North Carolina Now; Episode from 1999-04-12

It's Monday, April 12th. Tonight, efforts to preserve a little known passage of Cherokee history in North Carolina now. Hello, welcome to North Carolina now. I'm Arita Matray. Tonight we'll explore the history of two separate races of people, how they settled in our state and their contributions to it. We'll look at the influence of African-Americans in Western North Carolina and the Cherokees in the mountains. But first, Congress returned to Capitol Hill today to get back to work following their spring break or their district work period, as they like to call it. Budget issues are on the agenda, but the war in Yugoslavia is expected to consume much of the debate. Joining me now is Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina's 7th District, which covers the southeastern portion of our state, including Wilmington, Lumberton, and Fayetteville.

Always a pleasure, Congressman. Thank you. Good to be back with you today. Now, it's important to say that this interview is being taped in the early afternoon as you're on your way to the airport heading back to D.C., so we don't want people to think that you're lingering and getting back to your duties there in Washington. But let's talk about the issues that you'll be facing once you do get back to Capitol Hill. I know that the coast of those situations is going to consume much of your time. It sure will. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, we had regular briefings. In fact, on a daily basis, just before we left for the Easter recess and work period. And now as we go back so much has happened in the last two weeks while we have been gone, that I know that our chairman of our committee, Floyd Spence from South Carolina is already talking about scheduling some briefings. Some of those, of course, will be classified briefings. Others will be, I'm sure, open public hearings. But we want to be brought up to date. We want to find out exactly what the status is from an internal military viewpoint so that we can grapple with the tough decisions about where do we go from here. A lot of us would like to push a button and see this over with, see mission accomplished and come home. That is our desire. But we realize it realistically given the mountainous terrain, given

Milosevic's desire to pull his agenda versus NATO's agenda that this is not an easy task. And that makes it a difficult decision. We have to be sold on the fact that this needs to continue. We also want, of course, to see mission accomplished. I don't think anyone wants to see our country or NATO lose its credibility, not only in Europe, but worldwide, because we know that countries like North Korea, China, Russia, Iraq, Iran, those other countries are watching. And so it puts us in a precarious position to make sure we fulfill our commitments to NATO. We fulfill our commitments to those Eastern European, formerly communist countries. The Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary all joined NATO about two weeks before this happened in Kosovo. And we know that Poland all too well remembers what happened in September of 1939 when a fellow named Adolf Hitler went in unchecked and was allowed to do his ethnic cleansing and how that spilled over in all of Europe. We all too well remember what happened in Serbia

when World War I began. So this is a tender box area, but it's an area that we're going to be debating seriously about how much further our involvement should be and how we can best accomplish the mission we need to. Can that mission be accomplished without sending in ground troops? That question is up for debate. And I think the jury is out on that question. Literally, Congress has been out of session from Washington. That's why we want to hear about this. I think we need to be convinced before that decision can be made. And I believe that the administration understands we need to be convinced that it's not going to be an easy decision and should not be an automatic decision. Let's talk now about some of the priorities that you have set forth for yourself for this session of Congress. And you have set forth what you call your four cornerstones. Those are health care education, agriculture, economic security. Let's go through each one of these one by one starting with the health care because I know that you recently introduced the Rural Health Improvement Act. I wanted to tell our viewers about that. Well, we like to call that the Triple A Rural Health Care Act. And we know that that's not only

catchy, but it makes it go right to the point of what this health care act is about. We know that health care is going to be on the front burner in Congress this year. People are concerned about the affordability, the accessibility, and the accountability of health care plans. And that's what the three A's stand for. Our Triple A Rural Health Care Act, 82 percent of North Carolina's classified as rule. In other words, 82 of our 100 counties, which makes the math easy, are classified as rural areas. A predominant part of southeastern North Carolina that I represent, as well as most of eastern North Carolina. And then we can go into sections of the Piedmont and, of course, in the mountainous areas of our state that are classified as rural. We want to make sure that whether we're talking about telemedicine, which are leading medical centers or on the forefront of at Duke at Chapel Hill at East Carolina, those three in particular are reaching out to rural areas. We want to make sure telemedicine is emphasized. We want to make sure that there are rural impact statements when insurance companies and HMOs try to develop new plans that they don't leave out the cost considerations for rural areas. We know that rural areas

