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Published each Thursday in Pembroke, N.C. volume 13 numbek 27 thuasoav july 4, ivss ^ ^ 0
^ ; ; I I n i' mm- ,- ?- r - , , ^ L=
ACHIEVEMENTS BY INDIANS OVER
PREJUDICES OF PREVIOUS ERAS CITED
BY LONNIE REVELS
Lonnie Revels Is shown sur
roonded by li"Vm Yonth st
the Sixth Annual Indian loath
Unity Conference held at
Pembroke State University.
PEMBROKE-Lonnie Re
vels, now a Greensboro city
councilman and the owner of a
successful printing company
in (hat city, told an audience
of young Indians from^Jl over
North Carolina how fie was
denied a five-cent soft drink
aa a five-year-old Indian visit
ing a drugstore in Lumbertori.
"1 kept asking the waitress
for a drink, kept tapping my
nickel on the counter, but she
acted as though she didn't
hear me. So I finally left
without my drink," Revels
said Wednesday.
As the first speaker at the
sixth annual Indian Youth
Unity Conference at Pem
broke State University, Revels
said actions like these exem
plified words like segregation,
discrimination, prejudice, and
humiliation.
"Learn how to deal with
these words effectively," he
said. "I want to give you a
challenge: Be the best that
you can."
And he emphasized this
point: "There is no greater
need for unity among Indian
people. The American Indian
is at the bottom."
Revels, who is now serving
as chairman of" the N.C.
Commission on Indian Affairs
and recently was named "Tar
Heel of the Week" by the
Raleigh News and Observer,
related how by refusing to
give up he became the only
Indian on a major municipal
ity's city council in America.
"I kept running for office
until I won," he said. "Be
persistant in whatever you do.
Don't give up. The first time 1
ran for office, I lost by 27
votes. But my comments were
like Gen. Douglas MacAr
thur's when he left the
Philippines: 'I shall return.'"
Among his suggestions to
the Indian young people were:
(1) Like yourself, (2) believe in
yourself, (3) don't limit your
self, and (4) sell yourself.
He spoke of the scholarship
money available to Indian
youth, enabling those without
the financial means to
College.
"Be an optimist. Be posi
tive," Revels urged. "An
optimist looks at a bottle that
is half filled?and says, 'It's
half full.' A pessimist looks at
the same bottle-and remarks,
'It's half empty.' In this part
of the country, we were told
as Indian people that we were
just farmers. It used to be that
the only writeups we got in
the newspaper were when
someone was murdered. Any
accomplishments by our peo
ple were carried on the back
page next to the obituary. I
had been programmed to
think the only things we could
do were with our hands."
But Revels was convinced
that "God doesn't make any
junk."
In challenging the Indian
young people for the future,
Revels spoke of new innova
tions like the Indian Cultural
Center purchased by the state
for Indians at what used to be
Riverside Country Club three
miles west of Pembroke.
"Along with the original
property, the state purchased
100 acres of additional land to
help in developing this Cul
tural Center. But you know
what our biggest problem is
concerning this Cultural Cen
ter? The Indians here in
Robeson County are saying,
'It won't work."'
(Note: Some Pembroke peo
pie want the property used as
a state para.;
Revels added: "Our state is
spending millions of dollars in
celebrating its 400th anniver
sary. But next year it says we
are going to have the Year of
the Indian in our state. We
have the leadership of the
Mate supporting it. W e shoulfi <
be workYng tfcoffc toward
supporting that project here."
He told the Indian students
"you are our greatest re
source," warning them to
look after themselves health
wise and accident-wise. "The
lifespan of Indians is 10 years
less than other people. Our
young people get lulled in
automobiles. And there are
drugs. This country has one of
the highest fatality rates for
Indians."
In conclusion, Revels had
the Indian young people re
peat after him the words: "If
not me, who? If not now,
when? Look at me, I'm here. I
have pride. I have roots. I'm
somebody special."
