p.'HECAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
N) r.j
! C '
Published each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
'OLUME 23 NUMbER 11 THURSDAY MARCH 14, 1996 :
*
Front Page Editorial of the Carolina Indian Voice
Racial Games People Play in 01' Robeson
Part of a continuing series on the front page ofthe Carolina Indian
Voice Newspaper. Thefirst article last week was entitled "The world
according to the Robesonian's Bill and O.H. Lewis and other items
of interest." This week we look at the racial games the Lewis boys
and others of like ilk play here in Ol' Robeson. The editorial staff.
Last week we introduced you to the Robesonian's Bill and O.H
Lewis. Bill Lewis is the general manager of the Robesonian Newspaper:
O.H. Lewis writes a mean-spirited column, as we sec it, on a regular
basis entitled "Reality Check " Bill Lewis also contributes a column
from time to time entitled "Bits and Pieces." We have found both
editorialists to be suspect, as far as their expressions of racial good will
go. In our editorial opinion, they mean darkly-hucd people little good.
They are interested in fostering their political beliefs upon the
unsuspecting public, expecially the Black and Indian readers of the
Robesonian. According to election officals, O.H. Lewis isa Republican.
Officials could not confirm the political affiliation of Bill Lewis, but he
often writes like a conservative Republican; if he isn't registered as a
Republican, he ought to, in our opinion. Brant Clifton, another racial
mischief maker, as we see it at the Robesonian. is also a Republican,
according to election officials. Brant Clifton is a Robesonian reporter,
and has shown particular bias against Indians and Blacks in the past,
as we see it. One's political affiliation is a matter of public record, so
wc arc not broaching some state secret when we disclose Clifton and
Lewis' political affiliation. And one's political affiliation is one's own
business, unless that person (or persons) politics intrudes upon their
neighbor's political domain. Wecertainly feel like the Lewis boy sand
company arc not telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth. We
believe that the Robesonian is not representing the majority political
and social view here in Robeson County, with a racial mix of 40%
Indian. 25% Black and 3 5% White. Robeson County also has a political
mix of something like 10% Republicans, and 90 % Democrats. Most
Indians and Blacks arc, for bcttcror worse, registered as Democrats. The
Robesonian. as it is presently constituted, with Brant Clifton. Bill Lewis.
John Culbreth, and O.H. Lewis carry ing the political ball, doesn't come
close to reflecting the racial or political mix of the county they pretend
to represent. Culbreth is the editor of the Robesonian. and is the son-inlaw
of Bill Lewis, according to reputable sources. What wc have at the
Robesonian. as we see it. is a minority (the Republican Lewisboys .son
'vvrytrnui?
in-law John Culbrclh. Branl Clifton, and the rest of the editorial staff,
and all White) attempting to represent thcpolilicalandsocialaspirations
ofa majority population that is 40% Indian. 25%Black and 35% White,
and close to' 90% Democrat In our editorial opinion, we hope people
in Robeson County arc not making decisions based on the Republican
and White conservative mindset of the Robesonian. If they are making
decisions on what they read in the Robesonian. the readers arc getting
a skewed view, even cockeyed, of life in ol' Robeson
Does the Robesonian have the right to express political views
that are contrary to the majority of the public? Of course. What they
don't have isa right tocxpress their political views v/ithout a disclaimer
In other w ords, the Lew is boysand company should say something like"
this is how we feel about things here in Of Robeson but you ought to
know that we don't have any editorial Black or Indian writers, and many
of us (the Rqbesonian editorial staff)) speak with Republican .and
conservative Ipneues. The Robesonian. as we sec it. should also stop
putting itself urward as the county, daily newspaper The newspaper
(sic) represents a very narrow segment of the county population.
WHAT WE CAN DO ...
