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1^ 1 r*jA "Building Communicative Bridges ?
I \SSSS^ PEMBROKE, NC In A Cri-Racial Jetting" | ROBESON COUNT I '
VOUJNK 16 NUMBER 9 25$ THURSDAY. MARCH S, 1988
NATIVE AMERICAN EXAMINES SPORTS
HERITAGE OF INDIANS IN NEW BOOK
JOE OXENDINE TO BE AT PSU FOR BOOK SIGNING
A Temple University professor who grew up in a segregated
Indian community in North Carolina has written a book about
Native American sports heroes because the youngsters he met
at a South Dakota reservation "had no dreams."
After the 1973 siege at Wounded Knee, the Federal
Government asked Dr. Joseph B. Oxendine and several other
prominent Native Americans to help reduce tensions by
holding a workshop on recreation and sports at Pine Ridge
Reservation.
"The young people there had no aspirations to do anything,"
recalls Dr. Oxendine, a Lumbee Indian who spent his youth in
Robeson County, N.C. where two Tuscarora Indians recently
seized a newpaper to protest racial injustice.
"The youngsters on the reservation had just given up. It was
a hopeless, depressing situation. Even those with real athletic
talent had no dreams of going on. I saw good runners, good
basketball players who could have succeeded at the college
level, but they had no ambitions.
"And those who did go on to college or into advanced
amateur or professional sports most often 'dropped out' to
return to the reservation," he says.
Fifteen years after his visit to Pine Ridge, and after
administrative duty as a department chairman and then Dean
of Temple's College of Health, Physical Education, Recreation
and Dance, Dr. Oxendine has published American Indian
Sports Heritage \Hvman Kinetics],
It's a book about a rich tradition -such "greats" as the
legendary Jim Thorpe, Olympic champion runner Billy Mills,
baseball player Allie Reynolds, and other Native Americans
whn have excelled in athletics.
"Afterthe Pine Ridge workshop. I was convinced that Indian
sports heroes, past and present, could serve as role models
that might help promote pride, ambition, and hope among
young Native American.
"Developinga greater awareness of the strong Indian sports
tradition might also contribute to a sense of community
pride," he says.
But at least half of the book otters an nistoncai perspective ot
sports among American Indians, including the strong
connection between athletics and other social, spiritual, and
economic aspects of daily Indian life.
"In traditional American Indian life, sports were steeped in
tradition, in ritual, in ceremony," Dr. Oxendine says. "A
major sporting event in lacrosse or foot racing captivated the
total community to a greater extent than the Super Bowl or
Atorld Series does today."
As the Temple professor explains, he began writing his new
book to "try to do something about the morale of young Native
Americans. But I soon bee; me equally fascinated by the
importance of sports as a rt itural force in the traditional
Indian community."
In his book. Dr. Oxendine cites one tradition in Indian life
that's in marked contrast to the way most Americana view
athletics.
"In traditional Indian sports, no single individual was given
full authority or responsibility for provtyiag leadership and
direction of die team," he points out "in the non-Indian
community, one individual usually serves as the brains and
the voice of the whole teem.
"All members on an Indian team assumed personal
responsibility for the welfare of the team, which was
consistent with traditional Indian forms of government that
involved the ideas and deliberations of all members of the
community, j
"Such sharing of authority and leadership seems incon
ceivable, for example, on a modem football team-players who
toy to share ideas with the quarterbech are often viewed aa
troublesome to the team's progress...The tendency of Indiana
to seeaat excessive displays of authority by coaches,
managers, or team captains has continued to the present
day."
Dr. Oxendine says that many Indians who played for Coach
Glenn "Pop" Warner at the Carlisle (Pa.) Indian School from
1899 to 1914 resented and criticized the great man's
authoritarian rule.
And John McGraw, the tough and demanding manager of the
New York Giants during the first two decades of this century,
"was clearly ineffective with Jim H?orpe."
In addition to publishing his book. Dr. Oxendine has paid
close attention to the recent events near his hometown of
Pembroke in Fkjbeson County, NC, where two Indians held
employees at a newspaper hostage for 10 hours before
surrendering to the FBL
"Taking innocent hostages is unacceptable under any
circumstances," says the Temple professor, who never saw a
white student or a black student in his segregated classrooms
when he was growing up.
"But I can understand what drove them to such an act. Their
lack of confidence in local authorities and general frustration
with the legal system had deteriorated to the point of
desperation."
JACKSON MEETS WITH
CITIZENS
Democratic hopeful Jesse Jackson-in a campaign trip to
racially-torn Robeson County on Monday brought a message
to about 75 people who met in Pembroke to discuss racial
injustices affecting the county's minorities.
"It's no good to keep recyclying yesterday's pain." Jackson
said. "You must hreak the cycle and go on to a higher
relationship in Robeson County. Blacks, whites hftd Indians
must live together. You must find a common ground."
To the tri-racial audience gathered at The Gathering Place,
a town meeting center on Main Street, Jackson previewed
themes of economic justice, curtailment of drugs coming into
the county, salvaging American jobs and comparable worth
and stablization of the American family.
