I i; CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
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11 lished each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
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VOLUME 23 NU. w | THURSDAY MARCH 2d, 1996- , \
^ " A Front Page Editorial of the Carolina Indian Voi&a ?*> \
O.ii. Lewis and the real 'Realit^Oap'
This is the fourth in a series oTTronl page editorials appearing, in part,
an answer to some of the, as we sec it, cockeyed and right w ing rhetoric
of the Robesonian's Lewis Boys (OH. and Bill) that have appeared in
that so-called newspaper over the last few months and even years now.
Sometimes Indian people have to answer w rong headed information
that is being force fed to our people via the so-called daily. This so-called
newspaper has long emanated an 1860s Democratic Party mentality
which threatens to lead us into a race war. They have been bringing out
the worst in us, and it is time for somebody to say so It seems to have
fallen to the task of The Carolina Indian Voice? to combat some of the
nonsense put forth by the Lewis boys, and their minions. We are not
especially happy about having to do it. but we are not afraid either It
would be wondcrftil if everybody loved one another, but they don't and
race continues to define us as a tri-racial county The Lewis boys seem
to revel in race baiting the rest of us. Enough, we say! It seems a shame
that no one else will say anything publicly , especially the religious
. community that seems, in large part, to reflect the political mind set of
its mostly segregated congregations
Robeson County is one of the most interesting places to live in
America, or even in the whole world. The 105.610 population (according
to the 1990 Census) is made up of approximately 40% Indians. .15%
Whites and 25% Blacks. These racial figures make for some very
interesting dynamics when something is going on, say like a sheriff s
race! On the face of it, it-is hard to believe that a White person could ever
win a political race of any kind in Robeson County, but it is never like
it seems at the second look. Therearcmany Indians and Blacks who like
to team up with Whiles against their own people It is the vestige of a
one-dimensional society we used to know even as late as the early 1970s
when Whites dominated the political life of our county It comes out in
strange ways, psychologically Psychically. we don't always think well
of ourselves in Robeson County, all of us. and Indians and Blacks
sometimes express their feelings or inadequacy politically We remember
well that former Sheriff Hubert Stone had many . m;iny Indian and
Black supporters. He would often be found at fifty year wedding
anniversaries, and at birthday parties of Indian and Black elders Not not
mention, all those funerals he served on as honorary pall bearer It was
abadgcofhonortohavc the shcriffal a fctcofany kind, and Sheriff Stone
seldom missed a family gathering of any inportancc Sheriff Stone was
a good politician, but it had little to do with him and more to do with the
history of a county that, until very recently. denied Indians and Blacks
the opportunity to participate in the political arena Politicians like
former Sheriff Stone were masters, too. at fostering ill will between
Indians and Blacks. For instance) in the last political season, some of
the talk floating around the Black communities was that "the Indians arc
greedy and taking everything." Ahem. Recently we have heard this
same kind of talk in the Indian community , especially on the heel oi
Indian SherifT Glenn Maynor making a Black (Major Willie Watson)
second incommand at the sheriff s department, and the naniingofWillu
Best, a Black, as county manager There seems little credence in eithci
perception because Indians and Blacks bolh arc still under represented
politically. especially at Southeastern Regional Medical Center. Robeson
Community College. Pembroke State University and the Robeson
County Department of Social Services, just to name a few agencies not
reflective of the county in the make up of their staffs and boards of
directors We expect to see some political hardball played at these
important Robeson landmarks in the very near future Given the
opportunity. Indians can and have stepped up to the plate and hit a home
run. and in many instances, a grand slam We ha\e seen this demonstrated
in such inportant businesses and agencies as Robeson Health
Care Corporation. Lumbcc River Electric Membership Corporation.
Lumbce Reigonal Development Association, the Board of Education,
the Town of Pembroke, etc
We were glad to sec redisricting in the county, especially at the
school board and county commissioner level It is nice to report that the
school board and county commissioners closely reflect the racial makeup
of the county with .1 Indian commissioners. 2 Black commissioners, and
3Whitconcs Thcschoolboardalsorcflectlhisracialmi,\with4Whites.
4 Indiansand 3 Blacks The local legislative delegation also reflects one
Indian (Ron Sutton), one Black (Frances Cummings) and one White
(Doug Yonguc). The stale senator continues to be White, and will be that
same race this coming political season because no Indian or Black
offered themselves as a candidate in this race This will probably be the
last senatorial race that will not be contested by cither (or both) an Indian
or Black
O H Lewis writes a column Reality Cheek " in the Robesonian.
