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MH ro | ubroke, N.C. "Building Communicative Bridges in a Tri-Racial Setting " Robeson County I
? E 18 NUMBER 17 THURSDAY, APRIL 26. 1990 25? PER COPY
F Gospel Music Festival
to be held April 28
By Gene Warren
, In an event which is being promoted as a first for
FVm broke State University and a "cultural event," a
Gospel Music Festival, sponsored by PSU, will be held
Saturday, April 28. at 7 p.m. at PSUs Performing Arts
Center.
Five different groups will be performing with all
varieties of gospel music.
These include:
?Willie Lowery of Shannon and Lori Lockiear Cole of
Rowland.
?Sheila 1 jo wry of Pembroke.
?The Mcares of Lumberton.
?The Paynes of Ohio.
?The PSU Gospel Choir.
Admission is $5 for everyone. The Performing Arts
Center is in charge of ticket sales. Its phone number is
521-0778. Checks made out to "PAC" or credit card
orders will be accepted.
Tickets are available at the following PAC ticket
outlets: Dee s Hallmark Shop in Lumberton, McNeill
Jewelry in Lumberton and Red Springs. Quick Copy in
Lnurinburg, and The Dancer at Cross Pointe in
Fhyetteville. Tickets are also being sold by the Rurnt
Swamp Baptist Association is Pembroke, and Christian
Book Store. Comic Book Shop, Merrimac Music Co., and
the Robeson Baptist Association in lumberton.
Th? idea of having the gospel festival was that of PSU
Chancellor Joseph B. Oxendlne, who appointed a
10-member committee of PSU and community representa
tives to plan the event
"I want us to have a good, lively enjoyable gospel
sing," said Oxendine. "I would like for us to fill the
house, make a joyful noise, do it successfully and do it
every year."
Oxendine said PSU wants to sponsor it'' because gospel
singing is part of the culture of this region. It is traditional
and a good art form."
However, he cautioned that it cannot be an "old
fashlonerMtvival" because PSU is a state-supported
institution.." It cannot be a church service with preaching,
testimonies and altar calls," he said. "Rather this is a
program of music."
? The gospel {estiva* committee chaired by Harold D.
Jacobs of Pembroke, believes it has an outstanding
program for the event.
Willie Lowery and Lori Locklear Cole arerpart of a group
called "The Beacon Lights," who will be performing.
Lowery. whose musical achievements include writing the
musical score for the outdoor drama, "Strike at the
Wind," has written and published 300 songs. His musical
career has taken him around the country. He has been the
recipient of the Hinda Honigman Cup for musical
corn position, presented by the N.C. Federation of Music
dubs. He has also been part of a group called
"Lumbee," whose recording. "Street^ of Gold," was
chosen No. 1 in pop musk in North Carolina and the " Pick
Hit of the Week" by ABC Magazine.
Lori Locklear Cole has traveled up and down the East
Coast as a singer and has also sung with the Tyler Family,
a gospel group from Shannon. Other members of "The
Beacon lights" are Kenny Cole, husband of Lori; Clyde
Jones, Gwen locklear and Gwendolyn Dimcry, all from
Robeson County.
Shelia Lowry has sung on television, at churches in the
surrounding area, for clubs and for the "Miss Lumbee"
pageant. A senior Music Education major at PSU, she is
also choir director at First United Methodist Church of
Pembroke. A mezzo soprano, she sings contemporary
Christian musk with one of her favorites being, "In the
Name of the Lord," sung by Sandi Palli, one of the great
vokes in gospel music today.
The Meares have performed in all sections of the
eastern United Stales and have a weekly radio program at
4 p.m. om WSTS Christian radio station in Laurinburg.
Managed by Thomas Meares. they include his wife, the
former Cathy Brill, plus Wayne Britt (Cathy's cousinl,
and Charlie Nobles. Among the places they have
performed are the Baptist World Mission Rally in South
Carolina and the Methodist Camp Meeting in Delaware.
They have a number of recordings among their
achievements.
The Paynes, made up 01 live lamtiy mcmoers imm
Ohio, have had their talents displayed on both video and
through albums. They have been described as one of the
most creative forces in southern gospel music, having
recorded their first album in 1981 and many since then.
The group includes the founders. Mike Payne and his
wife, Lnrecn, plus Payne's brothers. Mark and Keith,
along with a cousin. Bill Sieemorc. Joining the group in
1988 was Reggie Grimmett Mike I'ayne is considered one
of gospel music's finest writers. He co-wrote with Ronny
Hinson "When He was on the Cross (I was on His j
Mind)," which was named "Song of the Year" at The
Singing News Fan Awards in both 1985 and 1986.