Jackson's stop in Pembroke was at the request of several
organizations concerned with longtime racial oppression
throughout Robeson County.
Representatives from Concerned Citizens for Better
Government, the Robeson County Justice Committee and
Families of Victims of unsolved murders in Robeson County
attended the 45-minute meeting. ?
John Godwin, an organizer of the Concerned Citizens
group, gave a history of events that led to their founding - the
unsolved murder of a Black St. Pauls woman on October 31.
1985, followed a year Idler by the killing of Jimmy Earl
Cummings, a Fairmont Indian by a deputy sheriff.
Jackson listened intently as Godwin told of the Jan. 12 death
of Bobby McKellar, a young Black asthmatic that Godwin said
died the Robeson County jail "begging for his medicine."
Jaekaon refused to give his opinion on whether he thought
Eddie Hatcher and Timothy Jacobs were justified in their Feb.
* 1 take-over of The Robetonian to bring attention to their
charge of corruption in the county's criminal justice system.
He said he did not wish to address tactics-just to the pain.
Jackson would not say whether he thought Hatcher and
Jacobs, who have twice been tvfusled release from jail on
bond, should be released.
"I don't want to make a judgment, because I don't have all
the facta," Jackson said.
. People should quickly move from confrontation to
negotiation to reduce tension." % %
Jackson talked with Hatcher and Jacobs by^gjlephone
before leaving for his second appearance at Pembroke Bute
University where he spoke to an audience of about 1,800 at
P8U"s Tkgfnrming Arts Center.
m ' ?
PROS AND CONS OF MERCER
DISCUSSED AT PSU
The pros and cons of Robeson County School merger were
addressed Monday night by Darrell Spencer, assistant state
supervisor of the Division of Public Planning for the NC
Department of Education and Gene Causby. executive director
of the NC School Board Association.
About 400 people at Pembroke State University's
Performing Arts Center listened as the two state officials
spoke on the issue of school merger.
"I have not found a situation in NC where merger would not
be beneficial to both students and people." Spencer said.
He showed-the audience tax increases and the ideal school
populations and six proposed high school locations. He
suggested high schools in St. Pauls. Iiimherton. Fairmont and
Parkton, and keeping South and West Robeson schools.
Causby rolled off a list of most-often-heard arguments for
and against merger. He said there is no conclusive evidenre
that there isjan ideal school population and that it is not
possible to predict a future tax rate to support a future school
system.
Both men said they believe a merger should be decided by
county voters. After years of debate, school merger will be
decided. March 8 when county residents have a chance to a
public vote.
The issue remains complex. In a state where many counties
are debating the best way to merge two school systems.
Robeson County is wrestling with five - the county unit and
city systems in Lumberton, St. Pauls, Fairmont and Red
Springs. Thus far, only the county unit and Fairmont city
system have endorsed merger.
About a dozen people carried pro-merger signs to the forum
sponsored by the Lumberton-Robeson Area Chamber of ?
Commerce and nobody carried anti merger signs.
The subject of merger has held the public's attention since
last year when the County Board of Commissioners voted to
call for the rferendum.
mere are groups tnat are very vocally opposed to merger,
said local businessman Eric Prevatte, a leader of the county's
merger supporters. "And there's many of us who are for it."
Purnell Swett, superintendent of the county school system
said, ."School merger in the county is a vehicle for economic
growth and the development of our human resources.
Those who cast their vole in support of school merger will
cast a vote for improving the quality of life for all
Robesonians."
He further stated. School merger should not be debated on
emotional, racism, or sectionalism. Rather, it should be a
decision made by the citizenry and the leadership to adopt a
plan of action which will minimize the kind of quality of!
education difference which exist within five separate school
districts and to maximize the efficiency of the public schools
and the utilization of available financial resource."
Metger proponents say race is still a reason the systems are
kept separate. Lumberton City Schools, where the merger is
generally opposed, has a student enrollment nearly 50 percent
white in a county where whites make up less than a quarter of
the student population.
The N.C. General Assembly last year passed a bill to merge
the county's school systems, subject to a referendum and
appointed a 15-member interim Board of Education for the
merged system.
If the referendum passes, the interim board will take office
April 1 and hire and interim superintendent for the new
system.
GOV. MARIN RECEIVES
SUPER BOWL PRINT
Governor Jam eg Martin, left receiver Gene Locldear'e print
from Dr. Bobby D. Brayboy in recent ceremoniet at the
governor's Raleigh office.
I i
\ ? "
During a recent ceremony in Raleigh, NC>^Dr. Bobby D.
Brayboy, a Lumbee Indian and Robeson County native,
presented a Gene Locklear print to Governor James Martin.
The print,- a copy of an original work commissioned by San
Diego Super Btowl XXII Task Force dipicts professional
football personalities and historical landmarks surrounding
San Diego.
Locklear, a Pembroke native whose ten years as a
professional baseball player brought him to the attention of
millions of American sports fans again achieved national
recognition as a professional artist last year when he ws
named exclusive artist to paint San Diego Super Bowl XXII
Host Logo.