The Indian young people
proudly echoed Revels' words
that mean they want to
achieve in all aspects of life
today which will affect their
lives, the lives of their child
ren, and the lives of their
people.
In welcoming the Indian
young people to the PSU
campus, Dr. James B. Chavis,
vice chancellor for student
affairs at PSU, noted that five
of the six Indian youth unity
conferences have been held at
Pembroke State University.
"Many of you have deep
roots here," commented Cha
vis. "It has been 98 years
since your.ftjrefathers got
together to start this achool
and this is what has evolved
out of their dreams and hard
work. We look forward to
bringing you bright young
men and women to Pem
broke."
-?* i
First Lumbee to
Graduate Under Tuition
. Wavier Grant
in Michigan
Charlie Chavis of Detroit,
Mich, became the first Lum
bee to graduate from Wayne
State University in May. 1985.
He graduated with a degree in
electronic engineering. He
was the first Lumbee to
graduate under the Michigan
Indian Tuition Waiver Grant
for Lumbees in Michigan
which came after a long court
battle. Chavis was co-plaintiff
in the original suit. Prior tothe
law suit, Lumbees were
not recognized as Indians by
the State of Michigan and
were denied tuition waivers
i .jgs'J- ?-f-frt-tnrV'- -
which were available to other
Indians. Following the
successful case. Lumbees are
now accorded their legal
rights as Indians in the State
of Michigan.
Chavis is also a graduate of
Pembroke Senior High School
and like many Lumbees from
Robeson County, hfe moved to
Michigan. He also attended
Wayne Community College.
He is the son of Ms. Jeanette
Chavis of Route 2, Pembroke
and the late Willie Stancell
Chavis is the grandson of'
Mrs. Leola Barton.
. <a?'5Wtitae6?85'i
. r ? >
Set -
Charlie Chavis
REUNION
PLANNED
O i en dine and Hut Heanlon
Miss Eula and Mary Hunt
of Pembroke, daughters of
deceased, Solomon (Sol) and
QuemJ&sier (Kge?) Hunt -
Oxenmne, of the Blade Ankle
Community of Fairmont, in
vite you to a reunion at Berea
Baptist Church in Pembroke,
Saturday, July 13 at 12 noon.
Everyone should bring a
covered dish. For directions to
the church call Mary Hunt at
521-4684 in Pembroke.
RANDOLPH UMBERGER'S
"STRIKE AT THE WIND!"
KICKS OFF ITS TENTH
SEASON SATURDAY NIGHT
Red Banks-Randolph Urn
berger's "Strike at the
Wind!" begins it's tenth
season Saturday night. The
outdoor drama is built around
the story of the Lumbee
Indians of Robeson County. It
is a saga called "the most
ironic story in American His
tory" by noted Lumbee his
torian, Lew Barton. It is a
story you must see and hear to
believe... to understand.More
than 50,000 strong today,
these proud, industrious, and
basically peaceful people have
survived the threat of extinc
tion from forced assimilation,
the historian's pen, govern
mental policies, and the evils
of segregation. They survived
to tell their story in this most
unforgettable experience for
men, women and children of
all ages.
''Strike at the Wind" is the
story of their joys, sorrows;
hopes and struggles during
the Civil War era, and how
<ar
they came to grips with their
neighbors and friends and
foes. The Civil War period
threatened the very fabric of
American society; and the
survival of the Lumbee people
is the story of every man, no
matter what his color and
creed and experiences.
"Strike at the Wind!"
opens Saturday. July 6, and
runs through September 7
every Thursday, Friday and
Saturday nights. The show
begins at 8:30 p.m. nightly at
the Lakeside Amphitheatre on
thegrounds of Riverside
Country Club in the Red
Banks community, three
miles west ofPembroke. Tick
ets are $5.50 for adults, $3.00
for children. $4.50 for senior
citizens, and $7.00 for reserv
ed seating. For ticket informa- ?
tion, call 521-2480 or 5213112.