are disproportionately affected by cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. That is a big issue. The president had proposed a $9 billion cut in Medicare. Now, we realize that rural areas are disproportionately hurt by that. And some of our rural hospitals, quite honestly, would not only have to downsize, but possibly close. I met with all of the CEOs and CFOs from the rural hospitals down in southeastern North Carolina recently, and they're quite concerned about the future of Medicare. So with the budget situation, the potential for a surplus, but we realize that there's not a surplus until we make sure the money is applied appropriately. We want to make sure that social security and Medicare are taken care of, because that's something every one of us see come out of our paychecks. And we want to make sure that those are protected and that no money is used for new spending programs, but that money is using for what its intended purpose was with social security and Medicare. So our rural health care plan is intended to make sure that rural areas are not left out. And one other big area is in the area of emergency medical services and

rescue squads, and making sure that their needs are addressed as well. Unfortunately, each of these topics could be in of themselves on a complete interview. They're so important, but let's talk a little bit about education. What is your focus there? Well, I'm on the Democratic Education Task Force. I continue to volunteer in the schools as I have really throughout my legal career, even prior to going to Congress. So I try to spend time in the schools on a regular basis when I'm home during the week. And one of our greatest needs and crying needs, again, in North Carolina and protecting the more rural areas, but also we have these needs in the urban areas, and that's in the area of school construction. Last year we didn't quite reach that legislative plateau. We would have liked to have reached. And so this year there is going to be an emphasis on school construction funding, trying to help our local school boards, not make decisions for them, but where they have a need. We have a lot of what are considered low-wealth counties. The tax base is not quite there to support improvements in our schools to help those local school boards on school construction needs. And the one other big area is reducing class size, especially in the areas of grades one through three. Last year,

we saw almost $25 million come to our area of North Carolina, and then throughout our state, we saw a figure much greater than that to help reduce class size so that local school boards can have more teachers available for the younger grades, and so that students can get the individual attention they need as they're starting their school career. So education is going to be another front burner issue during this session of Congress, so we're going to be working hard on that. If we can quickly touch on the topics of agriculture and economic security because we are running out of time, but I do want to mention them. Sure. Well, we all know how important agriculture is to North Carolina. The tobacco issue, of course, with the state settlements that have occurred. We've had to let the state legislature do what he needed to do in terms of the settlement money, but we are very concerned from the federal level about crop insurance. We're very concerned about price support structure for the future of the tobacco farmer. We want to make sure our tobacco farmers are not left out of any discussion about what's going to happen to the future of tobacco. Locomodity prices have been a big issue also for corn, for soybeans, for other crops in North

Carolina. So we are doing all we can on the House Agriculture Committee to protect those interest of our farmers. We know how critical that is to our area, not only in eastern North Carolina, but to the whole economy of our great state. The area of economic security is our fourth cornerstone you mentioned, and that includes several areas, but I've touched on Social Security and Medicare. It will include that, especially for our senior citizen population, but also we are looking at the concerns about fighting crime. We know that COPS grants have been very important to our smaller coastal communities as well as a lot of our crossroads, communities. A lot of our urban areas and sheriff's departments in our counties have benefited from COPS grants. We're doing what we can to make sure more monies are available through the Department of Justice for that. And then we look at, of course, the concern for job opportunity. Unfortunately, we've had several textile meals close down that have been adversely affected by some trade agreements that have not helped North Carolina as far as job loss. And we want to make sure that we're doing what we can to afford the opportunity for good, positive economic

development, industrial development, water and sewer infrastructure, other needs that our communities have to make sure that we can turn the tide and make sure that our unemployment rates are not so high, but we can lower those and have good job opportunities for our citizens. All right. Well, Congressman, you have a plane to catch, but I want to thank you for taking the time to be with us. Sure. Good to be with you again. Now, if you would like to contact Congressman Mike McIntyre's DC office, that number is 202-225-2731. Now, let's get caught up on the rest of today's statewide news by turning to Mitchell Lewis. Good evening, Mitch. Thanks, Marita. Good evening, everyone. Topping our news, two units from Pope Air Force Base have been called up for deployment to the Balkans. About 60 Air Force personnel from the 23rd Fighter Group are heading to Europe to support NATO forces fighting in Kosovo. The troops will accompany for attack aircraft, designed to take out armored tanks. Also heading to the region are about 20 soldiers from Pope's 23rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. The squadron will be responsible for evacuating wounded or

injured soldiers. UNC Chapel Hill Chancellor Michael Hooker is stepping down temporarily to fight cancer. Hooker has been readmitted to UNC hospitals and will undergo intensive chemotherapy. The 53-year-old chancellor was diagnosed with bone cancer three months ago and had been carrying out his duties while undergoing treatment. William McCoy, a former vice president for finance for the UNC system, has been named UNC Chapel Hill's interim chancellor. The UNC Board of Governors has approved a 10-year plan for the 16-campus system. A key element of the plan seeks to channel the state's growing college population toward many of the system's smaller campuses. The plan aims to stimulate greater growth at UNC Pembroke, UNC Charlotte, Western Carolina, and the five historically black universities. UNC officials are planning for a 31-percent gain in student population over the next 10 years. The state Supreme Court has ruled that landlords and rental agencies have no legal obligation to ensure the condition of rental places for temporary renters. The court decision maintains