and it is many times hateful and strangely out of (ouch with the majority
oflhc people who live in Robeson County For instance, election officials
say Lewis is a Republican more than 90% of Robeson County's
population is registered Democratic Lewis is very conservative, while
the majority ofthc county (4<)%lndian. 25% Black) is very liberal. This
"Reality check", or gap. seems not to daunt Mr Lewis at all The
Robesonian can. of course dispute this statement by publishing the
percentages by race of their subscribers, but our informal polling
indidatcs that more that 75% of the subscribers to the Robesonian arc
either Indian or Black What kind of message arc they receiving from
Mr. Lcwisand the Robesonian that continues to supportand champion
his right wing babblings'* How long will Indians and Blacks continue
to support a newspaper (sic) that is cditoriallv contrary to how thev feel
about things politicallyAND HOW LONG WILL THEY (Indiansand
Blacks) SUPPORT AN ORGAN (The Robesonian) THAT BRINGS
OUT THE WORST IN THEM >
O H Lewis has written a diatribe against LRD A (Lumbcc Regional
Development Association and headquartered in Pembroke) in a five part
series entitled' 'People of the River Sw amp. Lumbec T ribc ofthc Chcraw
Indians " Lewis articles arc chock full of misrepresentations, maybe
I even out right lies The articles arc one dimensional, and do not
: acknowledge another sicKlo the isso;: that "he is belaboring; namelv when
he intimates that LRDA is crooked and bound for bureaucratic hell
' - ' ' : ~ '
LRDA. like all organizations, has made mistakes in the past, but they
have provided jobs to many Robesonians. and have led the fight for
Lumbcc federal recognition To say less than this is to tell a lie LRDA
has also helped many Indian youth find scholarship help, especially
through the Indian Health Fellowships that have nolicably increased the
Indian cadre of doctors and nurses, and other professionals. LRDA has
done much good, and raised the banner of the Lumbcc high throughout
the land. Alas, we also believe LRDA lagged behind in the struggle to
w rite a tribal constitution, and to establish a tribal council We also
disagreed with LRDA when they suspended elections, for what ever
reason The agency has recently stated that it pla ns to hold elections soon,
possibly even this year We hope they will do so. to do less will be to
acquicsc to oligarchical madness. But to throw the baby (LRDA) out
with the muckraking wash is more than we can countenance LRDA is
an Indian agency, and we should correct any problems that need
correcting in house, away from the hateful eyes of the O H Lewises,
People like Lewis mean us no good, and should not be coddled by Indian
people, and our Indian business, even secrets, should not be whispered
into Mr Lewis'ear Ip our editorial opinion. Lewis docs not have our
best interest at heart, nor docs the Robesonian\~Lewis says, in his socalled
expose of LRDA that ' Members of the Lumbcc contributed
substantially to this article and these contents were taken from file
records and other documents "" The truth of the matter is that OH Lewis
was led. like a horse, to the trough, by certain members and administrators
of the Lumbcc Che raw Tribal Council who were trying to
supplant LRDA in the minds and hearts of the Indian people The tribal
council has sued LRDA in Robeson County Superior court, and the ease
will be heard by long lime Indian nemesis. Superior Court Judge Joe
Freeman Brilt. This ironic twist isalmostamusing. but it istoo important
to laugh for too long If the tribal council wins the ease, they expect to
be given the mandate to lead the Indian people, at least in Robeson
County. It's almost as if some of us have lost our senses, and don't know
what to do except flail away at one another It is the old psychic trick of
div ide and conquer, and explains why unity is hard to come by in the
Indian camp The Tribal Council has hurt its cause considerably by
coddling O H. Lewis and giving him editorial bullets to shoot at the rest
of us. We contend, if the truth be known, that the majority of the Lumbcc
Chcravv Tribal Council, and those who support them, did not agree w ith
the O H. Lewis debacle Those who gave O H Lewis information about ^
LRDA were few in number, and were decidedly a minority of Lumbcc *
Tribal Council adherents. We challenge Mr. Lewis to publish the names
of those who helped him. more than a dozen will be significant A
hundred names, a thousand, now that would be traumatic and disturbing
to say the least. Our guess is that less than half a dozen Indians (out of I
some 40,000) helped Lewis He should not try to fool the rest of us by 1
implying anything other than the truth,
Our last article in this series will conclude in next week's issue of
the Carolina Indian Voice,? unless the Lewis boys, or some of their
minions, say more. In that case, we reserve the right to unsheath the
pen and respond in kind Amen!!!
North Carolina
Cooperative Extension Service
Mrs. Ethel Locklear Honored
for Community Services
I Recently Mrs. Ethel Locklear was honored at the county Cooperative
Extension service's annual awards banquet She was presented the Mollye
Rrilex award. The honor recognizes someone Jor exhibiting cure, concern
and leadership in the community. Locklear of Pembroke is president of the
kobeson County extension homemakers organization. She is active in her
church, is a retired school teachers and volunteers at rest homes. Locklear
15 also a volunteer at Pembroke Elementary School.
I Project Graduation Planned for 1996
1 Many graduatinghigh school scniorsof Robeson County will celebrate their
graduation on June 7.1996 on the Pembroke State University campus at Project
Graduation!
.t Project Graduation is an all-night alcohol and chcmical-frcc party which
brings seniors front across thccounty togcthcrtocclcbratcllicir accomplishments
pf completing high school. The celebration, open for graduatiWWsng seniors
only, will begin at 9 p.m. and end at 3:00a.m. A variety of activities arc planned
which include live remote w ith Foxy 99. micro-reality cars, interactiv e videos,
bungee run. photo buttons, bowling, pool, ping pong, video games, music by
the DARE band. DJ featuring' \A Sound Business'' and a special entertainment
showathccndofthccvcning. food, entertainment, and music will be abundant
The cost for students is a $ 1.00 registration fee.
