The Lumbee Indians: An American Struggle

by Malinda Maynor Lowery

Jamestown, the Lost Colony of Roanoke, and Plymouth Rock are central to America's mythic origin stories. Then, we are told, the main characters--the "friendly" Native Americans who met the settlers--disappeared. But the history of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina demands that we tell a different story. As the largest tribe east of the Mississippi and one of the largest in the country, the Lumbees have survived in their original homelands, maintaining a distinct identity as Indians in a biracial South. In this passionately written, sweeping work of history, Malinda Maynor Lowery narrates the Lumbees' extraordinary story as never before. The Lumbees' journey as a people sheds new light on America's defining moments, from the first encounters with Europeans to the present day. How and why did the Lumbees both fight to establish the United States and resist the encroachments of its government? How have they not just survived, but thrived, through Civil War, Jim Crow, the civil rights movement, and the war on drugs, to ultimately establish their own constitutional government in the twenty-first century? Their fight for full federal acknowledgment continues to this day, while the Lumbee people's struggle for justice and self-determination continues to transform our view of the American experience. Readers of this book will never see Native American history the same way.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Indigenous, Politics, American History

585 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 1, 2018

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating read about the history of the Lumbee tribe, something every North Carolinian and beyond should learn more about. So many of the episodes of this book are unbelievably sensational and could be made into a movie or anthology. This tells a cohesive historical narrative but also introduces you well to the identity of the Lumbee people. Highly recommend for anyone interested in the topic.

[Cam's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

For decades the federal government has denied official recognition of the Lumbee Nation by constantly changing its criteria. Malinda M. Lowery’s The Lumbee Indians asserts and demonstrates that the Lumbee Nation has always been here. Loaded with first-hand interviews, Lumbee media publications, marriage and funeral records, court cases and so much more, Lowery provides a chronological historical narrative of the Lumbees’ existence during the colonial era, the American Revolution, forcible removal, segregation and assimilation, the Civil Rights Movement, the drug war, and the contemporary moment.
American perceptions of race and ethnicity are two factors that have clouded Lumbee visibility. The United States has famously depicted itself as a biracial country- only white and black. This untrue portrayal has effectively erased the first inhabitants of the continent. During the colonial era, Native Americans were constantly misrepresented as “mulattoes” and “free persons of color”- confusing and inaccurate labels, as these also described African Americans with white heritage as well as freed Blacks who were manumitted. “Invisible” Natives made their stance abundantly clear by not only petitioning the federal government for recognition but also by participating in segregation. For them, segregation would ensure “that whites would recognize their ‘Indianness’ and that Indians would retain control of their own institutions” (94).
Their schools specifically provided them with a distinct identity. However, oftentimes they were called racist for resisting desegregation. In the 1970s, the Lumbees participated in blocking the arrival “of two Black teachers to [Prospect High School], along with both white and Black students” (148). While the white media screamed racism, in actuality “Lumbees fought integration less out of racial antipathy and more to promote the recognition of their own affairs in a society that saw them as invisible” (149). Their history as well as existence has already been disregarded- schools that simultaneously functioned as community centers were some of the few uncolonized spaces they were not willing to give up.
While it is very evident that Lowery’s monograph is well-researched, it is not without a few shortcomings. For one, the lack of proper subheadings is a bit disappointing and awkward. For example, in chapter 5, she discusses how Lumbee residents successfully ceased a Ku Klux Klan rally on their land (137-140). However, immediately after mentioning the trial that took place, Lowery switches topics and begins to discuss integration and education. While both topics neatly fit under her chapter on “Civil Rights and Red Power,” her transitions are rough and appear random.
At times Lowery puts in too much unnecessary detail. For example, when she discusses Sheriff Hurbert Stone in chapter 6, she goes in on how he grew up in a nine-person household, how many times he married and divorced, the Lumbee mistresses he’s had and how “he maintained contact with and provided child support or paid medical bills for a least one of his illegitimate children until the child was sixteen” (171). Interesting to point out, but not imperative for the reader to know. While it is understandable that she wants elaborate on how “not seeing color” was a part of Sheriff Stone’s reputation, she could’ve easily summed it up with his own statement: “I have lunch with all races… I am not racist and never have been” (171) . It is okay to be concise on backgrounds of individuals whose background isn’t the main focus of the bigger picture.
Despite these setbacks, The Lumbee Indians is a wonderful edition to Lumbee and Southern American Native American scholarship.

