I like living here...

[Guest]

There are a lot of things wrong here of course.  It's one of the poorest counties in the state, with all the problems that brings.

But there are some good things too.  If nothing else, the place is entertaining.  For example, people get to name their own streets if they live there when the street signs go up.  My neighbor was the first one living on this road, for example.  He's a huge fan of 'that li'l ol' band from Texas.'  So my street address is- Z Z Top Drive.  All sorts of people love hearing my address when I have to give it.  

But this isn't the only interesting street name.  I was out running errands the other day in an area where the 911 service was getting new streets properly named and signage put up.  A bit further out in the country there is another two-rut dirt road that looks pretty much like mine.  It has a bright new street sign proclaiming its new  official name- DIRT ROAD.

No joke...

lpl/nc

[Felonious Monk/Fignozzle]

Sounds like the county commissioners and Chiefs have a good attitude and the right perspective on things!
Good on ya, Lee!

[esheato]

Where exactly is this place?

[bermbuster]

.....It has a bright new street sign proclaiming its new  official name- DIRT ROAD.

No joke...

lpl/nc

I love it!

[Guest]

esheato,

This place is like 'nowhere else on earth,' to steal the title of a recent novel- it's Robeson County, NC.  See the bibliography at http://linux.library.appstate.edu/lumbee/ for pointers to lots more information on the place and people here.  You can see the county's website at http://www.co.robeson.nc.us/ , and pay particular attention to the last paragraph in the brief 'History' section there.  That's always been one of the great questions about how history evolved in this area- one theory is that the people here are the descendants of 'The Lost Colony' who moved here early in the 1600s after being abandoned ( http://www.nps.gov/fora/search.htm ).

It is sort of like living in another country, in the sense of the quip that 'the past is another country- they do things differently there.'  There is a distinct culture that is very close in many ways to the rural Southern culture I grew up in- but with distinctly different features due to demographic differences.  This area has been multi-racial apparently for about as long as there have been identifiable races present in the New World.  And people get along here without a lot of the baggage they have to deal with elsewhere, unless they bring their baggage with them.  This area has a larger percentage of Native American residents than any other place east of the Mississippi River.

History is long here.  The American Revolution was more of a civil war due to the presence of many displaced Scots who were sworn to be loyal to the Crown ( http://www.usbuies.com/new_page_16.htm ).  And the War Between The States was a wrenching reprise.  Memories run long, and people here are tired of the sort of conflict that rips families and communities apart.  They turn their backs on it still.  You can still get more trouble than you can handle if you don't 'act right-' but it is unlikely anyone will have problems if they aren't looking for trouble.  People here have their pride and are sensitive to slights, but are more likely to shun troublemakers that slap them.

lpl/nc (livin' in Scuffletown)

[esheato]

Very interesting and colorful Lee. Thanks for sharing.

Ed

[mtnbkr]

Lee, I went to Campbell University in Harnett County.  I knew several "Lumbee Indians" there.

And people get along here without a lot of the baggage they have to deal with elsewhere, unless they bring their baggage with them.

Dunno about that.  Some of the "Lumbee Indians" I knew were as racist as any Klan member.

Chris

[K Frame]

"Some of the "Lumbee Indians" I knew were as racist as any Klan member."

Racism.

It's not just for whites anymore.

[mtnbkr]

It's not just for whites anymore.

Depending on the one you're looking at and your point of view on the matter, Lumbee Indians are white.  Some are as white as me, others are darker skinned, but have blue or green eyes (quite striking IMO).  I've never met one that made me think "Native American" though.  They just look like mixed race people.  That's what made the racism kinda confusing.  Based on what I've read, they are quite likely a mix of Indian, white, and black (runaway slaves is the story).  Whatever "Indian" is left is very diluted.  

To me, the "indian" claim is tenuous at best, but it doesn't harm me, so they can call themselves what they want.

Chris

[K Frame]

"Depending on the one you're looking at and your point of view on the matter, Lumbee Indians are white."

Ah, but it doesn't matter what WE think, it matters what THEY think, and which ethnicity box they check.

That's what makes the difference between GOOD Racism (anyone other than a white being racist), or BAD Racism (whites being racist).

[Tallpine]

"The American Revolution was more of a civil war due to the presence of many displaced Scots who were sworn to be loyal to the Crown"

The Cape Fear Valley was at one time mostly settled by Highland (Gaelic) Scots.  No wonder wonder that they might not support the American Patriots since they had their butts whipped at Culloden only 30 years previously (though the Jacobite "rebellion" was in support of a different monarch rather than for separation from monarchy in general).  Interestingly, I have read that some of the Highland Scots owned slaves, and at one time it was common for many blacks to speak only Gaelic as learned from their masters.

