Self-Determined Schools: Lumbee Education History in a Tri-racial System in Robeson County, North Carolina

Abstract

In 1885, North Carolina recognized the Croatan Indians as a third race in addition to Whites and Blacks, granting them state apportionments and a self-governed public school system in Robeson County. This legislation also established a tri-racial school system in the state. Over time, the Croatans, renamed Lumbee, became the largest tribe in the southeastern US. Despite racialization and ongoing appeals for additional school funding, the Lumbee found strength in their self-determination. They supported their schools through educational rallies and contributions of land, supplies, time, and labour. The Lumbee ancestors were committed to creating and maintaining community schools, a legacy that remains central to Robeson County and North Carolina’s history. This article traces the history of Lumbee-controlled schools from 1885 to 1940