published each thursday *
\^:\tam (CARtocxaviA. UNGDIAM OOXCJE
ft jaP?*r* ?
"Building Communicative Bridges ||
11 Pembroke, n.c. In A tri-Bacial getting" robeson county
VOLUME 17 NUMBER 1 25$ THURSDAY, JANUARY 5. 1989
DEXTER BROOKS BECOMES
FIRST INDIAN SUPERIOR
COURT JUDGE IN N-C.
by Barbara Brave boy-LocUear
Special to THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
Dexter Brooks has never been one to misdirect his
energies. Even as a youngster when he visited in the
lome of his maternal grandmother, he failed to be idle.
'*1 was proned to wander around her house and find
hings which struck my fancy," he remembers. The
ver-curious grandchild fancied books. The young
urn bee Indian would usually choose a book from his
rrandmother's personal library. Thus was the beginning
of a passion which has lasted four decades.
His inquisitive mind, as it applied to reading and
i studying, has paid high yields for Brooks. For on
Tuesday, Jan. 3, he became the first Lumbee Indian to be
seated as a Superior Court Judge in North Carolina. The
courtroom in Robeson County was packed with family,
friends and supporters as the Honorable Henry
McKinnon, Jr. administered the oath to the quiet
unassuming 45-year-old Robeson County native.
Brooks was the sixth of seven children bom to John
Brooks, a public school teacher, Baptist deacon and
part-time farmer, and Lela Hammond Brooks, a
homemaker and substitute public school teacher who
lived in the Union Chapel community. A month after
Brooks' birth, the family left the farm which had been
bought by a relative who served in the Continental Army.
They settled in the town of Pembroke where, along with
his siblings, Brooks attended schools at Pembroke Graded
and Pembroke High.
Brooks says until 1961, after he graduated from
Pembroke High School, he knew little about what lay
beyond Robeson County. He left for Mars Hill College
where a sister and cousin had, too, attended. His
discipline paid off when he did "very well" during
freshman year of studies. The good graces gave him the
confidence to transfer to North Carolina State University
he says. There he dove into mastering the curriculum
which netted him a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1965.
After graduation, he signed on as an engineer with
Westinghouse Electric Corporation and worked one year
before his sights again turned toward returning to college
to pursue a masters in mathematics.
But it was the middle of the 60's, and the conflict in
Vietnam. He took a three-months teaching assignment at
Pembroke High School and volunteered for the military
draft In 1966, he put on his U.S. Army uniform. The next
year he reported to Vietnam as a member of the 1st
Cavalry Division.
While in the jungle, he dreamed of the classroom.
Realizing his tour would soon end, he wrote to a former
professor at NCSU and told him of his wishes to attend
graduate school there. His earlier scholastic record
showed a 4.0 average in mathematics. The school waived
his graduate entrance exam. "I couldn't very well take it
in the middle of a jungle where I was located," Brooks
explains.
Brooks received a graduate teaching assistantship and
taught freshman courses in algebra, trigonometry,
analytical geometry and calculus while earning a masters
in mathematics. His performance earned him a
recommendation to the school's doctoral program. He
entered the program and chose not to complete it For two
events affected his decision: Student demonstrations
which took place when President Nixon invaded
Cambodia; and the American Indian Movement which
took over Alcatraz Island.
"I became interested in the problems of people
American Indian people in particular and started reading
everything I could get my hands on about the subject of
Indiana, their history and cultural identity," he says. He
says during this time he decided his studies in
mathematics wouldn't have any affect on Indian people in
Robeson County. "I had a complete change of heart about
my graduate studies." He returned to his native county so
he could get a fix on something he could do more
constructive as it pertained to Indian people.
He took a teaching position at Southeastern Community
College so as to support himself financially and to be
closer to the scene where issues affecting Indian people
were developing. Brooks quickly became involved in the
area where he grew up. He says betore the movement to
save Old Main, he had no interest in politics. "Once I got
tnvolved with others in fighting to save the historical
>uilding on Pembroke State University campus, I saw that
>ne had to learn something about the political process in
>rder to accomplish the goal of saving the landmark."