Completing the list of entertainers for the gospel music
festival will be the Pembroke State University Gospel
Choir, a group ai 14 first organized in 1981. This choir has
performed in Robeson and adjoining counties and also in
SouthXIanuk&n. President of the choir is Jennifer McLean
ftf CO BOTH. Director in Demetrius Strickland at
Rowland, and pianist is Robert Williams of Salembuig.
Other members include: Durwood Bynum, Salisbury;
Rossiyn Edwards, Winston-Salem; Donna High. White
Plains, N.Y.; Nicola Kearney, San ford; Sabrina Maloy,
Laurinburg; Monica Komigay. Goldsboro; Ellen McLau
ghlin, Southern Pinea; Keisha Parks, Hubbardston,
Mass.; Tbny Spaulding, Laurinburg; Audrey Taylor,
Nassau, Bahamas; and Ravondalyn Thompson, Albany,
N.Y. Glenn Miller of Lumberton, a professional director,
wfll also be assisting the choir on April 28.
Chancellor Oxen dine says the gospel music festival will
be "good for Protestants, Catholics, Jews and persona
unrelated to any organised religion."
A
Principal BiU Jmmat Brvwingto*
pntenSo Amy Loctioar, overall wte
net m the Math /*?>, a trophy. Not
?
pietmnd u Aaron Oodu**, overall
itMwr (R the Science Mr.
Students honored for Science & Math
Recently Pembroke Junior High
held iti annual Mathematics, Science
and SodaJ Studies Fair, Stadent
projects were set up in the library
with the foliowtag winners being
announced:
In the mathematics fair the first
place and overall winner was Amy
Loddear. The second place winner
was Jeremy Jones and the third place
winner was Wendell Loddear.
In the Science Fair there were
three categories. In the ftiysfcal
Science area Antonio Wflkins was the
first place winner. Kevin Lowry was
the second place winner and Marcus
Bullard waa the third place winner.
In the Earth Science category
Shannon Chavie waa the flrat place
winner. Kim Oxendine waa the
aecond place winner and Aliaea Hunt ' J
waa the third place winner. In the
Biological Science category, Aaron
Godwin won tint place. Ted Brooks
won aecood place and Micah Oxen
dine won third place. The overall
winner for the Science Flair waa
Aaron Godwin.
In the Social Studies Fair there
were six categories. In the U.S.
World category Anita Jacobs won
first place. Kevin Brayboy won
second place and Adrianne Vaaquez
won third place. In the Local Sute
area Patrick Cummings won first
place. Danyelle Hag ana won second
place and Matthew Cummings won
third place. In the Economics area
Betty Jo Freeman won first place. In
the Sociology category Tracy Bullard
won second place. In the Political
Science area Crystal Pedor won first
place and Jody Cummings won
second place. In the area of
Geography Greg Bullard won second
Hie overall winner for the Social
Studies Fair waa Crystal Pedor.
; C^tui uMMM* mm
In Memory of Julian Pierce:
Keep his dream alive May 8
by Connee Brayboy
T TX___ .... i . _ 11 J J ? li. nr.i i?_
vuuAii x. * reitc was uruuuij uumucivu ui iiis ttbkuiui
home Much 25, 1988. Hie Lumbee Indian attorney was a
candidate for a newly created (for minorities) Superioi
Court Judgeship. He was opposed for the position by Jor
Freeman Britt who had served as Robeson County1!
District Attorney for sixteen years. Pierce's
was a symbol of hope for progressive minded citizens wh
strived toward justice, fab and open government, equalit
inth?ptdMsNpstoni...asymbolof hope for a better wort
for our cfflHen. ,?fr.'?w.pr
Unfortunately. Julian Pierce did not live to see hii
dream fulfilled. He dreamed of a safe,,healthy
environment in which to live and raise a family. Even in
those troublesome times that have intensified since Ms
?death...Pierce's candidacy held out a beacon oi
"hope...hope for a county where the tri-raciaJ population
coum attend school together, work together in harmony
toward one common goal of unity and brotherhood...a
goal of equality and fairness in the workplace as well as
Judicial system...Judge Pierce would be a judge who
tempered justice with mercy...He would extend compas
sion...He would be fair aa well aa honest.
His tragic death for a while obviously destroyed any
pretense of harmony. His death became a statistic and
many people believe that his murder remains unsolved.
