Comments on: Welcome to Robbinsville….Just Move Along

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 17:11:41 +0000

I spent many summers in 70s and 80s in Robbinsville as a vacation from my home in Texas. I can attest to much of what is said in Jenkins’ book. Certainly, it was a racist town in those days with very black people ever seen in the area. And certainly it was small enough that everyone knew everyone and “news” (e.g., visitors such as Peter Jenkins) traveled with the speed of light through town. However, I found the people friendly and outgoing, even though I could have been easily cast as a rich, cityboy invading their territory. Overall, I have thousands of fond memories from there.

By: Lew Powell

Lew Powell — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 13:49:06 +0000

Although Robbinsville isn’t listed among James Loewen’s possible “sundown towns” in North Carolina,
http://sundown.afro.illinois.edu/sundowntownsshow.php?state=NC
Graham County is — along with this comment:
“Rainbow Family, an organization of hippies and neo- hippies that holds annual camping festivals in different locations, met in Graham County in 1987.
“One of the campers reported that they saw signs reading ‘Nigger don’t let the sun set on you here in Graham County.’ The Rainbow gatherings are interracial, so some campers took the signs down.
“Rainbow Family sued in federal court, arguing that federal marshals were restricting their access to the national park in Graham County. During the hearing, a federal marshal stated, ‘I congratulate you for finally bringing some black people into Graham County. You have a few of them sleeping in your camp, and that’s probably more than ever slept in Graham County before.’ “

By: John

John — Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:21:58 +0000

It’s not nearly as bad now, but robbinsville was that bad and worse back then. My grandparents used to visit it when they were kids in the summertime and there was literally a sign going into the county that said ‘don’t let the sun set on your ass, n***er.’ Meaning you could pass through but if you were still there at nightfall, you’d be dead. Horrible how people can be so arrogant.

By: Lawrence

Lawrence — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:09:46 +0000

I was curious about that, too. If the folks in Robbinsville wanted to be left alone then they definitely got their wish. Peter’s book has never been out of print, so Robbinsville has had 35 years of advertising as the unfriendliest town in America.

By: Vernon

Vernon — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:13:53 +0000

I’ve always wondered if anybody in Robbinsville had anything to say about the way they were depicted in Peter Jenkins’ book. He really made them look bad (acid-mean, paranoid people). Or more accurately, they made themselves look bad with their inhospitality.