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\ , 3 NAVAJO COMKUNIfjf COLLEGE LIBRARY
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THEiCAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
"Building Comowpicadve Bridges
In A Tri-Racial Setting"
_? ' ? . .'. ?*???? _? a
January It.
I?73
Dedicated To I
The Beta In I
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VOLUME 7, NUMBER 34 PEMBROKE, N.C. THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1979 ROBESON COUNTY 20 CENTS PER COPY
- . _ _ ?
REPORT REVEALS THAT RACISM IS
FOUND IN ROBESON COUNTY
DISTRICT COURT ROOMS ;
by Brace Barton
Carl W. Sellers, a research assistant at the N.C. State University at Raleigh,
recently completed a research paper dealing with the district court system,
principally in Robeson County. (lis findings are not surprising.
Completing his studies in anthropology and sociology, Sellers found that
"racial bias does in fact exist in the district court system of Robeson County."
Sellers said, "I am very interested in further developments along the lines of
my report, and I am willing to participate actively in articulating the problem
...in any way that 1 can. I think this is a major problem and one that should
concern all citizens in North Carolina -- if the district court system is allowed to
run roughshod over one group, then what is to prevent the same kind of
development in other areas?"
Sellers noted, "These findings, of course, are my own and do not necessarily
represent a formal endorsement by N.C. State University where I am now
employed as a research assistant."
Sellers found that although Indians comprise approximately a third of
Robeson's population (more than 26,000 according to the 1970 census), their
relative numbers in district court cases appear to be far greater than their
proportion to the total population.
During the period of January 1979 through April 1979. Sellers investigated the
possibility that distribution of justice in the district court system in Robeson
' County was biased along racial lines. The study consisted of personal interviews
with citizens of Robeson County, observations of courtroom proceedings, and
analysis of documents relating to cases tried during the period of investigation.
INTERVOEWSsThe respondents were both male and female; White, Black, and
Indian; farmers, storeowners, secretaries, attorneys, administrators, and a
university professor. Some spoke openly and freely while others were hesitant
about :? peaking openly to an outsider; and still others answered specific
questions with specific answers but volunteered nothing further. The intent of
the interviews was to develop a feeling or a consensus of opinion relating to
interracial attitudes and to the relationships between various races and
law-enforcement officials and courts.
RESULTS: Whites-generally see themselves in a higher socio-economic status
than Blacks and Indians; and believe law-enforcement officials and courts treat
all races equally.
Blacks-believe Whites enjoy higher socio-economic positions and Blacks and
Indians share lower but equal positions. They believe law-enfor .ement officials
and courts are biased against Blacks and Indians.
Indians--believe they share the same socio-economic positions as Whites, but
higher than Blacks. They believe law-enforcement officials and courts are biased
against Indians, are unbiased against Blacks, and favor Whites.
Sellers noted. "It should be noted that the responses to all questions show a
wide range of variation, but the results presented above are representative of
majority opinions."
COURTROOM OBSERVATIONS: Sellers observed five distrn t court sessions
during the research period at Pembroke, Rowland, and Red Springs. Prior to
each session, he obtained a court calendar listing names, offenses, pleas,
findings, and sentences. In each case that was tried, he noted the findings of
guilty or not guilty. In cases where the defendant's racial background was
unknown, he made the determination by questioning the defendant or someone
who knew him or her. He noted the defendant's race beside each case that was
tried.
RESULTS: Based on 171 cases. 110 were Indians, 32 were Whites, and 29 were
Blacks. The number of convictions were: 106 Indians, 9 Whites, and 25 Blacks.
Sellers said.^'A Chi-Square statistical analysis of courtroom justice in terms of
race versus convictions and nonconvictions revealed a figure of 41.25 which
indicates a very powerful probability that racial bias exists in the district court
system of Robeson County. In a percentile analysis of the defendant population,
it was determined that 65% were Indians and the remaining 35% was divided
nearly equally between Whites and Blacks. The rates of convictions racially
were: Indians-96%, Blacks-86%, and Whites-28%."
