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NorthCarolina’sLumbeeFightforJustice:TheBattleatHayesPondinMaxton,NC
OverviewLittleknownaboutourstate’shistoryisthebraveconfrontationNorthCarolina’sLumbeestagedtoprotestaKKKrallynearMaxton,NConthenightofJanuary18,1958.Inthislesson,studentslearnaboutNorthCarolina’sLumbeeandtheirheroicresistancetohatredandbigotryonthisnight,knownas“TheBattleofHayesPond.”Studentswillexplorethenight’seventsaswellasdesignanactivecitizenshipawardtohonortheLumbeefortheirvigilanceinfightingfortheirrights.Grade8NorthCarolinaEssentialStandardsfor8thGradeSocialStudies• 8.H.1.2-Summarizetheliteralmeaningofhistoricaldocumentsinordertoestablishcontext.• 8.H.1.3-Useprimaryandsecondarysourcestointerpretvarioushistoricalperspectives.• 8.H.1.5-Analyzetherelationshipbetweenhistoricalcontextanddecision-making.• 8.C&G.1.4-AnalyzeaccesstodemocraticrightsandfreedomsamongvariousgroupsinNorthCarolinaand
theUnitedStates(e.g.enslavedpeople,women,wageearners,landlessfarmers,AmericanIndians,AfricanAmericansandotherethnicgroups).
• 8.C&G.2.3-ExplaintheimpactofhumanandcivilrightsissuesthroughoutNorthCarolinaandUnitedStateshistory.
• 8.C.1.3-SummarizethecontributionsofparticulargroupstothedevelopmentofNorthCarolinaandtheUnitedStates(e.g.women,religiousgroups,andethnicminoritiessuchasAmericanIndians,AfricanAmericans,andEuropeanimmigrants).
EssentialQuestions• WhoaretheLumbeeandwhatistheirhistoryinNorthCarolina?• InwhatwaysdidtheKKKstrivetoterrorizeminoritiesduringthe1950s?• WhattookplacebetweentheKKKandtheLumbeeinMaxton,NConJanuary18,1958?• WhowereJames“Catfish”ColeandSimeonOxedine?Howwouldyoucharacterizethesemen?• WhyisitimportanttorememberandhonorthebraveactionsoftheLumbeeinstandinguptotheKlan?
Materials• PowerPointaccompaniment,“NorthCarolina’sLumbeeFightforJustice,”availableintheDatabaseofK-
12Resourceso ToviewthisPDFasaprojectablepresentation,savethefile,click“View”inthetopmenubarof
thefile,andselect“FullScreenMode”o TorequestaneditablePPTversionofthispresentation,[email protected]
• KlanRallyAdvertisement,imageattached(alsoavailableinPPT)• MapshowinglocationofMaxton,NC,imageattached(alsoavailableinPPT)• TheBattleofHayesPond,articleanddiscussionquestionsattached
“TheBattleofMaxtonField,”songlyricsattached;recordingcanbepurchased(typicallyfor99cents)viavariousonlinemusicsources,suchasAmazon.com
• LumbeeMenHoldingKKKFlag,imagesattached(alsoavailableinPPT)• LumbeeAward,imageattached(alsoavailableinPPT)
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Duration60minutesStudentPreparationStudentsshouldhaveabasicknowledgeofhategroupssuchastheKKK,whichareimportantsubjectstoaddresswithintheatmosphereofarespectfulandsafeclassroom.Withoutpriorknowledgeandexaminationofsuchsubjectmatter,thewarm-upimagemaybeinterpretedasoffensiveratherthanadiscussiontopic.Procedure
TheKKKTargettheLumbee1. Asawarm-up,projectslide2oftheaccompanyingPPT,whichcontainsanimageofaKKKrally
advertisement.(Alsoattached,shouldteacherschoosetoprintanddistribute.)Discusswithstudents:• Whatdoyouseehere?Whatdoyounoticefirstwhenlookingatthis?(Encouragestudentstosimply
pointoutwhatinformationiscontainedintheimage,whattextfirststrikesthem,etc.)• Whatinformationdoesthisgiveus?• Whatdoyouthinkthepurposeofthisdocumentwasandwhy?• WhatdoyoualreadyknowabouttheKKK?Whatcomestomindwhenyouthinkofthishategroup?• Whydoyouthinktheyareholdinga“rallyandcrossburning”inMaxton,NC?• ThedateisnotedasJanuary18th.Whatyearwouldyouguessthatthistookplace?Whatevidence
makesyouthinkthis?(Asstudentsinfervariousdates,manymostlikelyprovidedpastyears,itisworthdiscussingthattheKKKisstillactiveinmodernsocietyandnotjustahategroupofthepast.)