. Is there anything Indian and Black and White readers can do about
the Robesonian. and the ill will it fosters? Yes!!! The county
governmcnlwith five of the county commissioners being either Indian
and Black, can quit advertising in the Robesonian immediately
According to county finance officials, the county of Robeson spent in
excess of $35,000 with the Robesonian in advertisements of one kind or
another (display, legal and and classified) in 1995. If one counts what
the county attorney spends, the figure might more accurately reflect
$50,000. Indians and Blacks can call their county commissioners and?
ask them to quit spending our tax money in the Robesonian while it
continues to foster bad racial relations among us The county newspaper
seems, most of the time, to try to cause ill will among us. Whites. Black
and Indians. The so-called newspaper is. in our opinion, self serving
and petty. And it is not a very good newspaper either, if you judge it for
quality and representation the truth of the matter is. we do not believe
a lot of what we read in the Robesonian. because it is so patently biased,
as we see it. In our opinion, county politics will never go back to the way
it used to be when Indians and Blacks were denied the right to participate
in Robeson County politics. The Robesonian seems to want to return to
those' 'good old days'', as they sec them. This is the impression we gel
when we read the conservative rhetoric of Clifton. Culbreth. Snd the
Lewis Boys. We have eight county commissioners, three Whites
(Marion Rice, Bill Herndon and Gary Powers), three Indians (Noah
Woods. Bobby Dean Locklear and the chairman. Johnny Hunt), and two
Blacks (Dr. E.B Turner and Berlester Campbell), ltthc three Indians
and two blacks, decide that the county should not advertise in the pages
of the Robesonian. it can be done immediately We sav NO MORE
ADVERT1SNG IN THE PAGES OF THE ROBESONIAN!!!! GREEN
is a color all of us can agree on, and if we quit spending our money with
those who speak ill of us. they will re think their editorial and political
position.
STOP SUBSCRIBING TO THE ROBESONIAN
And could we be presumptous enough to encourage Robcsonians of
all colorsand pcrsausions to stop subscribing to the Robesonian? If25(X>
people cancelled their subscriptions, the out of towners who own the
newspaper (sic) would pay more attention to the right wing rhetoric
emanating from their editorial pages. One big problem is the right w ing
rhetoric continue to creep into their news articles too. as we monitor
their journalistic and editorial intentions. We 'II say more about this in
the weeks ahead.
Again, we call on the county commissioners to stop using the
Robesonian for advertising, and maybe even encourage their attorney
(Hal Kinlaw) to quit using it as a forum that is creating more problems
than it is solving. Thccounty hastoomanypcoplcspcakinginitsbchalf
Maybe the Black county manager (Willie Best) and.the Indian county
-chairman (Johnny Hunt) ought to speak for the county, and lefKlnlaw
and others be quiet for a season We also encourage Robcsonians of
every ilk and color to cancel their subscription to the Robesonian. Now
that's a color they will listen to?GREEN!!!
More next week on the world according to the Robe soman's Bill
and O.H. Lewis and other items of interest. Next week we want to
look into why Mr. O.H. Lewis is suddenly an expert on Indian
business,especially as it relates to LRDA (Lumbec Regional
Development Association) and the Lumbce Tribal Council. It will
amuse you, we suspect.
A Redman's Journal
By Bruce Barton and Friends of the Carolina Indian Voice
Spiritually 1 feel up to it. so me and some of the friends of the Ca rol 1 no
Indian'Voice Newspaper have begun a non-profit organization named,
appropriately enough. FRIENDS OFTHE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE.
INC. Our only purpose is to support the efforts of Ms Conncc Brayboy.
Rik Barton and the Carolina Indian Voice Newspaper We want to hcip
in any way we can.
One way we arc going to help is to begin this column, probably twice
a month until we work all the kinks out. We'll write about things of
interest to our readership, and begin to plan our efforts for the
TWENTY-FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OFTHE CAROLINA 1NDI AN
VOICE NEWSPAPER NEXT JANUARY of 1997 Wc are planning a
big extravaganza heralding the fact that the Indian Voice is still in
business, in spite of sometimes overwhelming odds My sister. Conncc
Brayboy. over the years, has managed, at one time or another, to make
just about everybody mad about one thing or another, including mc In
other words, she has done a pretty good job of aggravating, informing,
and forcing us to face up to life around us in this crazy. tri-racial county
wclivein. But would wc want to live anywhere else? Of course not This
is the only land we know!
Another question I gel from time to time is this "Bruce. I sec you
hanging around the Indian Voice from time to time Arc you coming
out of spiritual retirement?" The answer is. of course "Nbi"Conncc
is the editor, and will be for as long as she wants to be She now ow ns
the newspaper, and I operate only with her blessing. After all. she's a
Barton Conncc Barton Brayboy Lew Barton, our father, taught mc.
and I taught the rest of the brood, including Conncc Rik and Garry: who
lives in South Carolina and continues to work in the newspaper business
over there We hope to get him back in circulation He used to write
a funny column named "Ranting and Raving!", and boy did he ever!