[Tony Tian-Ren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every group should hope to have such a book for their people. Maybe more than one such book. A beautifully written history and stories intertwined with personal experiences to remind us that the past is not that long ago.

[Carolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and engaging history of the Lumbee Indians in what is now North Carolina. Lowery is a native American historian and weaves chapters of clear scholarship with her family's personal history. The result is a really wonderful way of getting readers to understand the broad historical context while also acknowledging the relationship between the scholar and the subject. Really well done.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This very informative history of the Lumbee people is also a deeply personal account, given Malinda Maynor Lowery’s kinship connections with several of the leading players in the tribe’s past and present. Weaving her own story into the larger narrative enriches the text and helps the reader gain an understanding of Lumbee life today.

One of the crucial issues Maynor Lowery examines is Lumbee identity, particularly in the context of the tribe’s ongoing struggle to achieve federal recognition. She provides invaluable information on the federal recognition process and the criteria used to determine whether a Native American tribe or nation qualifies for such recognition.

The Lumbee Indians is marred only by Maynor Lowery occasionally offering unnecessary detail (I didn’t really need to know about Sheriff Hubert Stone’s marriages, for instance) and her tendency to sometimes change topics too abruptly. Leaving these minor irritations aside, however, this book provides an excellent insight into Lumbee history from the people’s earliest encounters with Europeans to the present day.

[C. Meade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malinda Maynor Lowery takes a thoughtful and comprehensive look into the history, culture, and ongoing struggles of my people, the People of the Dark Water. Many aspects of Lumbee life remains shrouded in secrecy to this day and Malinda does a great job of navigating this aspect of our Tribe while still telling our story juxtaposed to the ideals of what it is to be American. Many of our forefathers managed to survive the "paper genocide" to pass on an unbounded legacy to us, the survivors. I particularly enjoyed Malinda's use of the Book of Matthew to inform the reader of her own Lumbee lineage; a technique I borrowed for my grandfather's obituary (also a Maynor). A 5-star MUST READ for anyone interested in Native American history and culture!

[Loni · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent resource for learning about the Lumbee tribe of North Carolina, and the struggles they have always faced to get the complete federal recognition they deserve. This book tells the real history of a tribe that many haven't heard of, even though it's one of the largest tribes in America. I really enjoyed learning about the history of the tribe as my mother is a Lowry/Lowrey (variations among our family), and through recent genealogical research we are learning about our ancestors history.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good and thorough development of the Lumbee tribal history and community. I knew some of the people mentioned personally - Gov. Jim Holshouser (whom I worked for), Julian Ransom, and Lonnie Revels and a fair amount about some of what was happening in the "70s and '80s, but this really opened my eyes. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a feel for the Lumbee community and things that drive them as a tribe.

[Broadway · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much about American history from reading this book. Seeing how everything from the Revolutionary War to Jim Crow to the War on Drugs have affected the Lumbee people was eye opening. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking to learn more about Indigenous history in the United States.

Also, I would totally watch a movie about Henry Berry Lowry. Hopefully one day I can see *Strike at the Wind!*

[Josh Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent history of the complicated identity of Lumbees. I especially appreciate the way Lowery maps out the federal recognition process, relative to her people.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent history of the Lumbees, written by a Lumbee.

[MaryB. · Rating 5 out of 5]

DNF
very detailed; extremely well-researched.