Locklear, a Lumbee Indian, resides in San Diego with his
wife, Susan.
*
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FUND RAISER PLANNED
FOR JGLIAN PIERCE
A fi. draising event is planned b?r Julian T. Ilmf.
Candidate f?>r Superior Court Judge. Th< event will V held
March 7, 198* at 7 p.nt. at Sheff s Seafood Restaurant in
Pembroke. Tltere Mill be guest speakers and entertainment.
The price is $50 per person. A Seafood buffet Mill be served. ~"*j|
BUSINESS |
BRIEFS
Ki ? 1 jtcklear, Finaneial Aiil Officer at Randolph Community
College in Ashelioro, North Carolina has accepted the position
of Assistant Director Of Financial Aid-at North Carolina State
University in Raleigh effective March 7, 1988.
While at NCSU, Mr. Iocklcar will be responsible for the
packaging and administration of assistance to approximately
2500 students. He will also coadminister the College Work
Study Program of the campus, a campus of 24,000 students.
Mr. Ii>cklear w ill report to the Director of Financial Aid whose
office operates under the direction of the Vice Chancellor of
Student Affairs.
Mr. Locklear's previous experience in the field of Financial
Aid includes the administration of or assistance with the
administration of the Finatu ial Aid Offices at Guilford College
' )a private four-year liberal Arts Institution) and Randolph
Community College (a member of the North Carolina
Department of Community Colleges System).
I feel that this move to a major public four year institution
will greatly enrich my professional growth and will serve to
help me develop as an individual."
Eric is the son of Mrs. Peggy Jean Jacobs Iocklear. He is a
1982 graduate of Pembroke Senior High School. He is a 1986
graduate of Guilford College having a MS in Political Science
and a HA in English. While at Guilford, Eric was. a Dana
Scholar, a recipient of the Guilford College Office of Student
Services Excellence in Student leadership Awardt and Who's
Who Among Students of American Universities and Colleges.
While at NCSU, Eric will be pursuing his Master's degree ir ^
Educational Administration and Supervision.
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Oak Ridge High School sophomore Paula Wynn. Oak Ridge,
Tennessee, is polishing her voice for competition in the 1988
Miss Tennessee U.S. Teen pageant set for April -10, 1988 in
Nashville, Tennessee.
The 16 year old will he sponsored in the pageant hv The Oak
Ridger and Micros to (io. Oak Ridge. Tennessee.
"I wanted to see if if 1 could make it. And I did," said Wynn,
"I was really surprised." Miss Wynn is the daughter of
Thomas and Betty Wynn of 584 W. Outer Drive. Oak Ridge,
TN, formally fn>m Iaimberton, North Carolina.
She was selected after an application process that included a
list of hobbies, a statement of ambition and a picture.
Miss Wynn said she aspires to ho a contemporary vocal
performer, and is being coached for the pageant by Vanessa
Stilt, a lead singer at the Christian Outreach Center in Oak
Ridge. -
Miss Wynn said she peelers contemporary g"S|>el music, and
has been a featured singer at churches, banquets, and other
social events. She has chosen the hymn "We Shall Behold
Him,'.' because it will feat tin- her mezzo-soprano voice.
Ill's got a good range variety. It starts out slow and builds '
up," she said.
A self-trained vocalist. Miss Wynn said her only formal
training has been as a member of the choir at her junior high i
school for three years. ti
Currently. Miss Wynn is a member of Students Against )m
Drunk Driving, the Southeastern Consortium for Minority ml
Engineers, a member of Student Council, and she is the Mi
president of the youth organization. Reachout. at her church fl
An honor student, she has i.een active in school and ci*. Pfl
competitions. She was honored in 1986 by SEC ME f--r having
the highest scholastic-g ade point average, she also received a
trophy in 198t for maintaining it 8.8 grade point average. Miss
Wynn was the first place winner in the 1987 Fine Arts |
Festival, sponsored by the Assemblies of God.
Miss Wynn participated in a travel program to Italy in 1985.
and was also selected u> participate in an Outward Bound
course U> the Great Smokey Mountains, sponsored by the
Oulwtad Bound Organization and the Board of Education.
Miss Wynn plans to study music and engineering at Duke
University and says if she wins the pageant, the $5,000 cash
scholarship will go toward tuition.
BROKEN RAINBOW TO BE
PRESENTED IN DURHAM
The Native American Solidarity Group (formerly the NC
Leonard Peltier Committee) will be sponsoring a benefit
showing of the Academy Award winning film BROKEN
RAINBOWSunday, March 13, at 2:00 pm at the Carolina
Theater, Durham. This will be a Triangle Premiere.
Tickets will be S4.00. Children under 12 are free when
accompanied by an adult. ' -
The proceeds go to the Defense Fund for Eddie Hatcher aijd
Timothy Jacobs, Tuscarora Indians who are in prison for their
recent actions to draw attention to con Htions for Indiana and '
Blacks in Robeson County.
BROKEN RAINBOW'S full-length movie, deals with the
foroed relocatin of Navajo and Hopi Indians taking piece in
Anions.
The film speaks for all Native people who are struggling to j