the state has never given tenants an implied warranty for short-term rentals. The state's Supreme Court decision comes out of a 1994 lawsuit in which a balcony separated from the adjoining house and collapsed injuring several people. And now for a look at tomorrow's weather, high temperatures will range between the mid-50s to the upper 60s. Mostly sunny skies will spread across the entire state for Tuesday. In business news, a state senator is proposing legislation to limit corporate exposure to lawsuits stemming from year 2000 computer problems. Senator David Hoyle of Gaston County says the bill exempts individuals and businesses from punitive damages if they make a good faith effort to correct the problem. However, the measure would not prohibit legal judgments covering actual damages. Merged operations have left Charlotte-based Bank of America with more than $1 billion in losses from investments made by former Bank of America. The acquisition of the San Francisco-based Institution by Nations Bank has saddled the new bank with near-worthless Russian bonds and

other high-risk dealings. In addition to problematic investments, Nations Bank executives say 1800 Bank America branches have to be rewired to handle additional computer information and to support modern communications. The stock market set a record high once again with the Dow Jones closing up about 160 points. Here's a look at the numbers. The African-American presence in Western North Carolina can be traced back to the very beginnings

of modern development in the area. Tonight producer Teresa Stiles takes a look at the contributions made by African-Americans to the region at a time when new development is creating tension for one long-standing African-American community. The hustle and bustle of day-to-day life now occurring in parts of Western North Carolina were unheard of only a short time ago. There is no question that growth in the region has brought about change. Growth in the North Carolina Mountains, coupled with the rich cultural heritage found here, has transformed the area into a popular place to live and work. African-Americans have had a unique history that can be found among the array of people in places of Western North Carolina. Blacks in the region following the Civil War filled the need for domestic and construction workers due to the growing popularity of the area as a resort

community. In fact, at the turn of the century, African-Americans such as James V. Miller were involved in the construction of many of the buildings in downtown Asheville. J.V. Miller was a brick mason and he performed brick masonry on some of the largest public works projects in Western North Carolina. We have proof via a journal in which J.V. Miller's contract was itemized. It is here. It is the journal that comes from the Cox estate, the developer of many. In fact, mostly all of the downtown commercial properties, including the public service building in which you'll see Jim Miller's brick contract on the new building on government street, which is the city hall building. All the contractors also employed black laborers, artisans and craftsmen in the late 1800s to assist in the construction of the built more estate. One of Vanderbilt's first priorities was to purchase land. When Vanderbilt came, he came in a

very opportune time. Land prices were very low. So he was able to purchase quite a bit of land for the immediate house. What we saw during the acquisition of land by the Vanderbilt was not just necessarily buying up and picking out African-Americans to buy land from but a massive land acquisition all along Hendersonville Road and built more avenue. So some of the names that we see are African-American names and heirs to some of the existing African-American families in Asheville today. In the shadow of the built more estate lies the Young Men's Institute, a structure that bears a striking resemblance to the buildings in built more village and the built more estate. The history behind the YMI is well documented. Records show a Black West Indian educated at Cambridge University in England, who was closely associated to George Vanderbilt as were some other influential blacks in Asheville

was a catalyst behind the YMI enterprise. In its day, the Young Men's Institute served as a center of business, civic, cultural, social, and religious life of Black Mountain years. And today it is still a cornerstone of the African-American community in Asheville. For more than 100 years, Black Mountain residents have maintained their culture through churches. Hopkins Chapel African and Piscobal Church and St. Matthias Piscobal Church are the oldest. Of all the Black churches in the region, St. Matthias was closely tied to the Vanderbilt. The history of St. Matthias in particular bears the legacy of racism and a connection to wealth and privilege of the time. About 100 miles north of Asheville lies the city of Boone. Within this

mountainous municipality sits the community known as Junalaska, the oldest neighborhood of African Americans around Boone. The Black Men and Night Church here is one of six African-American Men and Night churches in all of America, all are in North Carolina, and the Men and Night Brotherhood of Boone is believed to be the oldest. Certain things that the Men and Night's allow and certain things that they didn't allow. So these things, we as African-American, even today, we have our confession of faith, we work closely with the U.S. conference. The Men and Night Brotherhood still believe in pacifism, even at a time when residents of Boone have been up in arms over a new development in the Junalaska community. Basically what we did, we offered our building as a place of meeting, seeing that it is the largest building in the community in the area. And so what we did was to take a Sunday and open the doors for black and white, that I ever one that was wanting this