He became heavily involved in the movement His
primary rqle was that of writer and strategist "That's
when I first developed a skill for writing because so much
of what the supporters were doing was to sell an idea to
the public in general." Ultimately the building was saved
and restored.
Brooks says after this, he saw the aid the law had been
is saving Old Main, and after much thought he decided to
go into Law. He entered the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law in 1973, where he
perpetuated a friendship with law professor Barry Nakell
whom he had met while doing research in the school law
library and during earlier visits to the Institute of
Government. He began the study of law, all the while
keeping an eye on, and hand in, issues in Robeson jj
County. 0 }.
Along this time focus was shifted to the county school
system where the board of education was elected by
voters who lived in all six of the then local school systems
which were operating to the disadvantage of all the people
whom lived within the county system itself, h was a ?
practice called "Double Voting" since residents in
the city units could vote for two boards; whereas
residents of the county system could only vote for one.
The practice was challenged in Federal Court Brooks
became actively involved in research related to the
Double Voting situation. He spent his first summer after
entering law school in Washington. D.C. where he
worked in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Dept. of ;
Justice. His assignment tfeok him to the Indian Rights ,
OhV.-e. Once situated, he concentrated on voting rights in a
Robeson County. He chose the Federal Voting Rights Act
of 1965 as his guide. His unyielding work, along with
others, led to the eventual breaking of Double Voting in
Robeson County in 1975.
Hie summer of '75 took him to Pine Ridge Indian
Reservation where he had friends. A "wanderlust" took
him to New Mexico the same summer and he spent weeks
seeing the southwest as opposed to doing any formal
work. "That became the last free summer of my life," he
laughs. His final year in the study of law saw him coming
to Robeson County during week-ends. He says the visits
home allowed him to stay abreast of issues affecting
citizens in the county. They also allowed him the
opportunity to closet himself in his mobile home where he
could read without end.
Brooks joined Pembroke Attorney Arnold Locklear in
the practice of law in 1976. There he concentrated on
anything but criminal law. He says he left that to his
partner. The junior partner leaned towards real estate
law. Later on he shifted to civil litigation, and
most-recently to personal injury cases.
Brooks says his trial experience has made him
comfortable in courtroom situations. "I have a fairly
analytical mind. I studied math and science for a number
of years and feel like Tm an objective person," he says.
" I try to divorce emotion from my mental process so I can
make a decision based on reason as opposed to emotion."
He says when he came back to Robeson County to
practice law, he found that a great number of people had a
deep-seeded mistrust of the system of justice- also of the
profession of law as well. " If I could accomplish anything
as a judge, it would be that people could feel comfortable
in my courtroom. I would hope that people would preceive
me as being fair, and I want it to be based upon my record
as a judge."
Rmnks admits that the one thin? he learned in seetrinor
the judgeship is that it made him more open to people. "I
keep my innermost thoughts to myself. I've been
overwhelmed by the support I've received from this
position." He says his appointment to the bench has
brought a greater appreciation of people friends in
particular. "It's made me more congenial than in years
past"
In 1981, after the death of a beloved brother. Brooks
went through a religious conversion. Since then he
has been an active member of Harper's Ferry Baptist
Church where he has taught Sunday School four years. As
a gesture of their pride and affection for him, his class
purchased a judicial robe for their teacher who has
resigned his teaching duties because his judicial duties
will take him away from the classroom.
As to the image the judge wishes to project to his
constituency: "I want people to look upon me as one who
is competent in the law and one who will administer the
law fairly regardless of the race, economic or social status
of people in the courtroom. I will always make people in
general feel comfortable; yet be firm when the occasion
demands it, but also be compassionate when circum
stances warrant it"
And what does cupid hold in the future for the bachelor
judge? "Ute nice thing about judges is they don't have to
work nearly as hard as attorneys, since attorneys are
supposed to do most of the research for them.TII be more
visible in the community than in years past And T m not
isgainst the institution of marriage," he laughs.
