order to
“straighten things out" in that he did not
feel that our resident trooper, Clyde Fields,
was severe enough in his handling of the
local population.
“Further, may I say that the troopers
involved kept Oxendine at the Sheriffs
Department for approximately one and
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
James D. Chavis
becomes N.C.'s
Chief Ombudsman
people
and places
and things]
B0BE50N COUNTY STILL HOME TO MEMBER Of
GEORGIA COAAMISSION ON INDIAN AFFAIRS
Many factors contribute to the
uniqueness of Lumbee Indians. One of the
most remarkable characteristics of Indian
nature is his emotional link with home. No
matter how far away from Robeson County
a Lumbee is forced to go in his search for
identity or whatever, he unvariably calls
Robeson County “home.” Afterail, home
is where the heart is.
Many factors are involved in the reasons
for Lumbee migration. Among them are
racial discrimination, inferior school
system, and the unfair, unequal and unjust
treatment of minorities in this unique
tri-racial county. For various reasons
Lumbees do migrate into other states and
sometime other countries where there is
less stress and oppression. Away from the
psychological, emotional, mental, and
economic oppression which prevails in
Robeson, a Lumbee finds that he can
become quite successful in an atmosphere
where a person’s ability and his worth as a
human being are not measured by the hue of
by Connee Drayboy
his complexion' . Of the unknown number
of Lumbees who do migrate, a fantastic
amount of them are quite successful in their
endeavors.
James W. Oxendine is an example of one
of many Lumbees who have migrated and
obtained noticeable success in various
fields.
On Tuesday, May 18, 1977, Oxendine
was sworn in as a member of the Georgia
Commission on Indian Affairs. This
newly-formed Commission is comprised of
seven members: two Creek Indians, two
Cherokees, two whites and one Lumbee,
Oxendin^ was appointed by Governor
George Busbee to a four-year term.
Oxendine was selected as vice-chairman at
the organizational meeting following the
swearing in.. • ceremonies. He was sworn in
by the chairman. Bill Dover, who is a mem
ber of the Georgia Legislature.
Oxendine. avery personable man, recalled
his years in Robeson County. He was bom
in 1927 in the Fairmont Community to the
late Roy and Betty Oxendine, life long
residents of Robeson County.
He attended Fairmont Indian School (now
known as Fairgrove School) and graduated
from there in 1945 as salutatorian of his
class.
He reflected happily on his childhood in
rural Robeson County. His parents, he
said, were tenant farmers for the Floyds of
Fairmont. He remembered the hard times
they had as a family, but he also recalled the
love they shared. In a moment of rare
meloncholy he spoke of his deceased
mother. Said he, “My mother was the wife
of a tenant farmer. We were very poor, but
she gave me something more than money.
She taught me things about life...She gave
me some good advise, advise 1 have
heeded. She told me ‘to work hard. Do the
best you can. And don't be ashamed of
what you are.’ And I have never forgotten
that. That was the best advise I ever
received and my life is evidence that she
wa.s right...She taught me pride in
myself.”
We then talked about his years at Fairmont
Indian School. He expressed his belief that
teachers were the backbone of the nation.
He spoke fpndly of his teachers and
revealed the influence they had had on his
life. Said he. “I feel a great sense of loyalty
to the teaching profession. This stems from
my personal experience with them. 1 know
what dedicated, caring teachers did for
Df. James D. Chavb
-A citizen receives notice from the
Unemployment Bureau two months after
she made application for benefits, stating
she is ineligible. An investigation reveals
Job Service mishandled her claim. She
receives her first unemployment check
within a few days,
— An inmate is beaten and tear gassed at a
penitentiary. After an investigation, the
actions are deemed inappropriate and
illegal and two correction officers are fired.
— A workers compensation claimant
reports he is not receiving weekly disability
benefits as promised. After a short inquiry,
the claimant receives past due checks from
the Director of Disability Compensation.
These problems were solved by the
Citizen’s Advocate, Citizen’s Aide and
Ombudsman in various states. The names
vary, but they all help citizens deal with the
labyrinth of government bureaucracies at
local, state and federal levels,
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Heavy Rains
Reroute Traffic,
Close Schools,
Threaten Crops
BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC TO DE HELD
AT PROSPEa SCHOOL
The Prospect Career Club is sponsoring a
Blood Pressure, Breadt and Self-Breast
Assessment Clinic at FYospect School in the
Gym on Sunday, May 29, 1977 from
2-5p.m. The clinic is free to the public.
