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SAMUEL PROCTOR ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM at
the University of Florida
LUM 124A /
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
DATE: AUGUST 30, 1973
SIDE: ONE
PAGE: ONE
I: This is Danford Dial interviewing Earl Homer Strickland. Earl Homer Strickland.
S: O.k. my oldest brother's name is W.J. Strickland, he's married, and the father
of three children. The next in line is my sister Janette, who also has three
children. And then the next oldest is my sister named Carolynn, who is the
mother of two children. The next oldest is a brother, whose name is Harold
Ray Strickland, he is the father of one daughter. And next is my brother
Ronnie Strickland, and there is I, and then I have a brother whose name is
James Edward Strickland, and then below him is another brother, Johnnie
Ray Strickland who's a sophomore in high school. And then I have two
sisters, Sharyl Strickland, and Lynelle Strickland, and then the eleventh
child is my baby brother whose name is Jeff Kent Strickland.
I: Well Homer, would you tell us something about your educational background
and your education?
S: O.k. Uh, my elementary and high school education was received at
Prospect High School. Aa
I: Where is Prospect High School?
S: Prospect High School is on Route 3, Maxton. And my college work has been
A krst
done at the University of Massachuset&1s% at Wt .a
I: Now how did you manage to go all the way to Amhurst to get your education?
S: Uh, during my high school days, I was an Upward Bound Student, and during
one of the summer programs I met a gentleman who was a counclor in theta
program, and who was also a student at the University of MassachusettS.
i_
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
S: And he told me a great deal about it. And through his influeace,..and..and
my eagerness to attend, I went.
I: What type of scholarship did you get?
S: Uh, the University of Massachusettj) was one of the first schools in the
nation to set up a program especially designed for minority students..-. ,
when I applied, the program was two years old, and there was a lot of things
to iron out. And we've had many problems with the program, being on a large
state-wide campus. but sL, the reason that I was able to attend, was because
of this scholarship that was funded through Ford Foundation, and partly by
the State of Massachusetts.
I: How do you feel about being a minority up there among all these white
students?
S: Uh...that's a psychologically evasive question, and one can never really
A
pin it down. It's almost like a paranoid feeling. The only person that you
have to conquer is yourself, and yo- .you can't be shy. You can't say how
these people must be thinking You...-you always must maintain a positive
attitude towards people. h it's very easy to sit back and say, well I think
I'm being discriminated against, and therefore feel like you should withdraw 1
within yourself. But you must continue to be an outgoing person, to sort
of overcome that feeling.
I: Well that's wonderful. How did you learn this, being a rural boy from va
the Lumbee Indians here in Robeson County?
S: Well I spent three years at the university, and wu. I wished I'd had that
attitude when I first went. It would have saved me ok a lot of pain and?
and growing up to do. But this is just one of those things that time will
only tell. It's one of those things that you have to think out for a long
time.
2
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
I: Did you have any particular person that took special interest in you,
and invited you ror guided you along when you went to the University of
Massachusett s?
S: Well, when I went, the only person I knew warsthi,-is the one I
referred to that was the initial contact. And then once I got there,
j.A through my-iethe own power of my personality I made many
friends.
I: What's your feeling...do you have a different feeling up there in the
University of Massachusetts than you do when you come back here among
the local whites?
S: Def initely not. It uh...to be a psychologically healthy person one
an'A.Au can't have two personalities. He can't -...e-e*4 -be one person
here, and another person there. He can't have a split personality. And
it.it's very comforting to me to know, for to be a happy person) you
have to be the same person in both placeseaSa4-h, I don't think my
attitude, or anything at all about me changes when I...when I go to
school or when I come home. I think I'm basically the same person. I
react to people the same way. Uh, and that brings up the point about 3 e
people being different. The people are different in that ph in Pembroke
the people are more traditional, and up there things are more liberal, so
the changes have to come within me to react towards the people in general.
I: You say the people are more traditional in Pembroke, and here in Robeson
County...do you think that's healthy, or...?
3
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
S: Bh...ell, it's healthy for them, but it's not healthy for me, because I
have to interact with Ai===it the people. And if myl-r4f my life is
being tuned to nine months of liberalism, and nine months of independence,
and nine months of free thought...to come back to a community where
intellectual endeavors, and schooling and education aren't as highly
prized, where uh...where the liberal thought is't;-y-yunknow, isn't that
accepted. It's sort of hard on me.
I: In other words, you say you prefer the liberal way of thinking and
living rather to the traditional way?
S: No! I ,ki find good points here, and I find good points there. It's going
to be my task in life to combine the best of two.
I: Now what do you plan to do alter you finishzthe University of
Massachusettel?