We would like for him to start up his column again. I think people miss
hini a lot more than they do nic. to tell you the truth, based on some of
the responses I get from readers. They' ask. "What ever happened to
your brother. Garry ?" a lot more often than they ask whether or not I
am coming back to the newspaper business.
For those of you who don't know. I was the founder and first editor
of this newspaper before I returned to college and eventually became a
high school history teacher I left because I was burned out spiritually,
not because I was mad with anyone As stated elsewhere, my sister
Conncc Brayboy, took m\ place. 1 used to write a column nanicd "As
1 See It." I was vciy opinionated, according to those who remember the
column and the fusses it stirred up from time to time I teach United
Slates History at nearby Purncll Swell High School now. and have been
doing so for nine years. I like the classroom, and am satisfied and
fulfilled there. lamalsoquitcactivcinmychurch?DccpBranchBaptist
Church. I have been busy since I left the Carolina Indian Voice,
although I never really left it if one considers the domain of the heart
I am going to write some for this column. "A Redman's Journal."
but I hope some of the others will share this by line w ith nic. including
brothers Garry and Rik.
Next week, we'll begin loinlroduccyoutothe members ofthc Friends
of the Carolina Indian Voice, Inc.. and tell you how you can become a
member Look for it. In the meantime, if vou want to write me with a
story idea, or just to say. "Hi!", you can do so by writing me in care of
the Carolina Indian Voice. Post ,OfTtcc Box 1075. Pembroke North
Carolina 28372 Or you can write me directly at this address: Bruce
Barton. Post Office Box 362. Pembroke. North Carolina 28.372 More
next week '
Dr. Sam Wynn appointed District
Superintendent with United
Methodist Conference
Raleigh, WC'-Bishop C P
Minnick Jr., bishop ofthe Raleigh
area of the United Methodist
Church has announced the
appointment of three clergy as
district superintendents
Rodney G Hamm. pastor at
Wesley Memorial United
Methodist Church in Wilmington
has been named Burlingtondistrict
superintendent. H Sidney Higgins
III. pastor at Jarvis Memorial
United Methodist Church in
Greenville has been named
Grccnvillcdistrict superintendent.
Samuel Wynn. pastor at Grave
United Methodist Church in
Faycttcvillc. has been appointed
New Bern district superintendent.
The appointments arc effective
June 25. the same day pastors
receiving new appointments move
to their new place of ministry
District superintendents arc
church elders assigned to supervise
the ministries in a specific
nraphic area. They meet with
isnop as a cabinet. A major
duty of the bishop and the cabinet
is the appointment of local church
pastors. There arc 12 districts in
the North Carolina Conference
Rev. Hamm is a graduate of
East Carolina University itj
Greenville and Duke Divinity
School in Durham. He has served
pastorates at Walnut Grove in the
burlington district. East
Rockingham. Wendell. Raleigh'
Millbrook, and Southern Pines, as
well as associate pastor at Queen *
Street in Kinston. He has serv ed as
pastor of Wesley Memorial since
1990. The Burlington District
includes Alamance. Caswell and
Orange counties. The current
district superintendent. George W
Johnson will receive a new
appointment at the June Annual
Conference session.
Dr. Huggins graduated from
the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill and Duke Divinity
School. He received an honorary
doctorate from Methodist College
in Faycttevillc. He has served as
pastor of Asbury in the Faycttevillc
District. Goshcn-Kccncr. North
Raleigh and Hay Street in
Faycttevillc. He has served at Jarvis
Memorial since 1988 The
Greenville District encompasses
Beaufort. Green. Hyde. Lenoir
Martin and Pitt counties E;M
Thompson. Jr..the current district
superintendent will be retiring in
June
Dr. Wynn is a graduate of
Pembroke State University in
Pcmbrokcand Asbury Theological
Seminary in Kentucky. He received
a Doctor of Divinity from Drew
Theological Seminary in new
Jersey. He has served as pastor of
Four Corners Native American
Ministries. Rowland: Pleasant
Grovc-Fairview, Navajo
Methodist Mission School.
Clarkton and Hope Mills: Native
American. Dr Wynn has been
pastor at Grace UMC since 1989.