Special specialists will be ,Dr. Frank
Wairiax and Dr. Benford Hardin. Nurses
will be Ms. Judy Hunt, RN, Ms. Chariona
Strickland, RN, Ms. Juren, RN, Ms.
Barbara McMillian, RN, Ms. Otha Swett,
RN, and Certified Family Planning nurse
Practioner and Ms. Maxine Deese, student
nurse.
Free educational materials will be
provided, compliments of the American
Cancer, Society.
LOWRY ATTENDS SALES CONVENTION
OF NATIONWIDE INSURANCE AGENTS
Willie Von Lowry, agent for Nationwide
Insurance at College Street in Pembroke
has been invited to the largest sales
convention in Nationwide’s 5 l-year history
in June at Columbus, Ohio.
About 5,000 people...agents, field
managers, and members of the their
families...will attend Nationwide’s first
company-wide sales gathering sice 1958.
Guest speaker at the three-day conclave
will be Howard K. Smith, the American
Broadcasting Company’s prize-winning
nres commentator, and Dr. Norman
Vincent Peale, widely-acclaimed author,
lecturer and minisler.
A convention highlight will be tours
through Nationwide Plaza, Nationwide’s
new 40-story home office complex in
downtown Columbus. The Plaza is the
largest office facility in Central Ohio.
Lowry, who has been a Nationwide agent
for six years, earned the invitation through
outstanding sales and customer service
during the year. He will be accompanied to
the convention by his wife.
ROBESON COUNTY AO OFFICERS
INSTALLED
On Monday afternoon. May 23, the
Robeson County Association of Classroom
Teachers met for the final business meeting
of the year, and for the installation of new
officers for 1977-78.
Ms. LaRue Jones administered the oath of
office to president, Ms. Ira Lee Lowry,
Long Branch School; president-elect, Ms.
He spoke lovingly of three teachers in
particular who had great influence on the
direction of his life: Mrs. Mary Deese
Lowry, his only English teacher; Mrs.
Ruby Dial, his fifth grade teacher; and the
late Mrs. Opal Hunt, his seventh grade
teacher. He said in reference to the late
Mrs. Hunt, “She probably kept me in
Many secondary roads in the county were
found to be unpassable early Wednesday
morning. The area between Fairmont and
Pembroke was especially affected by the
heavy rainfall.
By late Wednesday afternoon, the rains
were abated but the forecast was more rain.
James W. Oxendine, left. Is shown wtth his only brother,
Williom L. Oxendine, of the recent athletic owards bonguet
sponsored by the Pembroke Senior High School Worriors
Booster Club. (Bruce Barton photo)
Carrie Currence, Southside School,
vice-president, Mr. William Lloyd Hunt,
Orrum High School; secretary, Ms. Doris
Bethea, Southside Sefiool; treasurer. Ms.
Jacqueline McCormick, Deep Branch
School.
President’s Committee Chairpersons for
the year 77-78 are; Citizenship Committee,
Mr. George Chavis of Prospect School;
Elections Committee. Ms. Tessie Hunt of
Magnolia School; Instruction and
Professional Development (IPD), Ms.
Melinda Johnson, Piney Gfove School;
Legislative Committee, Ms. Linda Simuel
of Proctorvilie School; Professional Rights
and Responsibilities (PR&R), Ms. LaRue
Jones of Proctorvilie School; Public
Relations, Ms. Carrie Currence, Southside
School; Resolutions Committee, Ms.
Queenine Mae Lowry; Union Chapel
School; Social Committee, Ms. Loretta
Smith of Long Branch School.
In the brief acceptance remarks Mrs. Ira
Lee Lowry challenged the ACT
membership to “Take a giant step
forward” here in Robeson County to
further the cause for “Freedom to Teach—a
Thrust for Children.”
AND PREPARE FOR THE
STATE PLAYOFFS
The Warriors were supposed to begin
their quest for the state 3-A Championship
Tuesday night but the rains came and the
game has been canceled. The game has
tentatively been rescheduled for tonight
(Thursday) but no one was taking any bets
on it at press time. The sky still threatened
more rain as the Carolina Indian Voice
rolled off the presses.