S: Welluh. when I go back, I'm going to start applying to law school. .I
would like very much to go to law school.
I: Why are you interested in law?
S: Well at the university I was a sociology major that coupled with my
background .,.t has given me in-ate into a lot of the social problems,
and the political issues of the present day. And I've always been interested
in that sort of thing. And then my work experience, I worked with
Neighborhood Youth Corp for three summers, dealing with poverty cases,
aad-4in undeveloped situations3 .under-priveleged situations. And I feel
like I could share something, and I would like to try.
I: The fact that you are from a minority group, and you worked with under-
priveleged k people, does that give you a feeling that you would like to
4
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
I: ...help them or enlighten them, or vyha what particular thing drew you
toward these people?
S: Well, these people are my people, and uh, basically, deep down in our
hearts, we're no different from each other. I can't progress as a person
unless they progress with me. lh.. a...L.. L l,. .that is a small
philosophy that -,-tat I adhere to. And -h, I still feel like I have
something to share, and I'd like to try.
I: And you feel like that you would 4ar spend your talents and your abilities
better by training to be a doctor, and helping your people than you
would if you would go out of there for just the vocatieialehenefits and
so forth of being a lawyer?
S: l, well, in all cases, and I think with all people, one has to tuh-
establish some sort of equilibrium for me and for the group that I'm
going to serve. .nb, in question to what I want, and then what I want bt.
to give to my people. Aa.as for a doctor, I was never that interested
in medicine or in science, so I couldn't be a doctor because I don't have
that interest. But I do have the interest in the social and the political
thingsO aed that is neededand that's what I have to give. I don't have the
science background or ro..-the love of medicine to share.
I: And what has really motivated you to go into this particular thing?
4Me 5rxe
Was it your family life, your family background, beeeusaof your family?
The desire to help unfortunate people?
S: Well, there's a little bit of prestige involved of course, but I like to
discount that as much as I possibly can. Uh, I think I've had a very unique
and rewarding experience in that ....I've been able to see where some
5
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
S: ...change, some social and political change is necessary. ;A, in a
minority community where there has been a shortage of political influence
and power, there's always & desire for equality. And--h, the old saying
is, that if you go out in the street and rebel, that's not where it's at.
You have to go through the legitimate channels to bring about any change.
And in this country the legitimate channels are through the...through the
judiciary system.
I: Do you think our judicial system here in Robeson County is fair? and-uh,
Ao you think everyone gets an equal chance or equal opportunity?
S: No I don't. ts if I felt that way, I don't think that I would feel any,
any desire to go out and change, because then it would e. t ww.- be
satisfactory for the people. But I don't feel it is. There' s-.thereLe a
lot of racism and discrimination involved, and the most difficult thing to
do in a case like that to initiate any changes, to be accepted. And in this
case to be accepted is to attend law school, and get your degree, and pass
the bar.
I: In other words, you're trying to forget some of the impulses or repulses
that you've faced as an individual?
S: No, I dirw-r9i don't think I'm trying to deny them. If anything I want
to admit them, and work from it. Wk ..if I can combine all the experiences
that I've had, arn all my desires and wishes, and still come out wlt4, with
that need to be a lawyer.
I: How do you feel about the...gae revolution-.a..that's taking place among
the young people? How has that affected you personally?
6
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
S: ni, wVtll-ta L well my.,ay maturation process &sr-isn't all that
complete, and I don't know if my attitudesJ.ha will be the same
they are tomorrow. But at the present -h, I'm of the opinion that if what
we have now isn't working, we should change it. And 444 a revolution-y
hQa. in the sense of the word is a bit radical. But I'm in favor of
change if what's in the present isn't working. And so in the hearts of
young people I'm for the revolution. If the young people have the
discipline and the knowledge to go ahead and work up an eftable system.
I: Do you feel like the young people are getting away from tradition.and a,,
stability in the home as the cause of this, or what particular brought about
this change?
S: Well, I feel that vrr rbke a lot of the laws of this land and vaQ a lot
of the institutions effectt young people. And 4U, for a long time these
institutions have ignored young people. And now young people are to make a
imprint on it-to make it am*a...more accustomed to their needs. And with
ab..the new laws that grant eighteen-year-olds the right to vote, and with
their desire and enthusiasm, with their liberal ideas, and with their sense
of justice and equality I think young ma ir yonai people will make a mark
upon this country.
I: Do you feel like that uh, there should be some other way to help promote
ube education and some other atmosphere for the Indian boys and girls, or
do you feel like the atmosphere has changed enough here to bring about a
real dynamic change in aun u'b Robeson County?
