A Fighter Speaks Up!

By David Pego

"As sad as I hate it to be, I feel that within this new century we will be no more," says Jim Baxter, a longtime friend of mine.

I asked Jim and several others in my life recently to talk about their American Indian identity and consciousness. The answers have astounded me. I was looking for simplicity. Instead, I found a boiling melting pot of confusion and turbulent feelings.

"I think, to me, it is very important to be of (Indian) blood," said Jim, who is a Texan. "My father raised me to live in two worlds, which is not an easy thing to do. His reasoning was that this was, and will always be, a 'white world'"

Jim's father was a full-blood Cherokee. His mother was one-quarter Cherokee and three-quarters Irish. Her family had come to the United States during the Great Potato Famine in Ireland. Jim's father was particularly instructive about how he and his children should approach life.

A new world with new ideas

"He always told us that we would have to fit into this world if we were to survive. I think that by this statement, my father meant that we would have to assimilate ourselves into it to better ourselves and our way of living."

But he told them more.

"Dad always told us to cling to our traditions and to our customs and to never let them die but always be willing to accept the changes that would come," Jim said.

Growing up was tough for Jim, who now is 75 years old. His was one of only two Indian families in his town.

Fighting for what you believe

Like many young Indian men during the mid-1900s, Jim said he learned to do what was best.

"I learned to be tough and not complain," he said. "I learned that whatever obstacles I faced, that it could be overcome. I learned that severe pain is not forever and that broken bones could be overcome."

Jim also realized that younger eyes were looking in his direction.

Jim was always a teacher

"As a student that was being taught, I was also a teacher," he said. "I thought that no matter what they did to me as a person, they would have to do it again tomorrow because I would not surrender to their will or to their ways. I also taught them that all men are vulnerable to their ways. I taught them that regardless of a person's color that all men are to be respected. I was a good teacher and must have taught them well, because they still call me. And I am still respected by all of them."

I admire Jim for many reasons. And, I respect him for which he stands – and never from which he never back down!