Sellers concluded his report by saying, "During the period of . anuary through
April 1979. there were very strong indications that the distribution of justice in
(he district court system in Robeson County was biased alonfiacial lines. The
fact that a much greater number of Indians were apprehended than either
Whites or Blacks indicates that a serious problem exists between law
enforcement officials and Indians. Once in the courtroom, Indians have a very
small chance of escaping a finding of guilty and Blacks have only slightly better
odds, while Whites seem to have a very good chance of receiving a finding of
not-guilty. It would appear that the consensus opinion of the Indians regarding
racial bias on the part of law-enforcement officials and courts is very close to the
mark."
Richardson
Named new
District
Judge
Governor Jim Hunt Tuesday nam
ed Herbert L. Richardson of Lumberton
as District Court Judge for the 16th
Judicial District, which is composed of
Rpbeson and Scotland Counties. He
replaces Judge Samuel E. Britt of
Lumberton who was recently appointed
Special Superior Court Judge by
Governor Hunt. Richardson will serve a
term ending December 5, 1982.
Richardson. 27, is an assistant district
attorney for Robeson County. He
received his J.D. degree from N.C.
Central University in 1976. He is a
member of the N.C. District Attorney's
Association, the N.C. Academy of Trial
Lawyers and the N.C. Black Lawyers
Association.
Edmisten
to visit
Pembroke
Attorney General Rufus Edmisten
will be visiting in Pembroke at the home
of Pembroke Councilman Sam Dial on
Jones* Street from 6 until 8 p.m. August
23rd.
Councilman Dial, a long time admirer
of Edmisten, said, "Everyone is invited
to come and meet with Rufus Edmisten,
a dedicated attorney general."
Later Edmisten. accompanied by Dial
and other supporters will attend "Strike
at the Wind!"
Prospect Citizens Protest Lack of School
Board Representation
by Connee Brmybov
Accompanied by over 100 members of
the Prospect and Oxendine School
Districts and representatives of the
Philadelphus Precinct, L.H. Moore
delivered an oratory to the Robeson
County Board of Education on Tuesday.
Prior to his presentation, Moore dis
played a hand-written sign which said:
Justice For All... "Gentlemen," he
said. "That's all we're asking for." He
then launched into an empassioned plea
for the board to reconsider their present
districting plan. Said Moore, "We are
the only high school attendance zone
which will not have the opportunity to
elect a member to this board. We want
to know why we were left out?"
The plan Moore referred to was a part
of the Proposal to merge the Maxton
City Schools and the Robeson County
Schools. The proposal included a plan
whereby members of the board of
education, beginning in 1980, will be
elected by district. The plan specifies
that there will be eight districts. Those
districts are: District I composed of
Parkton, Lumber Bridge and Rennert
Precincts- one member; District D will
be composed of Philadelphus. Burnt
Swamp, Raft Swamp, Saddletree, West
Howellsville Precincts- two members;
District ID composed of Maxton' one
member; District IV, composed of
Alfordsville, Union, Pembroke and
Smiths Precincts- three members;
Dlstilit V composed of Rowland- one
member; District VI composed of
Geddys, Thompson and Back Swamp
one member; District VD- composed of
Britts, Orrum, Sterling. Smyrna- one
member; and District VU1. composed of
Bast Howellsville and Wisharts- one
This election by district will become
effective in 1900. Presently, David
Ofeea represents District Is Laytnon
Locklear "t Roaald Hammonds repte
seat District U; tufas Graham repre
sents District ID; Ulllan Locklear. jerry
Lowry. Simeon Osendiae sad Tommy
D. Swett rrprrrrat District IV; District
V has ao teprssaetativa at this fat;
Ralph Heat rsprsssats District VI;
trict VIII. with the 1980 election one of
the four members representing District
IV will be eliminated and District V wifl
elect a representative.
OXENDINE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Moore introduced Ben Jacobs of
the Oxendine School who emphati
cally stated: "For years people, especi
ally Lumbee Indians, have fought for
their rights and for equal atpresenta
tion. When an Indian superintendent
* and a predominantly Indian Board of
Education came to be in Robeson
County, the people of Smiths Township
were most pleased and hopeful that a
system such as this should last forever.
"Although we see the need for
improved schools and better education
al services in our community, we are
pleased with the progress of our present
school units. We are aware of the need
to consolidate the educational units to
give our children the best opportunities
to learn. We are prepared for the
changes that must come.
"However, our unique school board,
for which we had so much hope and
trust, has now set up a system in which
our community has little chance of
gaining representation. Because of this
we are very angry and feel that we have
been betrayed. I am certain that the
newly organized zones from which the
citizens will select their representatives
to the Board of Education has given
unbalanced power to the voters of
Pembroke Township. I cannot remain
complacent and lose my chance and my
children's chances at equal representa
tion without voicing my concerns."
