East Carolina Indian School

Mr. Maynor was born in 1946 and his childhood is filled with memories of poverty and working on the farm with his mother, Viola Brewington, his Grandmother Dosie Maynor and his Aunt Mary Goins.

“All over everywhere, they had a black and white bathroom but no places for the Indians.”

“We went to the white bathrooms at places we could go to. And that use to be like Norris Frozen Custard in Dunn, the Indians and blacks could go in and get food, but you had to stand at the end of the counter, you couldn’t sit down in there and eat it. You could get your food and order it, but you had to get your food and carry it back outside.“

“All the eating establishments were like that. The blacks did a sit-in at Sue’s diner. And I remember one day, there was a whole bunch of people standing outside. And I think two or three black people went in there and sat down. The man that owned it, he comes out waving his hands to try and get the white people to come in. He was saying, ‘Ya’ll come on in! Come on in and let’s get them out of here!’ And nobody wouldn’t go. They all just stood outside.“

Image description: Photograph of the East Carolina Indian School. The students of the school are standing for a group photo in front of the school.
Writing on bottom of photograph says, "The high school students from Cumberland, Harnett and Bladen Countries attended this school in Sampson County. Some of the students in the picture lived or now live in Cumberland Counties.
. – Photo courtesy of NCpedia.org