• WhereisMaxton,NC?o ProjecttheattachedimageofNorthCarolina,whichhasareddotpinpointingthelocationof
Maxton.AskstudentstotryandidentifythecountiesinwhichMaxtonislocated.(RobesonandScotland)
• Doesanyonehaveaguessastowhytherallymayhavebeenheldinthislocation?WhodidtheKlanoftentarget?(StudentsaresometimesfamiliarwiththefactthattheKKKtargetedAfricanAmericans,butgenerallylessfamiliarwithotherminoritygroupsalsotargeted,suchastheLumbeeIndians.)
2. Projectslide3andexplaintostudentsthattherallythedocumentreferstowasheldonJanuary18,1958
nearHayesPondinMaxton,NC.During1957and1958,manysimilareventswereorganizedaroundthesamearea,whichheldanalmostevenlydividedpopulationofLumbeeIndians,AfricanAmericans,andWhites.ManyoftheKlanevents,includingtheJanuary18thrally,wereorganizedbySouthCarolinaGrandDragonJames“Catfish”Cole.Infact,fivedaysbeforetherallyonJanuary13,1958,KlansmenburnedacrossatthehomeofaLumbeewomanwhowasrumoredtohavearelationshipwithawhiteman.James“Catfish”ColeclaimedthattheJanuary18thrallywouldbeattendedby5,000heavilyarmedKlansmen,andthatthepurposeoftherallywastoremindtheLumbeeIndiansof“theirplace”intheracialorder.Discuss:• WhatemotionsdoyouimagineLumbeeswouldfeelwhentheysawanadvertisementlikethis?
(Ensurestudentsdiscussemotionssuchasfear,anger,intimidation,anxiety,etc.Students,giventheirmodernperspectivesandlackofhistoricalperspective,oftenjumptotheconclusionthattheywouldbeangeredbytheadvertisementandwouldimmediatelyfightback.However,intruth,tofightbackinthe1950swasoftentakingquitearisk.DuringtheJimCrowera,theKlanoftengotbywithnotonlypublichatespeech,butalsoactsofviolencesuchasbeatingsandlynching.Tostanduptothemthenoftenmeantriskingyourlifeorthelivesofthoseclosetoyou.)
• Colehadpredictedthat5,000heavilyarmedKKKmemberswouldparticipateattherally.Whatdoyoupredicttookplaceonthatnight?
3. Afterstudentshavesharedtheirpredictions,projecttheexcerptonslide5andreaditoutloudtopeaktheircuriosityabouttheJanuary18thevent:• “Thecaravansrolled,likeclockwork,everySaturdayjustafternightfall.Seven,sometimeseightcars.
Sedansmostly,longandlow,forminganunsettlingparadethatrolledupU.S.74fromthesouthintoMaxton.Inside,thedomelightsburned,castingthefacesofpassengersinaneerie,harshglare.TheKu
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KluxKlanwasn'tknownforsubtlety.ButitwasknowninthispartofNorthCarolina."Yousawthosecarscoming,andyouknewwhothosemenwere,"saidLillieMcKoy,aformermayorofMaxtonwhogrewupwatchingthecaravanfromheruncle'sstorejustoutsidetown."Theywantedyoutoseethem.Theywantedyoutobeafraidofthem."Andalotofpeoplewereafraid….UntiltheKlanpickedafightwithpeoplewhofoughtback.”(Source:http://fayobserver.com/app/shared_images/battle_of_maxton_field/)
WhoAretheLumbee?
