Native
Americans have been fighting racism in many different ways since they were “discovered”. I think that in this day and age ignorance is
just as bad as it was back then. The only
difference is there are more races to “hate” against now. One tribe that has faced and persevered is
the Lumbee tribe in North Carolina. In
1958 they went against the infamous Lu Klux Klan aka the KKK. During the 50’s there was a heavy presence in
the southern states due to the changing laws for equal rights. I never knew that they were also “haters” of
Native American as well.
http://www.uncp.edu/academics/opportunities-programs-resources/opportunities-programs/native-american-resource-center/museum-collections/victory-over-ku-klux-klan
“On January 13, 1958, crosses were burned
on the front lawns of two Lumbee Indians families in Roberson County, N.C.
Nobody had to ask who was responsible” (Nicholas Graham). This was the beginning of what I feel was a
victory for all Native American but most importantly the Lumbees. The two families that had been targeted by
the Klan were for minimal reasons. One family
had moved into an “all white neighborhood” and the other had a family member
who was in a relationship with a white person.
The leader of this group of Klan members was James W. “Catfish” Cole. The rally was set to take place a couple days
after this incident in a field not too far from Roberson County. On January 18th as the Klansman
rallied in dim light they failed to notice that they had been surrounded by and
outnumbered by the Lumbees. A shot was
fired and the only light source went out.
This is when the melee started and in the end of the ruckus nobody had
lost their life but there were injuries.
“This event quickly made national headlines. LIFE magazine carried two separate articles
on the subject” (Victory Over the Ku Klux Klan). The issue ended here and I would like to think
that they went back to living their lives with less fear than before.
I have no problems living in an
area that is filled with a mix of heritages.
Some of my family members that I love dearly are mixed. One thing that I have never been able to
understand is how the KKK or any other racist can think that we owe them or
beneath them?? Not only Native Americans but other races as well. We don’t owe anybody and in all honesty Caucasians
don’t owe anybody either. We have been
pushed and pulled and still have worked to make relationships be less strained. Whether you believe in the creator, god, Buddha,
or any other religion they all frown against hatred of any other mankind. It’s unfortunate that people can consume so
much ill feeling towards a certain group cause of who they are. Think about 10
years down the road. It’s not that far,
do you think that people will still have the ill feelings they have now and
will it be worse for all involved?
ncpedia.org
Nicholas Graham. "January 1958 -- the Lumbees Face
the Klan." Jan. 2005. UNC Library. Web. 1 July 2014.
<http://www.2.lib.unc.edu/ncc/ref/nchhistory/jan2005/jan05.html>.
“Victory Over the Ku Klux Klan." N.d. University of North Carolina Pembroke.
Web. 30 June 2014.
<http://www.uncp.edu./academics/opportunities-programs-resources/opportunites-programs/native-american-resource-center/museum-collections/victory-over-ku-klux-klan>.
Love this story. It was lost to history for a number of years, but fortunately rediscovered and retold - thankfully! Also I think it was about 20 years at a KKK rally someone yelled at the American Indians to 'go back home'.
ReplyDeleteThis is the type of story that should be repeated over time so people know about it. I’ve never heard this story before but it’s one that should be discussed. It seems like all we hear about are negative or sensationalized stories that only serve to incite people. Stories like this, though, where people pull together in a show of force, without actually killing anyone, like we see so often today, serve to inspire more peaceful reactions to events. The KKK is a deplorable organization that is full of extremely misinformed people. By pulling together in support of the two targeted families, it sent a message to the KKK that their actions will not be tolerated, in any way, shape, or form. My hat is off to the Lumbees who put any fear aside and stood up for what they believed in.
DeleteI've heard plenty a times that those "injuns" need to go back where we came from..... I just laugh it off, we all know that we are where we "came from". The sad part is that ingnorance isn't inheruted it's taught. So if said person is so into teaching history maybe they should start to teach the truth!!
DeleteGreat story. I enjoyed the way you broke down the KKK and the hatred that still unfortunately exists within society. Sometimes even among a persons own race. I wish people would work on their selves more and focus on what they can do in society rather than single out others or direct their aggression towards others. Often they have feelings of inferiority that they learned or was passed from generations which impact their values and beliefs. Why not appreciate every day and try to do your best without looking for arguments or justification of self worth by putting down others?
ReplyDeleteHi Sara!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post! I was not aware of this story before so I found it very informative and interesting. I was not previously aware that the Ku Klux Klan was against any groups other than African Americans. Although I've heard that the Ku Klux Klan is still in effect today- It is interesting that the Lumbee tribe was a huge contributor to ending the rein that the Klan had in the past.
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ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post. It was all new information to me. I knew the KKK was a racist group who performed acts of hate towards African Americans, but I never knew the were against the Native Americans as well. As another reader said, it does seem to be a lost story. Thanks for sharing !!
ReplyDeleteHi Sara,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this story. It is another piece of 'American' history that I never knew.
I never knew about this as well. It's amazing how one race can go through so much and still manage to walk forward without hatred but an appreciation of what we have. As little as it might be it's still enough to keep our heads held high.
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