S: Well Ia.., find things changing very, very slowly. 99 education I feel is
the most immediate source of change. tS e can't wait to inherit wealth,
7
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
S: ...we can't wait for a miracle to happen, education, j.I feel is the key
to advancement. With_. .ah more knowledge 7and with more understanding of
the present situation, we can work for., -.e a change that will benefit all
people. And in this community, traditionally, the schools haven't been all
that great. And uh, until our educators come around to the point that our
education is the most important thing to a young people I feel we're
going to suffer a little bit. I'm one of the newer generation who..,e
has went away to school, and I find it a positive and rewarding experience.
And I-..-I recommend it to anyone because it's a change. It's...-4& new
blood added to the system. It's more ideas and more thought than the
traditionally oriented schools around here I think can offer. And with
the new programs, with...aiSh the many opportunities for Indian money,
with ib especially with u. programs like Talent Search of LRDA, I feel
that young people will find some new blood/and will bama back with new
ideas. And that education will be where it's at.
I: A lot of our young people though when they find this new blood and these
new ideas, they don't return back here, they stay away.
S: Now I..- can relate that personally to my case. t Lt i..- it's a very
strange experience. It's something that hasn't fully happened with me. But
my thoughts about it is this, that b. it's very hard for people to under-
stand the difference between living in this community and going away. tf,
it's something that you can discuss with very few people/and find that you
get any understanding back. Uh, it's very, well, in my case, the two-.. he
we states that I live in...North Carolina and Massachusett s, are different.
And a person ena =.can't change residences very frequently. Now when my
8
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
S: ...student days are over, I don't know where I'll be settling, because I
find that there are more opportunities, in my case right now, in
massachusetty than there are in North Carolina. And it's one thing, of
love of people or desire to help, versus personal benefit or'...e
things like that. My psychology, my...my thinking process....
END SIDE ONE
9
LUM 124A
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
DATE: AUGUST 30, 1973
TAE: ONE
SIDE: WO
I: This is Danford Dial, and I hope you will understand that there's an error on this
tape. This is August the thirtieth that I have just interviewed a former student
of mine, Earl Homer Strickland, who is now attending the University of Massachusett3s
in his senior year. Earl Homer Strickland is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Willard
Strickland. And he was the son of a ten ant farmer, uh, with eleven members in his
family.
I: How many boys Homer?
S: Six boys.
I: How many girls?
S: Four girls. Well there's seven boys, I'm not counting myself. I-efave
I: Seven boys, and four girls?
S: Right.
I: Eleven children in his family, and his father's name is Mr. Willard Strickland.
Now Homer has told me quite a bit about his college life and his ideas and his
thinking on the other side of the tape. But we want to go back to his ideas/pand
get some of the things that *.* he would like to tell us. Homer, would you continue
your interview, and tell us some of the ideas you have about the local situation,
and people, and the Indian and marriage, and so forth. And what you feel about
assimilation?
10
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
S: O.k. first thing I'd like to touch upon is uh the political situation.
And uh-.-.if anywhere there is a change it's certainly in this community.
And uh...before the he-political process was/those who have power/will
be the preachers, will be 46t...he people who have wealth, inherited
wealth, will be those that- n. hat have some property. 4f it's only
recently that those people who have an education, who are what you would
call the upstarts, came along, ad- any and now there's a battle-within
this community, I feel, for who shall control and who shall govern. Will it
be the traditionalists, the ones who-the preachers, w the people who
have the wealth and the backing, or will it be tha..the new educated
ones the ones with the ideas, who e-Y.. are more than able to do
the job, but who don't have the money, the backing, to finance such things.
Uh, that's what I find about the present political situation, and I don't
feel like I eoald.-! can do very much with it because were dealing with,
with people, and we're dealing with their life, and to change their mind9-
will be changing their entire life. And until this thing can be worked
out on an individual level until people think it out, and hopefully
i. if I don't change my mind, they'll change their mind. But with my
present train of thought it's just going to take a long time for people to
realize that... tee--h. the educated, .the one with the ideas will
succeed. They...they will receive the reins of power. And they will govern
rather than the traditionalists whro'lve who have always had the power
because they had the money. L* as for marriage u.... I always consider
myself a very immature naive person, and auL, I've always been slow to
mature, and I haven't thought about marriage very much. But coming from
11
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
S: .../ large family with older brothers and sisters who have married, I've
been able to witness a lot, and 4l,.I can see their quarrels, I can
understand their viewpoints/and the pressures that there are upon them.
And k,.I'm just sort of thankful that I didn't fall in love at a very
young age, because I wouldn't just know what to do with it, because I
hadn't matured enough/or had enough ideas to sit down and resolve it.