4. TellstudentsthattheywillbelearningaboutwhatactuallytookplaceonJanuary18,1958attherallybyHayesPondinMaxton,NC.However,leavestudentswiththeircuriositiespeakedforabriefmomentandexplainthatbeforefindingoutwhatoccurredattherally,youfirstwantthemtolearnabitmoreabouttheLumbee.AskstudentstosharewhattheyalreadyknowregardingtheLumbeeandlisttheircommentsonchartpaper.FurtherdiscussthehistoryandcultureoftheLumbee,sharinginformationsuchas(alsoincludedonslide6):• “TheLumbeearethepresent-daydescendantsoftheCherawTribeandhavecontinuouslyexistedin
andaroundRobesonCounty,NCsincetheearlypartoftheeighteenthcentury.In1885,thetribewasrecognizedasIndianbytheStateofNorthCarolina.ThetribehassoughtfullfederalrecognitionfromtheUnitedStatesGovernmentsince1888.In1956,CongresspassedtheLumbeeAct,whichrecognizedthetribeasIndian.However,theActwithheldthefullbenefitsoffederalrecognitionfromthetribe.EffortsarecurrentlyunderwaytopassfederallegislationthatgrantsfullrecognitiontotheLumbeeTribeofNorthCarolina.
The40,000+membersoftheLumbeeTribeofNorthCarolinaresideprimarilyinRobeson,Hoke,Cumberland,andScotlandcounties.TheLumbeeTribeisthelargesttribeinNorthCarolina,thelargesttribeeastoftheMississippiRiverandtheninthlargestinthenation.TheLumbeetaketheirnamefromtheLumbeeRiverwhichwindsitswaythroughRobesonCounty.Pembroke,NorthCarolinaistheeconomic,culturalandpoliticalcenterofthetribe.AtthesametimetheLumbeewererecognizedbythestateofNorthCarolinain1885,theyestablishedaseparateschoolsystemthatwouldbenefittribalmembers.In1887,thestateestablishedtheCroatanNormalIndianSchool,whichistodayTheUniversityofNorthCarolinaatPembroke.”(Source:http://www.lumbeetribe.com/History_Culture/History_Culture%20Index.html)
Ø TeacherNote:IfyourtextbookdoesnotcontaininformationabouttheLumbeetogooverwithstudents,
additionalinformationforteacherreferencecanbefoundathttp://www.lumbeetribe.com/andhttp://lumbee.web.unc.edu.
TheNighttheKlanMetItsMatch
5. Passouttheattachedarticle,TheBattleatHayesPond,andinstructstudentstoreaditindividuallyorinpartners.Afterreadingthearticle,discuss:• WhywereKlanmembersterrorizingtheLumbeeinthe1950s?WhyweretheKlansoconcernedabout
peopleofdifferingracesandethnicitieshavingrelationships?o TeachersmaywanttoremindstudentsofJimCrowlaws,manyofwhichdealtwith
“miscegenation”inNorthCarolina,meaning,peopleofdifferentracesmarrying.Forexample,a1953JimCrowstatutestatedthat“marriagebetweenwhiteandNegroesorIndiansvoid.Penalty:Infamouscrime,fourmonthstotenyearsimprisonment,finediscretionofcourt.”
• Colepredicted5,000Klansmenwouldshowuptotherally.Inactuality,howmanyKlansmencame?HowmanyLumbeecame?
• HowwouldyoucharacterizetheLumbeewhoshowedupattherallytofightfortheircivilrightsandlettheKlanknowtheirmessageofhatewasunwelcome?
• WhydoyouthinksomanyLumbeeshoweduptodefendthemselves?(Itisimportanttodiscusswithstudentshowittookactivecitizenswhovaluedtheirrightstostandtogetherandfightback.HadonlyafewLumbeeshowedup,thingsmayhaveturnedoutdifferently.Explaintostudentsthatsituationslikethisdon’tjusthappenaccidentally;theyrequireengagedcitizensandthoughtfulplanning.For
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example,SimeonOxendinewasaLumbeewhohadheardofCole’splanstohostarallyandremindIndiansof"theirplaceintheracialorder."Oxendinereportedlyreplied,"Hesaidthat,didhe?We'lljustwaitandsee."OxendineandothersthenorganizedtoensurethereweremanyLumbeetheretolettheKlanknowexactlyhowtheyfeltabouttheirmessageofhate.Asoneofthe"elderstatesmen"attherally,OxendinewasoneofseveralveteranswholedtheLumbees.)