I- The TEAM Council met on January 12 to begin planning and to elect
Officers for project Graduation 1996 those officers arc: Dr Diane Jones.
Chairperson; Pcarlcne Revels. Vice Chairperson. Vicky Locklear. Registration
and Chaperon Chairperson. Bill James Brcwington. Clean-up Committee
Chairperson. Nila Chamberlain. Decoration Committee Chairperson. Abdul
GhalTar and Ray mond Cummings. Entertainment Committee Chairpersons.
Ertlc B Smith. Jimmic Lou Hayes and Audrey Harris. Food Committee
Chan,arsons. Lavcrn Oxcndinc. Fund Raising Committee Chairperson:
Lavcrn Oxcndinc and kathy Locklear. Prize Committee Chairpersons; Al
. kahn and Ronnie Chavis. Publicity Committee Chairpersons; Capt Larry
' McNeill. Security Committee Chairperson, and Kathy Locklcar.T-shirt
Committee Chairperson. Volunteers arc encouraged to contact the respective
Chairperson for volunteer assignments.
; Dr. Diane joncs stated that she is delighted to chair this year's projccl-onc
of the most memorable nights for hundreds of graduating seniors! The TEAM
Council and other volunteers arc committed to making this y car's project a safe.
Entertaining and special night to remember.'
i Project Graduation is sponsored by the Public Schools of Robeson Count
;and the TEAM Council (Drug and Alcohol Advisory Council). Anvon
; wishing to make a donation to Project Graduation may send checks pav able t
the Public Schools of Robeson. Project Graduation 1996. % Kathy Locklcai
P.O. Drawer 2909. Lumbcrton. NC 28359 or call (91(1) 671-6000. etc 284
I
Interesting people at Unity
Ray ''Spotted Turtle'' Clark, Sr. (alsofondly known us ' 'Mr. Pete'') takes
a short break during the Unity Conference with Chief Tom Carter of the
Coharie Tribe (shotvn right). (Photo contributed by John "Tall Bird"
Marshall)
c llal Amnions mans the Four Feathers I tooth oj the C 'umherlaml ( ounty
Association for Indian People at the 21st Annual North Carolina Indian
, Unity Conference held recently in Pa lei nil. North ('arolina. (Photo contributeo
by John lull Itird" Marshall)
Bear Swamp
Revival to be held
Bear Swamp Baptist Church will
host their Spring Revival beginning
March'I April 5 Rev Ernest Best
will be the guest evangelist Sundav
night services begin at 1 p in with
serv ices through the week at 7 AO p in
The pastor of Bear Swamp. Rev
Anlhonv R Locklcar. and the
congregation CMend a cordial
invitation to the public to attend '
Statement from
Chairman of Board
of Education
Paul Brooks. Chairman or ihc
Board of Education for ihc Public
Schools of Robeson County, has issued
a statement concerning a report
published in the Robesonian that
suggested Superintendent Purncll
Swell has prohibited school employee
Richard Monroe front addressing a
group of county citizens upset with
the recent property revaluation in the
county. Mr. Brooks' statements says
that, after checking all the facts in the
matter and interviewing Mr. Monroe,
the Board has conic to the conclusion
that Mr Swell had done nothing to
justify the news story and that the
matter is now considered closed
Hearings planned
on proposed
school calendar
Parents arc urged to attend one of
the public hearings to be held on the
proposcdschoolcalcndarforthe 199697
school year at each of the high
schools in tliccounty on Monday night.
April 1st at 6 p.m. Members of the
schools' calendar committee will be
on hand to explain the calendar and
answer any questions The proposed
calendar calls for an earlier beginning
and an earlier ending of the school
vcar Hearings will be held at Purhcll
Swell. South Robeson. Fairmont. Red
Springs. St Pauls and Lunibcrton
Senior High School
Middle School
to host picnic
Pembroke Middle School cordialh
invites parents and students to
participate in a special picnic .actin il\
onapril 2. 1996 from 5 (H) -7:50 p.ni
Registration is flroni 5-5:30 in the
school cafeteria. Parents and students
will participate in two mini sessions
and then enjoy a picnic mca
Parktonteachers participate
in Reading Workshop
Ms. Elizabeth Robinson. Ms. Barbara Thompson, and Ms. Elizabeth Shore
wcrcworksliopprcscntcrsnt the NorthCarolina Residing Association Conference
in Raleigh. NC on March 14 Their presentation wascntillcd "Parents. School
nndTcachcrsCollaborating! Closing the Gap: Improving Achievement Through
Parental Involvement " The materials and activities presented prov ided the
. conferees u ith strategies and resources which showed that improved student
achievement is a partnership between parent, child and teacher depending on
f each other to play Ihcappropnalc role and assume the appropriate responsibility
The theme of the state conference was "School. Home and Community,
collaborating to Crusade for literacy "