Lumbee Legend - Bruce Barton

Mr. Bruce Barton was a prominent member of the Lumbee Tribe. He was an educator, army veteran, activist, mentor, author, journalist, and advocate for the advancement of Indian people. In 1973, Mr. Barton founded the Carolina Indian Voice newspaper where he became known as a journalist covering topics that affected the Native community, as a result - he is regarded as the “godfather of Lumbee journalism”. Through his work at the Carolina Indian Voice, he gave the Lumbee people a voice, aiding the Lumbee in the fight to overcome a long history of discrimination. When ask, Mrs. Barbara Barton (wife) stated “Bruce used the Carolina Indian Voice to get the word out in the community and help our people understand the things going on around them as he felt the Robesonian always painted Natives in a negative light. He wanted others to see and understand some of the issues our Native community faced.”

 

“Bruce was always looking for our history. Not only where we have been, but where we were going and what we were doing during that time” Mrs. Barton stated.  

 

He worked as an editor for the Carolina Indian Voice until 1998 when he decided to enroll in the University of North Carolina at Pembroke and pursue a career in teaching. Along with his degree from UNCP, Mr. Barton obtained his M.A. in Education from the University of Southern Mississippi. As an educator, Mr. Barton taught at Pembroke Senior High and the Upward Bound Program at UNCP. He was also a founder of the UNCP Braves Club, the Pembroke Chamber of Commerce, and the Indian History Museum at the Public Schools of Robeson County’s Indian Education Resource Center.

Mr. Barton served on various boards, including the State Advisory Council on Indian Education and the Indian Monument of the Carolinas. As an author, he had a scholarly focus on Lumbee legend Henry Berry Lowrie. He also wrote about American Indian athletes in and around Robeson County, specifically basketball players with a published copy of “Playing Before An Overflow Crowd: The Story of Indian Basketball in Robeson, North Carolina, and Adjoining Counties” which he co-wrote with Mr. Tim Brayboy.

 

Mr. Barton was a historian for the Lumbee tribe providing a “wealth of information” of Lumbee history/stories as well as an activist and advocate for the Lumbee people. He fought to end the practice of double voting in Robeson County, spoke out against police brutality towards Indians, aided in the election of Indian officials, and defended the rights of the Lumbee people. He was also a key spokesperson in the Save Old Main movement, which helped stop the demolition of historic Old Main.

 

Mr. Barton spent his life advocating and articulating the affairs and concerns that affected Native communities. He continued to be a voice for Natives that refused to be silenced.