"Strike at the Wind", the
bitter-sweet saga of Henry
Berry Lowrie and the Lumbee
Indians and their friends and
foes in Robeson County, is
performed by a cast of
approximately 65 actors and
actresses who express this
historical event in an amphi
theatre setting. It is an
humanitarian effort to epito
mize what is best in all men.
The virtues of love, faith,
hope and courage become
reality. It is freedom personi
fied, showing how people
then and now can rise to the
occasion and subdue negative
forces that try to destroy the
human spirit. It is an Ameri
can stoty of international and
cross cultural harmonv.
"Strike at the Wind!"
features music by Willie
Lowrie, and is directed by
David Oxendine. Carnell Lock
tear, the irrepressible "Bom
Strong" in the show, who also
doubles as general manager,
exclaims, "I challenge anyone
to come out and experience
the joy of 'Strike at the Wind!'
I know they will like it, and we
are looking forward to a great
season."
jjg^ Welcome Lumbees!
W Best wishes for
Lumbee Homecoming!
STRIDE at tbe^WlNCtf
Calendar Of Events H
Lumbee Homecoming 1985 1 v gp'
Sponsored By Connor 1
Friday, June 28, 1985: Pow
Wow - Riverside Country Club
Field at 6:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
(Admission $1.00)
Saturday, June 29, 1985: Pow
Wow - Riverside Country Club
Field at 1:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
(Admission $1.00)
Tuesday, July 2,1985: Kick-Off
Dance Presenting Miss Lumbcc
Contestants - Pembroke Jaycee
Clubhouse at 8:30 p.m. (Admission
$3:00)
Wednesday, July 3, 1985:
Business A Award Banquet ?
Pembroke Jaycee Clubhouse at
7:30 p.m. (Admission $6.30)
Thursday, July 4, 1985: Little
Miss Lumbee - Performing Arts
Center, Pembroke State University
at 7:30 p.m. (Admission $4.00)
Friday, July 5, 1985: Miss
Lumbee Scholarship Pageant -
Performing Arts Center,
Pembroke State University at 8:00
p.m. (Admission $3.00)
Friday, July 5, 19fji
Ball - Old Foundry fmw. ?'avVUI
at 11:00 p.m. (Admilaion J12.00
per couple. Breakfast Included)
Saturday, July I, 1915:
Activities in the Park - Pembroke
Town Park at 7:30 a.m. until 5:00
p.m. 6 Mile Race, 3 Mile Fun
Walk, Booths in the Park A
Traders, also Country Cooking,
(LIVE) Z101 FM Entertainment,
Weight Lifting, Arts A Crafts
Saturday, July i, 19BS: Lumbee
Homecoming Parade - Downtown
Pembroke at 10:00 a.m.
Saturday; July I, 1915:
Reception and Art Display - Old
Main, Pembroke State University
at 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 6, 19BS: "Strike
At The Wind" - Riverside Country
Club at 8:00 p.m. (Admission S2.00
for Children 12 years and under -
Adults S5.00 - Senior Citizens
$4.00 - Reserved Seats $6.00)
Sunday, July 7, 1915: Gospel
Singing - Performing Arts Center,
Pembroke State University at 2:30
p.m. (Admission Free)
V
POW WOW SCENE
. ? bbl j gmmwm
Derek Lowry, who wll also
play "the Leader" la this
year'e production of "Strike
at the Wlad!" was one sf the
featured dancers hi The Lam
hoe Homecoming Pow Wow
which was hold loot Friday
and Saturday al#it. More
eveata are scheduled this
week, tochidiag the "LHtie
wswsusSJ*. '
MIm Lam bee Pageant" [Jnh
4] tonight, "Mfss Lumbee
Pageant" Friday night and
mora. See the calendar of
evehts elsewhere on this
page. We wfll have a futi
report noit week In The
Carotins Indian Voice. Look
for It!
SSfl&l'
i