No comment from the board followed
Jacobs' spiel'. And Moore continued to
explain why they were there.
Seidhe: " Some of es fought ioog and
hard battles against one of the greetest
evils Robeson County has ever known
and that was double- voting. We Anally
^? t rejoiced abott i i hj r v ictory ?
squally. But as you knew and as we
have experienced, this ems net Hue. We
are bare this evening te ask yen leptaaee
ts? as why aa a Mgjt atkmf
r 9 i
attendance zone we were not treated as
those other high school attendance
zones."
Chairman Ralph Hunt responded.
"High school areas were not consider
ed.... It was not intentional."
Moore said: "....we are not asking for
consideration. We want an answer. We
feel like we've been shafted and want to.
know what you're going to do about it."
Supt. Purnell Swett responded: "We
will take a serious look at it and do what
we can within our legal power. The
question is can we change prior to 1980
or after the 1980 census."
And Moore reacted: "I'm sorry,
gentlemen. I just don't have the kind of
confidence I need in a system that
would treat us like this." He then
commended the board for their "cour
age on consolidation." Said he. "I
believe it is one of the greatest steps
toward progressive education in my life
time." And he addressed Assist. Supt.
Douglas Yongue: "I want to commend
you for giving us a superintendent's job
and doing what was best for children
educationally."
PHILADELPHIA PRECINCT
Jimmy Goins, a resident 'Of the
Philadelphus Precinct then spoke. Said
he. "I look at these district lines and it's
disgusting. I don't understand why...
All 1 know is that my children will be
going one way to school (Prospect) and
I'll be voting another way.... I am not
against consolidation. Wd'fc against
consolidation without representation..
Give us a chance to help out In the
consolidation. Don't lose us....I would
recommend a district composed of
Smiths A Philadelphus Precinct." He
then posed this question: "Could the
board not function as an elected at large
board?"
And Chairaiaa Hunt responded:
"The reason for districting was that
Mertaa tsquselsd s based member <br a
particular district. The hoard frit it
|I|aS lhAMA
$
goes back to February 1945. A class
mate of mine was killed in Germany.
You know, several years ago and even
today as 1 visit his grave and look at his
picture, I begin to feel bitter towards a
system that would do this to a young
man, 21 years of age who gave his life
for a country where he didn't have an
equal opportunity to an education.
He couldn't even sit down in the drug
store that would sell him medicine and
get a coke to drink it with. \
"Mr. Chairman. 1 said that to let you
board members know that's about the
way we feel you have treated us in the
Prospect High School attendance
zone."
By mutual consent the board agreed
to meet with representatives from the
citizens' group and find a solution to the
problem.
IN OTHER MATTERS
With Lillian Faye Locklear voting
no. the board approved revised work day
for school principals, paid assistant
principals, 12-month employees and
vocational teachers.
The minimum office hours for these
employees will be from 8:00 a.m. until
4:00 p.m. beginning with the 1979-80
school year.
Unanimously they approved ift
advisory council appointments for Pine)
Grove. They are Horace Sampson and
Mary E. Stevens. Charles M. Britt and
Charlie Goban. Jr. will serve the Long
Branch School as advisory council
members. The board approved the
standard fees for the county schools,
14.00 for elementary and M.00 high
school. They agreed to meat at another
-i - - a_ dlnomoa oSMtnl Aann knimm
VlfM lO (1I1CUBB ipVClil w,n|
charged by some schools, library foes,
band foes. ate. They also approved the
im i?nt n p<?itcy. rvimVH
stated thai spprosimatety U percent of
the eoeoty school students receive free
leaches sad sheet 10 percent sot at
rVQWM pnM9> VW
to the state board of education to
approve the West Robeson Consolida
tion. This resolution was passed after
conducting three public hearings at
Prospect, Maxton and Pembroke High
Schools. The proposed date for occu
pancy of West Robeson High is July,
1982.
In compliance with the state board of
education's directives, Robeson County
will reduce gas usage by 20 percent for
school buses and activity buses. In
compliance, school buses will only stop
for pickups every two-tenths of a mile.