JAy I see a lot of these young people, my age, who've been married two
years, who got married as soon as they got out of high school, and they
were happy when they got married. They were in love, but they were in love
with love, they weren't in love with each other. And now they're a littb
bit unhappy. They ... e find that they don't need...they do-' need to
love anymore, they need each other now. And they really don't have each
other. And I just see a lot of young people that areAt happy, just
because they hadn't matured enough when they got married. And uh, I'm
sort of thankful that..-rwat I too, well I never had the problem of want-
ing to get married, but I'm sort of thankful 6hat>that I've waited, and
was...and had time to sit down and think out a lot of things before I got
married, and find out that? my marriage partner isn't as compatible as
-Ld ..a1 I thought she would be.
I: How do you feel about the church here among the Indian people, and the
training, and the ministers and so forth?
S: O.k...uhs being this is an agricultural community, and being a community
of-uk, minority people. besides the school, the church is the single most
important institution in the community. 44 because of the conditions that
our people were reared under, w....we always had to work harde-&O ;here
wasn't thekbr .that much personal enjoyment. It was always a matter of
12
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
S: ...existence, it was always work, work, work. The church has been very
important to our people in that it gave...it was a reward, it was some-
ew
thing to work for, it weevms d was a confirmpof emotions, it was a catylist
for action, i...it relieved people's souls to know that-tbe they are
goodthat they could always go to the church and get a good feeling when
they go away. .S, because our people 4h don't have that much education,
ab they sort of are.,-the apt to accept things that are told to them,
and Sh. -a ny they depend on other people to tell them things, and
they don't do that much personal investigation on their own. And so...in
my case, wvth...with the reading that I've done, and what I've learned,
and my own personal thoughts and doubts I I find it very hard ta...to mix
my ideas with iaaE ^sA.aaa .. ..... wi ' the ideas of the churches
today. h.-...Z get a lot of pressure from people because I don't at-
tend church. It's been almost wl, almost four years that I haven't
gone to church. Ji my father did what he thought was right, he gave me
a Christian upbringing, he taught me to go to church. JA .what was gc
good for him isn't any good for me anymore. He can sit and listen to the
preacher and accept what the preacher says; I can't. L.-.- have to make
that decision for me, and nobody can tell me that this is the way it's
going to be, and this is the way it's supposed to be. -I, I guess that's
one-.eehe*s one place where my education has been a d44u=* disadvantage
to me in my interaction with people. I feel that I "eaalt.. can't explain
my religious feelings to other people because religion to:them-isiso very,
very personal and so very, very important, that to say that I don't attend
church is somewhat hypocritical to them. They don't i-thay .....they
denAt believe that I love God just as much as they do, and they don't
13
SUBJECT: EARL HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
S: ...believe that I can live a good and whole ome/and holy life just as well
as they can without going to the church. 06, I have my own personal doubts
Aas
as, about Christianity,-aed and the relation how iLt'rreit> tradition-
ally treated minority people. .Ih ar. there's just so many things
that the institution of religion has been used for, and when I think e,
that u... it was Christianity was forced upon the Indian people. Zt's
not... i44Le their native religion. It's a psychological thing where
it41..-4 whs it's useful for the person to believe that...W a no matter
what he is on this earth, he can die/and live 4v, an eternal life of
goodness. W I don't think that I need that psychological comfort. I
think that, .1ane I want to believe in something that's ...t
permanent now. And there's something, that where --ea...my thoughts7and
my actions will be accepted in this present day.
I: Lsb,..,hat about your brother? Don't you have a brother that's working in
Washington or studying would you tell us something about his work?
S: O.k...a ,jLmy brother graduated from college, I'd say about five or six
years ago. And wvh he accepted a job at sbl, one of the first plants to
come into this area as assistant personnel manager. kMpd-itl b
I: What is his name please?
S: His name is W.J. Strickland, my oldest brother. _he had been fatty
inzlve. .d-.ri arsbeerr very involved in community activities. ME, he's
been active in organizations/he's been members of county clubs, and
things like that. So that he's one of those Indians that have become
involved/and know a little bit of how it..r ow it feels to operate on
the Indian side and the non-Indian side. He ."las had a lot of opportun-
a0S )R4foLt '&rAy
ities 14 the inidee ef-thh things.
14
SUBJECT: HOMER STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
I: He Ah, received this through being a member of the JaJfee organization
didn't he. the first Jay gee organization to be set up among the u4
Indians in Robeson County?
S: Yes 3yes.
I: Would you tell us a little bit about his involvement with the Ja fees?
