^0^78]^' ^^^' EASTERN CHEROKEE GROUPS — ^KUPFERER 305 



Class with regard to land allotment. "The people aren't ready for it, 

 particularly the old folks in the hills." 



Rural Whites value individual efforts and personal independence, 

 but the extent to which their efforts yield commensurate financial 

 returns varies. Consequently, although they cherish the idea of 

 independence and individualism, some are not able to attain it in 

 fact. Circumstances such as poor health, poor land, large families, 

 and bad location of land, plus an attachment to the mountains con- 

 spire to keep them economically depressed. Their faith in the efficacy 

 of hard work is somewhat diminished. They have become resigned to 

 having fewer material goods. Their aspirations and expectations for 

 their children are lower, but they do hope for some improvement. 

 Some of the Rural Whites, for whom diligence and good fortune have 

 combined to provide them with an income adequate for a modest 

 standard of living, cling vigorously to the central theme of self-help. 

 Therefore, within this group there is a continuum both in standard of 

 living and in adherence to the primary value. People at the upper 

 end of the continuum are closer to the Middle Class, but they have 

 neither the education nor the economic resources to support the style 

 of life of the Middle Class, as yet. 



Distinguishing the dominant values of Generalized Indians is also 

 a vexing problem. Thomas contends that although they are incon- 

 sistent in the values they verbalize, they behave as if they stOl believed 

 in the old Conservative values (cf. p. 246). We have no evidence to 

 support this. In most respects our evidence for the Generalized 

 Indians is negative; that is to say, we know what they do not say or do. 

 If we examine the aspects of behavior which reflect the Harmony 

 Ethic, we find that these people, as a group, do not exhibit those 

 patterns which mirror it. They do not rely on an intercessor. They 

 have neither a "wait and see" attitude nor the initial reticence which is 

 a constituent of the Harmony Ethic. Parents and children are out- 

 going in their interpersonal relationships. The beginning fieldworker 

 finds that they, like the Middle Class, accept Whites in a way which 

 facilitates the establishment of rapport. 



Few of the Generalized Indians are completely self-employed. 

 Most of them work for an employer, either in some capacity for the 

 Government or in the manufacturing plants. Usually they are 

 steady and reliable employees. Among those who are self-employed 

 are carpenters, masons, truckdrivers, and small store owners. To 

 some degree there is a difference among them in the way they handle 

 money. Some are thrifty and plan for future expenditures. Others 

 have less regard for the "rainy day" or future wants. Some have 

 received unemployment compensation when out of work, or public 

 assistance when the breadwinner has undergone an extensive illness. 