The bus driver will not signal the
students by blowing the horn. And
children are required to board the bus in
a timely manner. Efforts will be made to
insure that the bus arrives and departs
each stop at the same time.
The board also authorized the supt. to
petition the state board of education to
declare the Hilly Branch Vocation
Center as a school. To do so would
warrant a principal on the site.
r
Chairman Ralph Hunt appointed a
committe to study the Rex- Rennert area
for land to be purchased for the
proposed East Robeson High, a consoli
dation of Magnolia and Parkton High
Schools proposed for 1982 also.
D
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BkV I
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BURNT SWAMP BAPTIST CHURCH
TO OBSERVE CENTENNIAL
The Burnt Swamp Baptist Church
will observe its Centennial Sunday, J
August 19, 1979 at 10:00 a.m. Guest b
speakers will be past pastors of the p
church. C
S
Burnt Swamp was organized with s
only 12 men and women in the Union (
Chapel Community, moving to its
present location in 1904.
t
A covered dish luncheon will be served
at 12:30. A special afternoon singing
beginning at 2:30 p.m. Everyone is
cordially invited to attend.
LOCKLEAR REUNION PLANNED ?
J
The family of the late Charlie and r
Rosa Lee Lockiear are planning a family *
reunion Sept. 23, 1979 at Sandy Grove S
Holiness Church near Maxton. All r
relatives are asked to attend. For f
more information, call Cathleen Revels 3
at 521-9486 in Pembroke or Alfair r
Bullard of Maxton at 844-5750. c
FALL SOFTBALL LEAGUE \
The Fall Softball Organizational J
Meeting for -Women ?ad Men is j
scheduled for Thursday. August 23, *
1979 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held |
at the Conference Room in the s
Lumberton Recreation Department.
Managers are urged to attend.
COUNTY SOFTBALL TOURNEY
SCHEDULED
The Robeson County Recreation
Department's County Softball Tourna
ment will be held the week of August
27, 1979. The location of play will
be determined by the inutnber of teams
that enter. Entry fee will be $25 per
team and must be paid no later than
Tuesday, August 21, which is the
deadline for signing up.
This tournament is designed for these
teams that played in the 1979 Summer
Softball Leagues of the Robeson County
Recreation Department or the City of
Lumberton Recreation Department.
No player will be allowed to partici
pate with two teams in this tournament.
For those players who played on more
than one team in regular season, they
must designate which team they are
going to play with.
The rules of the tournament will be
the same as your regular season rules.
Plans
Plate
Sale
The Pembroke Rescue Squad will
sponsor a chicken and barbecue plate
' sale on Friday, August 24 at the new
Pembroke Rescue Building located on
Union Chapel Road . The sale will
begin at 11 a.m. and last until...
Proceeds from the sale will be used for
construction of the new building.
SHANNON JAYCEES TO BOLD
INSTALLATION BANQUET
The newly chartered Shannon
aycees will be holding their installation
anquet Saturday, August 18 at 7:30
i.m. at the Shannon Community
Center. The event is sponsored by the
addletree J aycees. The price is 13.00
ingle. Shannon Jaycees President is
)dell Lowery.
Couples will pay $5.00 for the
>anquet.
REGISTRATION FOB PEMBROKE
SCHOOL DISTRICT
All students, except those students
'ho will be registering at Pembroke
unior High School, who have not
egistered for the 1979-80 school year
rho are now living in the Pembroke
ichool District, should come oat and
egister for the 1979-80 school year on
ttday, August 10 between 9 a.as. and
i:30 p.m. Students in grades k-7 will
egister at Pembroke Elementary Scho
d. Students in grades 10-12 will register
it Pembroke Senior High. Then on
iugust 13-14 between 9 a.m. and 3:30
i.m., students in grades 8-9 will
egister at Pembroke Junior High
khool. This rcfeistratioo applies only u>
tew students who have moved Into the
'embroke school district during the
ummer.
WILKINS
ENTERS
HOSPITAL
John Emmy Wttfaa
In last week'* issue of The
Carolina Indian Voice the
newspaper carried a story
recounted by John Henry
Wilkins, a disabled man from
the Union Chapel Community
who claims he was mistreated
by a highway patrolman, M.
Humphrey, when he stopped
. him initially for an errant
signal light that would not quit
blinking.
r .. . ^ g
Miss Millie
Fashions
Celebrates
1st
Birthday