• OncetheKlanwasoutnumbered,howdidtheyrespond?Howwouldyoucharacterizetheirresponse?WhathappenedtoCole’swife?
o AstheKlansmendroppedtheirgunsandKKKparaphernalia,theyscrambledintothewoodssofastthatmanydidn’tevennoticewhattheyleftbehind.CatfishColeevenlefthiswifebehind!WhentheLumbeeshowedupshepanickedanddroveintoaditch.ItwastheLumbeewhohelpedpushhercaroutandgetheronherwaywhileherhusbandhidoutintheswamps,
o Projectslides8and/or9(alsoattached)ofLumbeeholdingacapturedKKKflagfromtherallyandaskstudentstorespondtowhattheysee.ExplaintothemthatastheKlanretreatedinsuchhastetheyleftbehindallofthematerialsfortheirrally.SimeonOxendineretrievedtheblanket-sizedKKKbannerthatwasleftbehindandmarchedbacktoMaxtonwithitwrappedaroundhisbody.HisphotowastakenandmadethecoverofLifemagazine.
• HowdoestheimageinyourmindoftheKlanretreatinginthiswaydifferthanmanyoftheimageswegenerallyenvisionoftheKlan?(TheKlanisoftenportrayedasterrorizing,strong,powerful,dangerous,etc.–whicharefaircategorizationsinthewaytheytormentedinnocentpeople,oftenwithoutpunishment.However,inthisinstanceweseeacowardlysidetotheKlan.)
• WhyisthiseventsuchavictoryforallpeoplewhoweretargetedbytheKlan?(ExplaintostudentsthattheKlandidnotmakeanotherappearanceinRobesonCountyuntil1984,whenarallywasheldataprivatefarm.Therewerenoincidentssincetherewasvisiblelawenforcementpresent.)
• WhyisitimportanttoremembertheBattleofHayesPondandtohonortheLumbeeforsuchabraveresponsetohate?
• Considerthevariouswaysweensurethataparticularhistorythatwedeemmonumentalorimportantisnotforgottenandishonored/celebrated.WhataresomespecificwaysTheBattleofHayesPondcanberemembered?(Chartstudentthoughtsontheboard.)
PuttingtheBattleintoWords
6. ExplaintostudentsthatwhenwordoftheKKKbeingdefeatedbytheLumbeespread,afolksingerchosetohonortheeventbywritingasongabouttheoccurrence.“MalvinaReynolds,asocialactivistandprolificsongwriter,hadhadapersonalencounterwithwhatshecalledthe’bedsheetboys.’Accordingtoherdaughter,NancySchimmel,KlanmembersbrokeintotheReynoldshomeintheearly1930s.TheypunchedReynoldsandbeatherhusbandandfather.WhensheheardabouttheKlan'ssetback,Reynoldsgleefullywroteasong,‘TheBattleofMaxtonField,’whichbecameamodesthitforfolksingerPeteSeeger.Init,shepokesfunattheKlan'snotionthattheIndians’aren'trealAmericans’andtheytookoffinfearwhenconfronted.”(Source:www.lumbeetribe.com)
7. Providestudentswiththeattachedcopyofthesonglyricsforstudentstoreadastheylistentothesong.(Freerecordingscantypicallybefoundbydoinganinternetsearchof“TheBattleofMaxtonField,PeteSeger,”oracopyofthesongcanbepurchasedviaaninternetsearchfor$0.99.)
8. Afterstudentslistentothesong,discuss:
• Whatisthemoodofthissong?Howdoesitmakeyoufeel?• WhatdoyouthinkMalvina’spurposewasinwritingthissong?• WhatcommentarydoesthesongmakeregardingtheKlan?Notespecificlinestobackupyour
answers.• WhatdoesMalvinameanwhenshesaysthatKlansmengettheir“couragefromaspigot?”• WhoisthelonelyKKKmemberleftattheendofthesong?Whydoesthesongreferencehiswife
beatinghim?• Ifyouweretore-titlethissong,whatwouldyoucallitandwhy?