A/EXV BUSINESS IN KUNN1
Hie Pembroke Business Commun
ity acknowledges the establishment
of the Pembroke Farm, Home and
Garden Supply, Inc. (formerly Sou
them States) located on Third Street
here in Pembroke. According to Roy
L Cummings. Owner and Manager,
the business establishment will be
operated as a dealer agent and will
' continue to carry the Southern States
name brand products. Mr. Cum
mings and his employees look
forward to providing quality farm
and garden products for all its valued
customers. The general public is
cordially invited to visit this business
and should feel free to contact them
at 521 2801 or 821 2802 for all your o?
farm and garden needs.
THE HONORABLE JUDGE DEXTER BROOKS "
ZjOCAH.
FAMILIES
NEEDED FOR
EXCHANGE
STDDENTS
ASSE International Student Ex
change Programs (ASSE) is seeking
local families to host boys and girls
from Scandinavia, France, Italy,
Spain, Germany, Holland, Great
Britain, Switzerland, Japan, Canada,
Austrailia and New Zealand, 15 to 18
years of age, coming to this arei for
the upcoming high school year.
These personable and academically
select exchange students are bright,
curious, and anxious to learr about
this country through living as part of
a family, attending high scliool and
sharing their own culture and
language with their newl> adopted
host family.
The students are fluent in English
and are sponsored by ASSE, a
non-profit public benefit organiza
tion, affiliated with the Swedish and
Finnish Departments of Education.
ASSE also cooperates with the
Canadian Provincial Ministries of
Education and is approved by the
Australian and New Zealand Depart
ments of Education.
The exchange students arrive from
their home country shortly before
school begins and return at the end
of the school year. Each ASSE
student is fully insured, brings his or
her own personal spending money
and expects to bear his or her share
of household responsibilities, as well
as being included in normal family
activities and lifestyle.
The students are well screened
and qualified by ASSE. Families may
select the youngster of their choice
from extensive student applications,
family photos, and biographical
essays. Students and families are
encouraged to begin corresponding
prior to the student's arrival.
ASSE is also seeking local high
school students to become ASSE
exchange students abroad. Students
should be between 15 to 18 years old
and interested in living with a host
family, attending school, and learn
ing about the lands and people of
Scandinavia, France, Spain, Ger
many. Holland, Britain, Switzerland,
Canada, Australia or New Zealand.
Students should have a good acade
mic record and desire to experience
another culture and language
through living with a warm and
giving volunteer family. Academic
year and shorter term summer
vacation programs are available.
Persons interested in obtaining
information about becoming a host
family or becoming a student abroad
should contact ASSET s local repre
sentative: Karen Alsup, 1372 W.
Nancy Creek Dr., Atlanta, GA or call
toll free to (800)333-3802.
JENKINS URGES
FARMERS TO VOTE
W.B. Jenkins, president of the
North Carolina Farm Bureau Federa
tion, has strongly urged eligible
flue-cured tobacco farmers to cast a
favorable vote in the upcoming
referendum that will determine if
quotas and price supports will
remain iq effect for 1989, 1990, and
1991.
The referendum is being conduc
ted by mail ballot January 9-12.
Jenkins said continuation of mar
keting quotas will insure a price
support program that provides "sta
bility and predictability" of farm
income from tobacco. "It will help
maintain stable prices throughout
the marketing season, as well as
provide stability for farm credit
institutions so that farmers can get
the credit they need.
"Farmers also need to consider
that without a tobacco program,
there would probably be a drastic
drop in land values." Jenkins added.
The Farm Bureau president indica
ted that an affirmative vote will help
strengthen the competitive position
of U.S. tobacco in foreign markets by
encouraging the production of qual
ity tobacco.
Because of president anti tobacco
sentiment. Jenkins said it is "urgent
that flue cured growers demonstrate
their interest and unity by overwhel
mingly endorsing their program."
Ballots must he postmarked or
returned to the county A SI'S office
no later than Thursday. January 12.
ROBESON'S FIRST
PUBLIC DEFENDER:
ANGUS B . THOMPSON I I
ANGUS B. THOMPSON, II
Dexter Brooks, newly appointed
Superior Court Judge, announced
today that Angus B. Thompson, II
will be the Public Defender for this
judicial district This appointment is
Brooks' first official act as judge. In
making his announcement. Brooks
released the following statement:
"After long and thoughtful con
sideration, I have decided to appoint
Angus B. Thompson, II, as Public
Defender for Judicial District 16B.