Just curious, Lee ... do you know of any Gaelic speakers left in your area...?

[Guest]

Chris,

I can only speak to my own experience gained from living here for the past four years.  My wife (who was born in Ashe County in the NC mountains) and I live in the community of Prospect.  It is a majority Indian community, a very proudly Indian community, and we are made to feel at home here.   I cannot argue with your experiences elsewhere or in other times, with other people.  It is true there is a great deal of jingoism among all sorts of people, and you can never tell where it might turn up.  But we haven't encountered it here.

Of course, as a native southerner it comes naturally to me to say 'sir' or 'm'am' as a reflex.  I understand human dignity and have dealt all my life with people that could be considered 'prickly.'  I grew up working in my dad's small country store in very rural Perry County, AL.  

I was born in Selma, AL in 1953, and I know what racism looks like.  I had it demonstrated for me all of my childhood.  I don't see the other side of the coin here.  I know it can exist among individuals, sure- I'm not burdened with rose-colored glasses either.  There is a history of segregation in Robeson County just as elsewhere.  But in Robeson the school systems were divided not just two ways (black and white), not just three ways even.  There was a time when Robeson County ran FOUR school systems- Indian, black, white and Smiling ( http://linux.library.appstate.edu/lumbee/24/FURM001.htm ) based on racial divides.  And the Indian schools each had what was called a "blood committee" to determine whether a given child was actually Indian enough to attend the school (http://www.ruthdialwoods.com/discussion/_disc2/0000023f.htm ).

As I said originally, there ARE problems here.  And there are divisions too, there is a LOT of history present here in the now.  Ostentatious houses are still called 'mack houses' by some- mack is the local slang for a white person, because so many of the early whites here were Scots whose surnames bagan with Mc or Mac.  But occasional reference is also made to 'brick house Indians'- individuals who would sell out their people for a leg up, a political job or other position that would place them in circumstances to exploit local labor.  As I said, this is a poor county.  Once there were lots of labor intensive plants here- textile plants, manufacturing, etc.  Most of those jobs and plants have now moved- to Mexico, or on to China, and the factories stand empty ( http://ww.ncse.org/database/search/search_buildings.php?county=Rob&square_footage_select=*&other=no ).  

But people are coping, each in their own way.  And getting along with each other, better than in lots of places I have been.

lpl/nc

[Guest]

Tallpine, there are still some Gaelic speakers hereabouts- at least to the extent necessary to participate in various events featuring Scottish themes.  There are annual Highland Games at Flora Macdonald Academy in nearby Red Springs, and there are local participants who speak some Gaelic ( http://www.capefearscots.com/games.html ).  Many of the churches here (Presbyterian) used to have services in Gaelic, or have two services each Sunday, one in Gaelic and one in English- this in the not-so-distant past.  The language is not completely dead here- see also http://www.acgamerica.org/ .

One of the counties next door is Scotland County, BTW... 8^).

lpl/nc

[doczinn]

Lee, as a Wi'min'ton boy myself, I may have to look up that area when deciding where to hang my hat.

[Guest]

Lee,

I'll share with these folks what shared with you via landline...

You [Lee] got room for one more Southern Boy?  I have lived in small towns here in my Southern State. I am now back in the Big City...

Born in '55 and I know all too well about the Central High Crisis of '57.  I may have only been 2 y/o - this thing is still going on. And FWIW many things differ from what Media "said/says" and History books "jotted down".

Err...I don't "fit in" like I used to.  Oh I get along fine with Classmates all all race, creed, religions,...do fine with exchange students from - you name it.

Just ...well...these new gangs, the one's with tattoos ...
No not that bunch, Shorty's, 42nd St, ...etc, thems old hats...

This new ones have tattoos all over front, back of upper torso, neck and face too.

Lee suggested I not ask to borrow a machete...not a good idea to approach one with a machete of my own as ask it be sharpened.

Hey, I don't go to where trouble is. Just sometimes trouble comes to me, or in order to get from point A to point B....trouble with tattoos are between.

Not a matter of "if" a matter of "when"  various cultures get tired of flexing muscles and go at it. Since I have BTDT before...
I'd rather not be here.

Hey if these guys want to enter my Stop&Rob, I can go to another one for smokes. Which I gotta do now as mine was busy with these folks earlier.

This is the part about State Laws and CCW that ticks me off. Can't have on Campus, then again a person has to get from point A to point B. It is the "stuff" that might/ could occur in between.

I don't park on campus...

Kinko's and Office Depot should be okay...I'll do that while I am out here in sec.

Lee,
you have heard my voice, Southern is Southern, AR, AL, NC...hey I can fit in just swell.  I already tell folks I was supposed to be delivered in TX, just the Stork dropped me off in AR.