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AwardforOutstandingCommunityMember
9. Projectslide11andexplaintostudentsthatsincetheBattleofHayesPond,theLumbeehavemaderememberingtheeventapriority.Infact,inJanuaryof2008,theLumbeeTribeofNorthCarolinaandtheIndianHonorAssociationcelebratedthe50thAnniversaryoftheroutingoftheKuKluxKlanfromMaxton.ThefestivitieswereheldattheIndianResourceCenterinPembroke.TribalChairmanJimmyGoinscommented,“Thisisjustfantastic,tobeabletohonoroureldersfortheircontributionsandactions,whileeducatingouryouthonthishistoricbattle”.ThetribeandHonorAssociationbelieveitisimportanttohonortheordinarypeoplewhostoodupagainstbigotryandhatred,andtocontinuerecognizingthebraveLumbeewhofoughtbackthatnight.ProjecttheattachedimageoftheLumbeeawardandsharethefollowingwithstudents:• “ThetribeactuallystartedpayingtributetothosewhostooduptotheKlaninJuly2004.Thetribe
honored146Lumbeemenandwomenduringitsannualhomecomingcelebration.Eachreceivedamedallionengravedwith’LumbeeWarrior‘and’1958‘surroundingthetribe'slogo.TheirnameswererecentlyreadinaJanuary2008ceremony."WewanttotakethetimetohonortheseheroeswhofoughtagainsttheinjusticeandbigotryoftheKKK,"saidTribalChairmanJimmyGoins.’TheystoodnotjustfortheLumbees,butforallminorities.’’Itisimportantforthetribetoremembertheserviceofitsforefathers,’AlexBaker,thetribe’spublicrelationsmanagersaid.‘Weshouldneverforgettheircontributionsthatimpactustoday,’hesaid.‘Itisbecauseofthem,peoplelikemeandothersdon'thavetofeelthehatredoftheKKK.’”Sources:http://fayobserver.com/app/shared_images/battle_of_maxton_field/;http://www.lumbeetribe.com/single-post/2016/1/18/Tribe-Commemorates-58th-anniversary-of-Battle-of-Hayes-Pond?Itemid=27&id=172&option=com_content&view=article
10. Discuss:• WhatdidtheTribalChairmanmeanwhenhesaid,“Wewanttotakethetimetohonortheseheroes
whofoughtagainsttheinjusticeandbigotryoftheKKK.TheystoodnotjustfortheLumbees,butforallminorities…"?
• AccordingtoAlexBaker,whyisthetribepresentingawardsforsomethingthattookplaceinthe1950s?Doyouagreeordisagreewithhiscommentthat“Itisimportantforthetribetoremembertheserviceofitsforefathers.Weshouldneverforgettheircontributionsthatimpactustoday”?Explain.
• WhatdoyounoticeabouttheawardthatwasdesignedfortheLumbeewhoparticipated?(Encouragestudentstoexaminetheattachedimageoftheawardandcommentonthetext,colors,etc.andtomakecommentsregardingwhattheawardmightstandforandmeantothepeopleitwaspresentedto.)
11. Projectslide12andtellstudentsthattheywillspendsometimeconsideringtheimportanceoftheactions
oftheLumbee.Tellthemtoimaginethattherewillbeanawardsceremonythisyeartoagainhonorthose“ordinarypeople…standinguptobigotryandhatred,”andthattheyhavebeenselectedtodesigntheawardthatwillbepresentedtotheLumbee.Projectand/orexplainthefollowingassignment:
Createthe“OutstandingCommunityMemberAward”
Congratulations!YouhavebeenselectedtoserveonacommitteethatwilldesignanawardtohonortheLumbeewhostoodupforthemselvesandtheircommunitymembersattheJanuary18,1958KlanrallyatHayesPond,NC.Beinganactiveandengagedmemberofyourcommunityandfightingforjusticearespecialtraits,anditisimportanttorecognizethosewhodedicatethemselvestosuch.ConsiderwhytheLumbeedidwhattheydid,whattheyriskedintakingsuchactions,andwhattheiractionsmeantforotherminoritieswhohadbeenharassedbytheKlan.Then,designanawardthatyoufeelappropriatelyrepresentstheircontributionandhonorswhattheLumbeedidonJanuary18,1958.Theawardyoudesigncanbeacommonawardtype(acertificate,aplaque,etc.)orcanbemorecreativeandabstract(a
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statue,aphysicalshapesymbolicoftheLumbeeandtheiractions,etc.)ThepurposeistobecreativeandshowwhytheLumbeearebeinghonoredwiththedesignofyouraward.12. Studentscancompletethisculminatingactivityinclassorforhomework.Teachersareencouragedto
displaythestudentcreatedawardsandallowtheclasstimetoviewanddiscussthevariousawarddesignsoncetheyareturnedin.