This decision was made after receiv
ing input from various groups and
individuals throughout Robeson
County. The vast majority of the
people with whom I consulted,
especially Indians, felt that the new
public defender should be Black.
This respects an earlier agreement
that the new superior court judge
would be Indian and the new district
attorney would be white. A substan
tial majority of such people felt that
since the new District Attorney is
from that office the new public
defender should not also come from
that office. The concern was ex
pressed that the two offices be
independent and adverse to each
other.
"Mr. Thompson is a black attorney
engaged in the private practice of law
in Lumberton. Be-errjoys the support
of the local bar and the endorsement
of several prominent fellow attor
neys. lie is firmly committed to the
principle of equal justice under law
for all persons, regardless of race or
economic status. In this regard he
has committed to employ a compe
tent staff so as to assure effective
representation for indigent persons
charged with crimes. With the
elevation of Mr. Joe Freeman Britt to
the superior court bench, the staff of
the public defender should be fairly
equal in trial ability to that of the
district attorney.
"Mr. Thompson also enjoys the
support of a clear majority of the
people who supported the creation of
Hhe public defender office. This
support is critical if the office is to
accumpUaVi Its primary objective. A11
of us must work together to reduce
discord and to promote harmony in
our county. Mr. Thompson has
informed me that it is his intention to
meet concerning the operation of the
office on a regular basis with
representatives of the Robeson
County Black Caucus, North Carolina
Commission on Indian Affairs,
Friend in Court Center for Commu
nity Action and the Robeson County
Bar Association.
"Finally, Mr. Thompson has a
proven track record in community
involvement As an attorney with the
NAACP he has litigated throughout
the state to protect the voting rights
of racial minorities. This demon
?strated committment to the principle
of equal justice under law makes him
a good choice for the new post of
public defender. I hope that all
Robesonians will support him in this
most important position. The eyes of
the state are upon all of us."
PEMBROKE K I W AMIS
BY KEN JOHNSON
Program Chairman Garth Locklear
presented Mrs. Deborah L Huggins
Coordinator of Project FACE, a very
outstanding program of crime pre
vention put on by Robeson Commu
nity College together with the local
justice System. Mr. Tony Brewington
and a former sheriff s deputy devel
oped the program after they noticed
a definite lack of education for the
adults in criminal environments.
(FACE means "For Adults in
Criminal Environments.")
The cost-free education has 62
people enrolled taking courses in
vocations including typing, computer
literacy, woodworking, mechanics, 1
basic education leading to a high
school diploma. The program is a
pilot project specially funded put opn
by the three county institutions: the
judicial system, the law enforcement
and the Robeson Community Coll
ege. FACE is important as the county
unemployment level is 3 percent
higher than the stale level and over
3,000 cases brought before Robeson
County courts each year. FACE will
enrich current parolees, persons out
on bail with trial pending and those
in need of basic skills training.
Superior Court Judge Robert H.
Hobgood said if the program works
in Robeson County it should be
expanded statewide. So sentencing
criminals to school is a real alternate
to incarceration as prison in many
cases is not the answer.
Program Chairman Frank Daugh
try has worked out the individual
listings for the year's programs.
Mitchel Lowry presided. Ed Teets
led the invocation. Ray Lowry led the
singing. Garth Locklear, the pro
gram, and Ken Johnson did the
reporting.
/C?axr_im By
Anesthesiology Bo&kjrcl
ZaheerS. Karim, M.D.. has been
named a Diplomat? of the American
Hoard of Anesthesiology. Dr. Karim
earned his board certification in
anesthesiology by meeting all re
quiremenu of the national Ixiard
including written and onsl examina
lions.
Dr. Karim received his undergra
duate demwe in electrical engineer
ing at Swarthmoie College and hia
medical degree from Cornell Univer
sity. He joined the medical staff at
Southeastern General Hospital in
1983 after completing his residency
in anesthesiology at the New York
Hospital Cornell Medical Center.
Or. K art in and his wife. Anne, are
parents of one eon, Matthew.
SAY YOU READ IX IN
T ME CAROLINA
4
INDIAN VOI CE