The New Bern District includes
Carteret. Craven. Jones. Onslow
and Pamlico counties. Dr Wynn.
a native of Robeson County, is the
sonof Mrs. Mary Wynn of Rowland
and the late Dock Wynn. He is
married to the former Rose Mary
Todd ofBladen County. Dr Wynn.
a Lumbcc is the first Native
American in the North Carolina
Conference to be appointed a
district superintendent He is also
the first Native American in the
Southeastern Jurisdiction to be
appoinlcd a district
superintendent The Southeastern
Jurisdiction is comprised of 1.2
million United Methodists The
present district superintendent
Thomas G Holtsclau. will be
receiving a new appointment in
June
The North Carolina Conference
consists of 56 counties from
Burlington to the coast There arc
approximately 221.000 United
Methodists attending 824 churches
in the conference.
I'
Miss Lumbee
Applications
Now Available
The Lumbcc Regional
Development Association (LRDA)
is currently accepting applications
for the 1995 Miss Lumbcc Pageant
To qualify as a pageant
contestant, the applicant must be a
Lumbcc female, between 17 and 26
yearsofaj>e, a high school graduate
and be single, never married or
cohabilatcd and accessible to
Pembroke as a homcbasc.
If you meet the criteria and arc
interested in competing as a
contestant, please contact James
Monroe Chavis at (910)521-2462.
The deadline is May 6. 1996.
Insurance
Program
Lumbcc River Electric
Membership Corp. is sponsoring a
Seniors Health Insurance
Information Program Thursday
March 21. at 10;00 am. f
The Program will be held in the
auditorium at the LREMC's Red
Springs office, and will be
conducted by Ira Perry, a specialist
trained by the NC Department of
Insurance to help retire^ persons
with their health i* urancc
problems. The public isfc'nvitcd
Celebrates 90th birthday
Mr. David l.owry of Lumberton celebrated his 90th birthday
Saturday, March 9,1996 at ML Olive Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.
The event was hosted by CSMRoscoe and Mrs. Burnette. Mr. and Mrs.
David Lowry are the parents of 8 living children: Mrs. Marcie Carter,
Charlotte; Ms. Mary Lois Burnette, Refereed; David l.owry, Jr.,
Lumberton; Mrs Catherine J. Locklear, Durham; Bobby Lmvry,
Shannon; Ms. Sandra L. Lowry, Pembroke. There are 2-t
grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
The music was provided by the Oxendine Quartet, who sang beautifully.
The Rev. Charles W. Maynor gave the invocation and remarks A
delicious dinner was served and enjoyed by many guests The
HONOREE had a money-tree and was given SI50.00. He was also
given an appreciation award by his church for his loyal and long time
service. TheHonoree was given a large, beautiful birthday cake by his
granddaughter, Mary Lois Burnette.
His grandchildren sang "Happy Birthday." There were
approximately 100 guests in attendance.
(Text and photo by Tech. Sgt. W.P. Revels).
"Our Rivers of Life"
gathering planned
Cherokee,NC=- "Our Rivers
Arc Life" is the theme of the
seventh annual gathering
sponsored by the indigenous
Environmental Network (IEN) and
hosted by the Eastern Cherokee
defense League (ECDL). The
gathering is slated for June H-16.
1996 within the Cherokee Indian
reservation and will have delegates
from indigenous communities
throughout North America and
other counties, "we arc planning
a gathering that will be important
to the future of our people.: said
Missy Crowe, a member of ECLD.
a local Native Rightsorgani/ntion
During the past six years, IEN
gatherings have been hosted by
various regions of the country.
' This summcr.s gathering, in the
Great Smoky Mountains, is
appropriate because this region is
a vast biosphere that provides
oxygen toNorth America and plays
a % ita! part in the webof lire." said
Tom Goldtooth. National
Coordinator of IBN, a national
Native environmental
organization
The site of the gathering is the
traditional home of over 5.000
Chcrokccs that live on the
reservation The conference will
offer educational workshops in
areas of Native traditional
ecological knowledge,
environmental protection, and
natural resource management. The
Cherokee of North Carolina have
faced a long history of ecological
destruction as a result of logging,
pulp and paper industries, copper
mining and tourism "We've lost
many of our indigenous fish
species 'The rivers that flow
through our lands arc vcrv
important Thev arc the life blood
of our people." said Lisa
Montclongo. another member of
ECLD