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KlanRallyAdvertisement
Source:http://www.fayobserver.com/special/battle_of_maxton_field/#
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LocationofMaxton,NC
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TheBattleofHayesPond
TheBattleofHayesPondreferstoanarmedconfrontationbetweentheKuKluxKlanandLumbeeNativeAmericansnearMaxton,NorthCarolinaonthenightofJanuary18,1958.Duringthe1950s,theKuKluxKlanwagedacampaignofterrorthroughouttheAmericanSouth.In1957,KlanWizardJamesW."Catfish"ColeofSouthCarolinabeganacampaignofharassmentagainsthisneighborstothenorth,theLumbeeIndiansofRobesonCounty,NorthCarolina.DeclaringtheLumbeetobe"mongrels,"Coletoldnewspapers:"There'sabout30,000half-breedsupinRobesonCountyandwearegoingtohavesomecrossburningsandscarethemup."ThenewyearbeganwithawaveofKlanterror.OnJanuary13,1958,agroupofKlansmenburnedacrossonthelawnofaLumbeewomaninthetownofSt.Pauls,NorthCarolinaas"awarning"becauseshewas"havinganaffair"withawhiteman.TheKlanheldstillmorecrossburningswhileColetraveledthroughoutthecountyspeakingoutagainstthe"mongrelization"oftheraces.PleasedwiththeKlan'scampaignofterrordirectedagainsttheLumbees,ColeplannedamassiveKlanrallytobeheldonJanuary18,1958,nearthesmalltownofMaxton,NorthCarolina.Colepredictedthat5,000rallyingKlansmenwouldremindtheLumbeesof"theirplace."ColehopedthathiseffortsatcowingtheLumbeeintosubmissionwouldconsolidatehiscontrolovertheKlanintheCarolinas.“Hesaidthat,didhe?”askedSimeonOxendine,whoheadedtheLumbeechapteroftheVeteransofForeignWars.OxendinehasflownmorethanthirtymissionsagainsttheGermansinWorldWarII.“Well,we’lljustwaitandsee.”Notsurprisingly,Cole'sspeeches,particularlyhisinflammatoryreferencestothe"loosemorals"ofLumbeewomen,provokedangeramongtheLumbees.RobesonCountySheriffMalcolmMcLeodwenttoseeColeandtoldhimthat"hislifewouldbeindangerifhecametoMaxtonandmadethesamespeechhe'dbeenmaking."Coleproceededwithhisplansundeterred.Hewasconvincedthatastrongshowofforcewouldproveanunequivocaldemonstrationofwhitesupremacyandputanendtowhatheperceivedtoberampant"racemixing"inRobesonCounty.Onthenightofthebattle,only50Klansmenoutoftheplanned5,000arrivedatthedesignatedrallypoint,gatheringinadarkfieldalongsidetheroad,litonlybyasinglebulbpoweredbyaportablegenerator.However,beforeColecouldbegintherally,over500wellarmedLumbeeappeared,fannedoutacrossthehighwayandencircledtheassembledKlansmen.WhenColebegantospeak,aLumbeesmashedthelightbulbwithhisriffleandthehundredsofLumbeegatheredbeganmakingwhoopingnoisesandshottheirrifflesintotheair.Panicked,theKlansmenscattered,abandoningtheirunlitcrossandleavingtheirpublicaddresssystemandKlanregaliabehind.FourKlansmenwerewoundedinthefirstvolleyfiredbytheLumbee,butnonewereseriouslyinjured.JamesW."Catfish"Colereportedlyfledsofastthathelefthiswifebehindandescapedthroughanearbyswamp.TheLumbeesthenhelpedMrs.Colepushhercaroutoftheditchwhereshehadgottenitstuckduringthepanic.Afterthebattle,theLumbeehelda"victoryparty",burnedtheKlan'sabandonedregalia,anddancedaroundanopenfire.TheBattleofHayesPondisrememberedasoneofthemostsignificanteventsinLumbeehistoryandiscelebratedannuallyasaLumbeeholiday.Moreover,theBattleofHayesPondreceivednationalattention.NewspapersmockedtheKlanandpraisedtheLumbee.Infact,thecoverofLifemagazinefeaturedaphotographofaproudSimeonOxendinewrappedinaKKKbannerhehadconfiscatedduringtheevent.NorthCarolinaGovernorLutherH.HodgesdenouncedtheKlaninapressstatementandtheembarrassedJamesW."Catfish"Colewasprosecuted,convicted,andservedatwo-yearsentenceforincitingariot.Sources:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hayes_Pond;http://www.lumbeetribe.com/Press%20Room/50th%20Celebration%20of%20Battle%20at%20Hayes%20Pond.html;http://fayobserver.com/app/shared_images/battle_of_maxton_field/
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Name:_____________________________________