The seriouaneas of the problems faced by dtisens then
and now are still not being addressed to the extent that
all people feel free and unoppreeeed... There are public
servants who were in positions of power then, and still
are, who refuse to take any dramatic action to correct the
ills that pervade the county. The sheriff of this county, as
well as other elected or appointed officials, have
seemingly choeen to ignore the problems and have shown
little that indicates the urgency required to correct the
problems we all face. We all know that the problems
facing us won't go away. The problems remain. They
won't disappear. Many of our officials seem to react to
situations and have failed in any attempts to provide
positive leadership and guidance. Many in elected
positions have apparently expended their energies
seeking financial and political gain.' They have
manipulated people through the court system, their place
of employment, the school system and any other area they
could use to divide the people of the county and maintain
their own positions of power. The list of unsolved murders
here, rampant drug distribution, increase in violent
crimen, selective prosecution of certain individuals,
failure to arrest others or seek indictments when evidence
is available, allowing convicted drug dealers to walk free,
the generation of young people who seem to be addicted
to or involved in the drug distribution...these are all evili
that we have to face....These are a small part of the bitter
harvest the voters of Robeson County must face... Julian
Pierce struggled against division and suspicion. He made
tremendous strides toward easing generations of hatred,
distrust and division. If he had lived to see some of the
fruits of his labor, life would have changed dramatically
for the better for many oppressed people. His message
was one of sacrifice. His message was one of service. His
?ssssge was one of com passion. His message was one of
equality. His message was one of accountability. Because
this was his message, memben of all races supported
him. Because all races supported him, hope remains
alive...Truth can still be recognised.
ft has been said that evil flourishes when good men do
nothing. The problems we face are our problems. They
have been created by us and we have allowed them to
continue. We are ultimately responsible. Each of us must
accept responsibility for our destiny. Each of us must do
more to malte home a better and safer place to live. Ihe
spirit of Julian Pierce must not be forgotten. History will
record that he waa a great leader. History wfll recall him
as a man who fought for justice, equality and a better life
for all people. I believe that he looked into the future and
aaw the opportunity before us May 8th. He aaw a people
who waa determined to bring about changes that will
duatroy the forces of evil that have oppressed for
generations. His campaign slogan was one of change. We
must tear down the barriers that nurture bigotry, hate and
oppression so that all people can gain their rightful place
in a society that is big enough feu* all of us. He foresaw
Robesonians united in their efforts to correct the system
that has failed us alL
Julian Fierce'a spirit cries out to us. We hear him
saying: "You must not use the same weapons that were
used against me. You must use the ballot and elect public
? officials who will represent all of us." We hear his spirit
) calling for a record turnout of voters May 8th. It was his
i dream that someday we would all be judged on the
y content of our character and not by the color of our skin.
0 He driamed that we wduld use the ballot to overthrow the
y forces that oppress, the chains that bind us to an
d economic, social, edjicsfinest and pntfeal system that is
not working in (fee beet interest at all people.
9 On May 3, 1988 Joe FYeeman Britt was defeated for
r Superior Court Judge by the voters of Robeson County.
1 Julian Pierce won by 2600 votes. Julian was not here in
body to serve. & eras a shallow victory. Britt serves now
f by default. He lost the election and continues to serve,
i That is not right Sadly, the victor is dead...He cannot
serve although he would urge us to continue the straggle.
On May 8,1990 we have an opportunity to experience n
victory that is going to be tangible. We can unseat Hubert
Stone and others who do not support squatty la.
economics, education or politics and do not especially
support "justice for alL"
II each of us will remember the past and consciously
decide to keep the spirit of Julian Pierce alive, there will
be no more Hubert Stones...no mora Joe Freeman Britta
who seem to rale with iron hands... fhopie who
in oppression, deprivation of positions, job opportunities,
educational equality, fairness and honesty, bsadsrs who
epitomise evil exist because of our failure to do what we
know is right The problems we like to attribute to them
ultimately ewlved because we have failed to take our
responsibility seriously. We fail so many timaa to move
with confidence and authority. Wa are ail of
articulating the problems. We are all capable of quoting
the proper statistics. But we must do more. We must
begin that first positive stop May 8th. We must eaerdse
our right to vols. We must vote for change. Afterwards
we must demand accountability from our elected
We must vote for change. To do so la a positive statement
that we will no longer tolerate an environment that is
dangerous for an Indian to challenge a political system.
, Julian Pierce would expect no leas bum us. Ramembur
, Julian Rerce. He was elected but unable to serve.
Remember Julian Rerce and all others who have fallen
, victim to Robeson County politics. Our survival requires
concise and determined action in the voting booth May
8th.
Jhu artfris mi witton by Me editor end contains her
I opinio* end view of tko political system m Robo torn
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Ciyttal Fkdor, overall ?uw?*?r for tki
Social Shtditt Mr at Ptmbrolm
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