The Pembroke Warriors are to meet
Clinton in the first game of playoff action
for the state crown.
The game is tentatively scheduled for 7:30
p.m. on the Pembroke State University
diamond.
REGISTRATION FOR PSU
SUMMER SCHOOL BEGINS TUESDAY
Pembroke State University ’ will have
registration on Tuesday, May 31. with
classes beginning the same day.
Registration will be from 8:15 until noon
in the Auxiliary Gymnasium of the Jones
Health and Physical Education Center.
Classes begin that same afternoon with
class periods changed for that day only to
the following limes-first period-1-1:50;
second period-2-2‘50; third
period—3-3:50; fourth period-4-4:50; and
fifth period-5-5:50 p.m.
It rained buckets full Tuesday and the
recent laments of “boy. we could stand
some rain” changed quickly to “gosh, 1
hope this rainfall stops soon. We needed a
little rain but this is more than we asked
for...”
Rain especially caused problems in the
Pembroke area, forcing the closing of
Pembroke Elementary and Pembroke
Junior High School. In some areas around
Maynor Manor, row boats were actually
used to transfer workers from their home to
work.
Rainfall measured as much as 7 inches in
some places in the county. The heavy
rainfall caused flooding and the roads were
lined with stranded vehicles, most with
drowned motors.
Rerouting was the order of the day early
Wednesday morning as Robesonians went
to work. Many found huge gullies of water
in the middle of the road and many searched
the by ways for new routes to old places.
Farmers were concerned about damage to
crops, especially tobacco. The rains
threatened, if immediate drainage were not
provided, to drown the young tobacco
plants and other crops.
And he continued,-Mucation is the key „ reports, Ihe Pembroke
that unhKiks ail doors. Wdhoul teachers wc ^ number of
can ave octors an awyers. fatiiiiies from Maynor Manor in Pembroke.
Pembroke To Be Featured on
‘Carolina At Noon’
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
Said a farmer, “It beats all. One week we
don’t get enough rain and the next we get
too much.”
The TV-6 Mobile Color Studio
recently paid a visit to Pembroke,
NC for a taping of a ‘ ‘Carolina at
Noon" special, to be aired
Tuesday. June 7 on WECT-TV.
This remote telecast features
interviews at the Lumbee
Regional Development
Association (LRDA) and
Pembroke State University as
well as preview of the popular
outdoor drama abou the Lumbee
Indian hero Henry Berry Lowery.
“Strike at the Wind!"
The first segment of the show,
taped at the LRDA Annex
office, describes Ihe various
programs organized by the
association. These programs,
including senior citizen groups,
child care, and “Right to Read”
classes for illiterate adults, are
run by and for the Lumbee
Indians.
LRDA operates on a three
million dollar budget, financed
through federal, state, and local
agencies. The organization is
dedicated to improving the
quality of life and cultural
heritage for the Lumbees. who
comprise approximately 97% of
the local population.
Jim Bums discusses the
association with Ken Maynor,
Executive Director, and Rev.
James HaroldWoods. Chairman
of the Board for LRDA.
Pembroke State University is
spotlighted next. This segment
examines the growth in
buildings, programs, and faculty
experienced in tne past few year?
by the university. Jim’s guest.
Dr, English E. Jones, who is
Chancellor of Pembroke State,
discusses the past achievements
and the institution’s goals for the
future, including the planned
reconsimetion of the landmark
building. “Old Main." as TV-6
cameras take an informal lour of
Pembroke’s new buildings.
Randy Umberger’s outdoor
drama "Strike at the Wind" is
shown in rehearsal during the
third segment ofTV-6’s “Visit to
Pembroke." Production Chief
Rock Kershaw .describes the
stirring story of Henry Berry
Lowery and its importance to the
Lumbees, while our cameras
capture the play's director.
Arthur MacDonald, and his
actors in their preparation for the
summer run ahead, MacDonald
also directs the Department of
Dramatic Arts at St. Andrew’s
University.
"Strike at the Wind” has a cast
of 60 and an original musical
score. “Carolina at Noon” will
present the company in two of the
show’s major musical numbers.
WECT-TV’s ‘’Carolina at
Noon”' features different
communities every month. "A
Visit to Pembroke" is the
nineteenth remote for the popular
program hosted by Jim Bums,
which can be seen on TV-6
weekdays at noon.
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