TheBattleofHayesPondDiscussionQuestions
1. WhywereKlanmembersterrorizingtheLumbeeinthe1950s?
2. Colepredicted5,000Klansmenwouldshowuptotherally.Inactuality,howmanyKlansmencame?Howmany
Lumbeecame?Whydoyouthinkthenumbersturnedoutthisway?3. HowwouldyoucharacterizetheLumbeewhoshowedupattherally?
4. WhydoyouthinksomanyLumbeeshoweduptodefendthemselves?Howmightthisrallyhaveturnedout
differentlyhadnotsomanyLumbeeattended?
5. OncetheKlanwasoutnumbered,howdidtheyrespond?Howwouldyoucharacterizetheirresponse?
6. HowdoestheimageinyourmindoftheKlanretreatinginthiswaydifferthanmanyoftheimageswegenerallyenvisionoftheKlan?
7. Whyisthiseventsuchavictoryforallpeoplewhowere(andare)targetedbytheKlan?
8. WhyisitimportanttoremembertheBattleofHayesPondandtohonortheLumbeeforsuchabraveresponsetohate?
9. Considerthevariouswaysweensureparticularhistorythatwedeemmonumentalorimportantisnotforgottenand
ishonored/celebrated.WhataresomespecificwaysTheBattleofHayesPondcanberemembered?
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LumbeeMen(SimeonOxedine[left]andCharlieWarriaxwithCapturedKKKFlag
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Source:http://www.fayobserver.com/special/battle_of_maxton_field/#
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LumbeeAward
Source:http://www.fayobserver.com/special/battle_of_maxton_field/#
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TheBattleofMaxtonFieldbyMalvinaReynolds
Notes:IntheNotestohersongbookLittleBoxesandOtherHandmadeSongsMalvinawrites:"InthetownofMaxton,N.C.,inMarch1958,theKuKluxKlanplannedarallytotakedowntheLumbeeIndiansoftheareawhoseemedtothinktheyhadsomerights--theyhadtheirownmayoroftheirowntown,andlivedongoodtermswiththepeoplethereabouts."OhhaveyouseenthebedsheetboysTheterrorsofthenightTheyralliedhereatMaxtonJusthonin'forafight.Oh,rallyround,youKlansmenboysButdonotshowyourface.We'llburnthefierycrosstonightAndsavetheNordicrace.CHORUS:OhtheKlan,OhtheKlan,Itcallsonev'ryredbloodfightingmanWhoisfreeandwhiteandbigot,Getshiscouragefromaspigot,TheybeneedingreinforcementsForthefightTheIndians,theIndians,Theyareournaturalfoe,TheylureourgirlswithcokeandpieAndtakethemtotheshow,Theywearbluejeansandleathercoats,Butanyonecansee,TheyarenotrealAmericansThelikeofyouandme.Theheadlightsshone,theKlansmenstoodIncirclebraveandfine,WhensuddenlyawhoopwasheardThatcurdledeveryspine,AnIndianyouthwithsteelyeyes,Hesaunteredinalone,Hecalmlydrewhisshootin'ironAndconkedthemicrophone.CHORUSAnothershot,thelightswentout,Therewasamoment'shush,ThenahundredthousandLumbeeboysCamescreamingfromthebrush.Well,maybenotamillionquite,
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Butsurelymorethanfour,AndtheKlansmenshookfromheadtofootAndheadedforthedoor.Thecopperstheyweredowntheroad,Theydidnotliftagun.Theyheardthenoise,theysaid,"TheboysArehavingalittlefun."ButwhentheysawthenightshirtladsTroopingdowntheroad,Theyknewthatsomethingwentamiss,Thewrongswitchhadbeenthrowed.OnelonelyKlansmaninthebrushTheCooperschancetofindHeranawayandleftmeherebehindHestaggeredhomethatgreenishmorntogreethislovingwifeShebeathimwitharollingpinforlosingherkitchenknifeCHORUS
Recordingavailableat:
http://new.music.yahoo.com/pete-seeger/tracks/battle-of-maxton-field--183429789