to stop, be stopped, everyone that was wanting to show their corporation that they could come here together. The defeat of a recent annexation effort has not deterred construction. The company has found other ways to develop without city services. But now they're being watched, because there is a procedural thing here, and we want to make sure that whatever they do up there is done right. Junalaska, like communities all over Western North Carolina, are beginning to combine new developments with the rich history of the area. The history of the Young Men's Institute, the built-more estate, St. Matthias and Asheville, and the Men and Night Brotherhood in Boone are only a few of the many landmarks that help us understand the contributions to the region by African-Americans at the turn of the century. Since this segment was produced, a mutual agreement has been worked out between the African

Americans in the Junalaska community and the residential developers in Boone. The Cherokee Museum recently bought land deeds and diaries written by a white man who fought nearly his entire life for the rights of the tribe. William Holland Thomas is credited with preventing the Cherokee's forced removal from Western North Carolina. As John Arnold reports, museum administrators hope the new collection preserves a little known, but important part of Cherokee history. For nearly his entire life, Bo Taylor has been searching. I guess I was just kind of lost, I didn't know who I was. Searching for his identity, his Cherokee roots, that's exactly what he's digging for here, at the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, where he works as an archivist. Look at who this gentleman is, we're taking a look at it. Bo is sifting through the museum's newest collection, the papers, letters, and diaries of William Holland Thomas, a white man by birth, a Cherokee Indian for nearly all of his life.

He was a part of us, he did become one of us, he was adopted, he participated with us, you know, he loved us, you know, until the day that he died, he always was thinking of us. He's already been done. Which is why the Cherokee Indians and museum administrators say, preserving this collection is so important. Up until now, William Thomas has been a relatively unknown part of Cherokee history. His descendants and other scholars want that to change, which is why they've handed the papers over to the museum. Richard Yopes has spent much time researching William Holland Thomas, who fought nearly all of his life for the rights of Lefty Indians. Those Cherokees living along the O'Connell Lefty River in Western North Carolina. Many of the white people at that time didn't even think the Native Americans were even human at that time. And so he definitely was in the minority as far as defending the rights of the Indians. William Thomas was born near Wainsville in Haywood County in 1805. He grew up in the mountains

and as a teenager was befriended by an older Cherokee leader named Yanaguska. As the friendship grew, young William took part in tribal customs and was eventually adopted by the tribe. Thomas later studied law and went on to become a businessman, attorney and landowner. As federal forces called for the removal of Indians living in the southeastern United States, the Cherokees asked Thomas, their adopted son, to represent them in Washington. They wanted the south. They wanted our land. You know, we were a small pocket of people up here in the mountains of North Carolina, you know, and we were always, we were always in fear of having to leave, always. Most Indians living in the region did leave on what was to become the tragic trail of tears, but the lofty Cherokees stayed behind by hiding out in the mountains. And William Thomas fought to keep them there. Since Cherokees could not own land, Thomas bought it and held it in trust for them.

He also fought and won financial claims against the government. At age 35, William Holland Thomas, a white man, served as chief of the Qualitown Cherokees, ancestors of the Cherokees who live here today. He championed the Indian. He was a chief for us. And he made it possible that we still exist here in North Carolina. Because this is one of the diaries. The museum of the Cherokee Indian spent $20,000 to attain Thomas' papers, which include reams of land deeds, letters and diaries like this one. Right now, both Taylor and other museum workers are sorting through the papers and cataloging them in a database. Soon, the collection will be available for researchers. Museum administrators say the collection was a major purchase for them, but that it was a necessary one. If their museum is to become a leading source of information for Cherokee history.

I'd be used for scholar research once we get them a cataloged and into proper people can come through and do research on that. And that is our major goal here is to become a, somebody wants to do research on Cherokee history. This is where they want to come, because we want to be our major research center down the road. There's no date on a lot of them. Relatives Hope, William Thomas' papers, will shed light on his place in North Carolina history. He served in the state senate and championed better roadways through the mountains. He also helped get the first rail lines through Western North Carolina. But his biggest and most lasting legacy will no doubt be his dedication to his Cherokee brother. It could take several months to catalog an inventory of the Thomas collection. After that, it will be open to the public. And that's all we've got time for tonight. Thanks for joining us. Good night.