S: O.k.,,-,n, in the present day, the Jay ee Club as I see it, is set up
fus.....for the respected men of the community, for the business men, S,
for the non-farmer so to speak.,ub.who who needs something Jwho has
time to devote to his community. -lp it's one of those things where it
makes you...it's a middle class club. It sort of gives you a feeling of
importance. And 1wa in the present I think of the Jay tees as being,
as a little bit bourgeois so to speak. But it's one of the very first
civic-minded organizations to come into this community. And bh.basically
its philosophy is for community involvement. And for that reason it has
been good. And because it is th...one of the experiences along that line,
there's a lot of things that has to be ironed out in that it's not a
prestige club/and that it's not for the members only& i-._it is for
the community. Buit a4, my brother was a member p this club: he was the
president, and then he was a regional officer. And so he was..h--w
fairly involved, l- hs aLJCJ h...oll he has attended state
conventions and national conventions.
I: He received somewhat a high honor didn't he?
S: Yes he did. He's received various awards for sm. his leadership, for his
involvement, and for his efforts.
I: What is his present job today?
15
SUBJECT: E.H. STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
S: Today he is working with the Office of Economic Opportunity in
Washington D.C., as an Indian Intern. This is a program of the Federal
Government designed for minority members to learn a little bit about
running a business running a corporation find out where funds are
available, ah, what knowledge is needed in this particular area, and
things like this.
I: tVi what does he plan to do when he finishes his internship?
S: Well, I think his internship is going to be up in about six months. aM-
hr. I haven't had a chance to sit down and talk with him about what he's
going to do afterwards. But s., I think the philosophy of the program is
that with this training. with what he knows aboutof wazt c 4e knuw
abeet being a minority person/and coming from a community like this,
and then receiving the training on a national and regional scale, that
he will come back and benefit local businesses. Uirk-traA m..that is what
I think will be the legitimate outcomes wi4r-=6.*.
I: When you say local businesses, do you mean Indian businesses, or white
businesses, or just...?
S: Well, I think it was set up mainly for Indian businesses, because it is
a minority program. I think it will be for Indian business.
I: In what way do you think he could help the Indian business?
S: Well, he knows more about whut..what opportunities the Federal Government
extends. He knows what firms to contact. He knows beLa. eL anos- a little
bit about efficiency in management and administration. And ...well, these
are the things in the present day that are eewvweve-generally lacking in
Indian Businesses about expansion, about..abesh capital, things like
that ...rh-h he's getting training in.
16
SUBJECT: E.H. STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
I: B you say you'll be leaving for school. hat day do you plan to return
to Massachusettes to school?
S: Wosm tomorrow, the 31st I'll be leaving, and h...school starts next
week. 4me..I'm going to be visiting a friend until school starts.
I: And what subjects wh do you have in mind that you plan to pursue this
year?
S: O.k.-..l n regard to my wanting to go to law school, .'e- I've
already taken the exam, you knowpeready rt of..my record is more or
less set at this point, ande.. -he courses I've chosen now asr...are to
cap it off. Ands4-- J'm interested in philosophy and political science,
as well as sociology. In this semester, I'll be taking uh.a logic course,
and then another philosophy course, social problems, ah. and then for
political science courseI 'm taking ih,.public policy.
I: And where is your next stationtor where do you hope to attend .-do you
have any idea ?
S: Well, until I l,-,tfind out with my record/and with my background as to
where I'll be accepted, I'm shooting for the top. And then as my frustrations
grow I' l...I'll start aiming a little lower. But uh at the present, i.a
I'm looking towards Stanford. Stanford has an Indian program in laws and
also at Yale. And uh, Yale I understand i.is coming around to admitting
minority students. And at the present, I'm favorable of Yale more so than
Stanford, because Stanford has a four-year program, and normally the
program is three years. And Yale is..-s a policy school. ;c. -u--.it's
not too traditional, it goes out and studies social issues, and find out
what should be done. And then these changes are instituted through the
legal system. And that's the sort of thing that I like.
17
SUBJECT: E.H. STRICKLAND
INTERVIEWER: DANFORD DIAL
I: Uh, don't you think you'll have uh, pretty stiff competition at Yale?
S: Very. 4If like I said, anh I don't know how my credentials are going
to stack up against other peoples credentials, but I feel i+&4-.my
present situation.Lthat I've done just as well as I can do. And sh, if
it's not good enough I won't feel too badly if my first wish doesn't
come true. 4, my love for law school I think will carry me over, and
then I'll just -.Ti.f apply to other places.
I: When you say you've done as well as you could do, wai hbn hor how
well is that?
S: Wf well....
I: What is your average?
S: On a four point scale right now my...ay cumulative average is 3.53.
END OF INTERVIEW
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