They ever make Storks legal...payback time.

I used to like living here. Now it is called 'existing'. Gives a new dimension to awareness and survival.

What? You folks don't have to turn around in the middle of the road just within home because folks are walking down the yellow divider line of a 4 lane at 10pm when you are coming in from class and come in another route?

Must be nice...at least the Police car didn't hit the blues. I gotta feeling he understood just watching, me...him and other police were really busy getting ready to 'make the yellow line' safer.

[Felonious Monk/Fignozzle]

I just took the time to look at Prospect on Mapquest.  I spent a BUNCH of time during my Whirlpool days in and around New Bern and Jacksonville.  I think I'd be happy as a clam down around that area.  Know of anybody looking for a good IT guy?

Also, SWMBO's got a good shot at a MAJOR (I'm talking 6-figure) job in Spartanburg, so we may be neighbors, 'ere long.  Okay, at least...closer that we are now.

Regards,
Fig

[Waitone]

Spartanburg?  I used to live in Spartanburg.  We'll I live in Moore, a burb.  If you go to Spartanburg you have gotta go to the Beacon Drive-In.  A world famous dining establishment.  The Double Chili Cheese Burger A-plenty is just to die for.  No really, it will flat out kill your carcass from a cholersterol overdose.

Is SWMBO's potential in Spartanburg or out toward Duncan?

[bermbuster]

Spartanburg?  I used to live in Spartanburg.  We'll I live in Moore, a burb.  If you go to Spartanburg you have gotta go to the Beacon Drive-In.  A world famous dining establishment.  The Double Chili Cheese Burger A-plenty is just to die for.  No really, it will flat out kill your carcass from a cholersterol overdose.

Is SWMBO's potential in Spartanburg or out toward Duncan?

To die for is right.  It will clog your corornary arteries faster than you can say, "who is the best cardiologist in town?

You ever shoot in Spartanburg?

[mtnbkr]

I spent a BUNCH of time during my Whirlpool days in and around New Bern and Jacksonville.

Fig, I think you're following me around.  First it was Roanoke and SW Va, now it's New Bern.  What next, Tn?

Chris

[Guest]

Fig,
Take a look at http://www.city-data.com/city/Prospect-North-Carolina.html .  When I entered Prospect in MapQuest it put me up around Sanford, NC- you might have searched differently or gotten different results, but... .  As for the IT stuff, check with UNCP- the university is the biggest tech draw in the area.  Take a look at http://www.uncp.edu/hr/ .

sm,
You'll have to talk to the Chairman of the (Room and) Board about that 8^).  It would be fine with me, but being a kept man and all I don't want to overstep my bounds with the distaff side.  As to tats, take a look at http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0130063tattoo1.html if you haven't seen Jose' Luis Gomez yet.  Be sure no one else can see the monitor when you pull up the mug shot.  Remember what I said about qualifications for my 'shoot on sight' category?  This is him.
=====

According to the statistics, Prospect Community is 97% Native American in population.  Me?  Minority?  More than even _I_ had thought.

I had to go to the hardware store in nearby Pembroke a while back to get some lag bolts for a project.  It was Saturday morning and the place was super busy.  The cash registers are right in front of the main entrance/exit so there was quite a crowd gathered around waiting to pay for purchases, chewing the fat etc.  This being Robeson county the crowd was multiracial- Indian (the store is owned by a local Native American family), black and white.  Several conversations were going on simultaneously as I waited to pay for my lag bolts.

One of the Native American customers remarked to one of the Native American cashiers, "You know they're burying Mr. Oxendine this mornin'?"

One of the white men standing around overheard this exchange and said in surprise, "You mean y'all bury Indians in the MORNING?"  It got VERY quiet very quickly.  I commenced to ease my way back between the hardware bins from whence I had come.

The cashier looked up and said, "Well, we're burying THIS Indian in the morning."  She cocked her head a bit and asked, "When do y'all bury white folks, anyway?"

The man who had asked the question replied, "Why, in the afternoon."

The cashier spoke up again, and asked, "Well, when do they bury black folks?"

Someone else in the crowd spoke up to answer. "After 'bout five days."

The whole place erupted in genuine shared laughter.

lpl/nc

[Guest]

Lee,
About that link/picture...

Yeah, we gots shaved eyebrows and tat like that...not "read" any eyebrows - suspect some are "readable around here. Explains why I have company even when alone, why I accompany some folks the way I do.

My Lady Student, one coming along so well. I shared that link/pic  with her. In fact she printed some copies, copies that "just happened" to follow us to the range. Have I mentioned how pleased I am with this Lady Student and her shotgunning?

She "done good" with them copies, you would be so proud too.

I teach a whole package like I said...*grin*.