In a place that backed Trump residents weigh racial divides
In Robeson County  North Carolina  the most diverse rural county in America  many often remark at how well residents have overcome the scars of slavery and segregation to get along. The community once was a manufacturing powerhouse dotted with textile factories that have mostly closed up and moved overseas. Last November  it flipped from voting reliably Democratic in presidential elections and backed  Donald Trump .
Now some in the county are divided over racial equality  nationalism and  Trump 's comments on Muslims and minorities. Many African-Americans in Robeson worry the country is veering in the wrong direction  and point to the president's racially tinged tweets and rhetoric. But many of  Trump 's supporters think the criticism is overblown or misplaced  and stand behind  him  and  his  pledge to revitalize struggling communities.
That's why  after twice voting for Barack Obama  Pittman became a  Donald Trump  supporter.
She'd felt something shifting in this county that for generations was one of the most reliably Democratic in the country. Usually customers sit up at her counter and give their take on the news of the day. But as the campaign drew to a close last fall  people were unusually quiet. When she went to the polls  she demonstrates with a laugh  everyone was covering up their ballots  glancing over their shoulders so no one could see which candidate they were marking. She guessed they were voting for  Trump  and didn't want to admit it.
A grandmother of three teens  Pittman  too  was hesitant  especially after the recording surfaced in which  Trump  bragged about groping women. But  he  promised to bring jobs back to communities like hers  along with a lost American spirit.
" His  fingers react faster than  his  brain does. But  he 's got good intentions " she says. "Just think before you tweet   Mr. Trump ."
"It's traumatic to have your jobs go away ... especially at our age." So she keeps her prices low  and hopes  Trump  will help bring some relief.
Merle Fields seizes on this slow moment to discuss his favorite topic:  Donald Trump . "I agree with him: Let's make America great again."
They tick through their competing views of the world: Addison  an African-American  believes  Trump  has emboldened racists and cracked open the nation's racial wounds.
"OK  OK  let's save this for later " chirps their boss at Betty Carol's Diner. Employees and customers come from all walks of life in Robeson County. They are black  white and Native American. Republicans and Democrats.  Trump  supporters and  Trump  haters.
She and Fields have worked together for years. They take their breaks together and poke fun at each other. Hunt's granddaughter wails with excitement when she sees Fields. Yet Hunt  who is also Native American  can sometimes barely contain how much  Trump  upsets  her .
"I think  he 's doing a sorry job. I don't like  his  attitude  the way  he  talks to people.  He 's turning everybody against one another "  she  says. "I've never seen the world this bad."
Fields shrugs. "We've got to give  him  a chance. Rome wasn't built in a day  and  he  just got into office and  he  stepped into a mess."
"We get into it all the time " Fields says. "But  she  likes who  she  likes. I like who I like."
"I just tell  him  what's what and keep going " Hunt replies.
"I hear this and I hear that  what he's up to  but I don't know." So Locklear figures  President Donald Trump  is doing the best  he  can.
In Robeson County  North Carolina  the most diverse rural county in America  many often remark at how well residents have overcome the scars of slavery and segregation to get along. The community once was a manufacturing powerhouse dotted with textile factories that have mostly closed up and moved overseas. Last November  it flipped from voting reliably Democratic in presidential elections and backed   [TGT]  .
Now some in the county are divided over racial equality  nationalism and   [TGT]  's comments on Muslims and minorities. Many African-Americans in Robeson worry the country is veering in the wrong direction  and point to the president's racially tinged tweets and rhetoric. But many of   [TGT]  's supporters think the criticism is overblown or misplaced  and stand behind  him  and  his  pledge to revitalize struggling communities.
That's why  after twice voting for Barack Obama  Pittman became a   [TGT] supporter.
 [TGT] 'd felt something shifting in this county that for generations was one of the most reliably Democratic in the country. Usually customers sit up at  [TGT]  counter and give their take on the news of the day. But as the campaign drew to a close last fall  people were unusually quiet. When  [TGT]  went to the polls   [TGT]  demonstrates with a laugh  everyone was covering up their ballots  glancing over their shoulders so no one could see which candidate they were marking.  [TGT]  guessed they were voting for   [TGT] and didn't want to admit it.
A grandmother of three teens  Pittman  too  was hesitant  especially after the recording surfaced in which  Trump  bragged about groping women. But  he  promised to bring jobs back to communities like hers  along with a lost American spirit.
" His  fingers react faster than  his  brain does. But  he 's got good intentions "  [TGT]  says. "Just think before you tweet   Mr. Trump ."
"It's traumatic to have your jobs go away ... especially at our age." So  [TGT]  keeps  [TGT]  prices low  and hopes  Trump  will help bring some relief.
Merle Fields seizes on this slow moment to discuss his favorite topic:  Donald Trump . "I agree with him: Let's make America great again."
They tick through their competing views of the world: Addison  an African-American  believes  Trump  has emboldened racists and cracked open the nation's racial wounds.
"OK  OK  let's save this for later " chirps their boss at Betty Carol's Diner. Employees and customers come from all walks of life in Robeson County. They are black  white and Native American. Republicans and Democrats.  Trump  supporters and  Trump  haters.
She and Fields have worked together for years. They take their breaks together and poke fun at each other. Hunt's granddaughter wails with excitement when she sees Fields. Yet Hunt  who is also Native American  can sometimes barely contain how much  Trump  upsets  her .
"I think  he 's doing a sorry job. I don't like  his  attitude  the way  he  talks to people.  He 's turning everybody against one another "  she  says. "I've never seen the world this bad."
Fields shrugs. "We've got to give  him  a chance. Rome wasn't built in a day  and  he  just got into office and  he  stepped into a mess."
"We get into it all the time " Fields says. "But  she  likes who  she  likes. I like who I like."
"I just tell  him  what's what and keep going " Hunt replies.
"I hear this and I hear that  what he's up to  but I don't know." So  [TGT] is doing the best   [TGT]   can.