In the darkness of it all
Vic Landers on the Moore County blackout.
Hi Folks,
Spencer here— if you’ve been subscribed to this newsletter for a bit, you’ll know that before I returned to graduate school to pursue my M.A. in Folklore, I spent two years working as a full-time Teaching Artist in rural North Carolina schools. When I first moved back South, it was summer of 2020, and I had just accepted the job working in Moore County, a place I had no connection to but figured it was my home state, I was excited about the work, and we would just go and see what happened.
Those first few months, living alone in a small town where I knew no one, were not easy. But slowly, it changed, and I fell back in love with North Carolina, and with this place. I fell in love with the longleaf pines and the winding drive through the hills at sunrise and the smell of fire in the air when the days grow cold. Most of all, I fell in love with the people I met, my wonderful, lovely group of friends and artists who are not only some of my favorite humans in the world but some of my closest people. Each and every one of them was a driving force in the launch of Good Folk, and in my own personal journey. Without this place— even when it felt like it would take us all down— I would have never found them, and I would never be here, writing this.
One of those people is someone who is incredibly important to this project and whom many of you might only know behind the scenes: Victoria Landers. Vic is not only one of my best friends, but is also the Head of Media and Design here at Good Folk, where they edit the podcast and design all our beautiful graphics, but mostly listen to me to ramble about the South, and since the day we met have affirmed what I know to be true about this place: that it can be one of expressive, creative, beautiful community, and that that possibility is worth believing in.
I met Vic in my second semester working in Moore County Schools, and got to spend every day teaching alongside them. I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of good educators in rural spaces, and I’m so proud to have Vic by my side as we grow this publication. And while I’ve moved a few counties north to pursue my degree, Vic has stayed in Moore County, where they grew up and where we spent so many hours wandering over abandoned golf courses, driving alongside farmland and forests, and building a new version of life here— one we both knew we wanted to stay in.
Today, I turn the newsletter over to Vic, who has been on-the-ground in Moore County since the blackouts began Saturday night. If you haven’t seen, on Saturday evening, the entire county lost power due to targeted attacks on substations that are believed to be acts of domestic terrorism in relation to a local drag show happening at the Sunrise Theater in downtown Southern Pines— just a few blocks from the first apartment I ever rented. There’s a lot more in this Twitter thread, and lots more still emerging, but I’m happy to say that, despite countless attempts to shut it down, the drag show still went on, and I ask that you send so much love and support to Sunrise and the many other local businesses that supported this event. This is the future we fight for. I’m proud to be here with y’all, and please see below for Vic’s words on the event and all the resources we have been compiling the last few days. We’ll keep you updated as the story unfolds, but I am sending so much love to Moore County this week, and all the wonderful folks I know within it.
Let me start by saying that I am not a writer. I am more of the behind-the-scenes hype man for Good Folk, so bear with me as I ramble and try to make sense of all the craziness I have witnessed the past 48 hours. I have lived in Moore County, most often referred to as MOCO, for 20 years. During my childhood, I spent my days looking to the future and waiting for the day I left MOCO in my review mirror. When I moved back into my childhood bedroom unexpectedly in 2020, I had to have a conversation with myself (and my therapist) about my disdain and borderline distrust of the roads and people that raised me.
I won’t go into the nitty gritty of my self-discovery and deconstruction of the stereotypes about the South and my hometown that I clung to during my childhood. What I will say is this once sleepy town is now packed with people from all walks of life. I have found a family here of artists, mothers, teachers, and creatives who support me and my whole being. I have a community I give back to when and where I can. Moore County is my home, and for the time being, I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
My power went off at 9:16 pm on Saturday night in the middle of a particularly creepy Gollum monologue in the second Lord Of The Rings movie. I rolled my eyes and complained to Gracie, my friend who was with me, that yet again, another pine tree fell and busted some powerline. At 9:58 pm, Gracie, in a quiet voice, read out a text from her dad, a MEDEVAC pilot for a local fire station, saying:
“We (at the fire station) are hearing that someone is shooting the substations. Crazy if that is true. Stay off the roads.”
My heart sank. I knew of the drag show put on by Sandhills Pride that night at the Sunrise Theater and the backlash it got on Facebook. There were rumors of the Proud Boys coming to town to protest the show and march in the Christmas Parade earlier that same day. But could the power outage be related to this? It seemed outlandish, but stranger things have happened.
Gracie, myself, and all of MOCO went to bed having no idea if this power outage was related to the drag show and the protests or if it was just another pine tree that the wind claimed.
I woke up Sunday morning to a link to a Twitter thread from Spencer about the nature of the power outages. Huddled under my covers, Gracie and I read it together silently, taking in all the new information. I couldn’t wrap my head around seeing the phrase “domestic terrorist attack in Moore County” and the #iamOKwithit from those who supported the shootings. Going through the thread placed this bubble of anger and confusion inside of me and I didn’t know what to do with it. As cliche as it sounds, my first thought was, this happens to other towns, other people. Not me, not my town where we are only on a map because of golf and the military. Not us.
Within hours, the story went viral.
I now know too much about Emily Grace Rainey and her beliefs, and her background. I have received too many texts about which news outlets are coving the news and how long Moore County has been trending on Twitter. I have seen too many TikToks and replies saying that it is just a hick town and, “What else do you expect from the South? Of course, they hate gay people.”
With that same breath, the support and love for the MOCO LGBTQ+ family have flooded in great waves. I have seen neighbors knock on each other doors asking what they need and if they are okay. I have seen local businesses open their doors to those who are still without power and offer free warm drinks and charging stations. Churches and organizations handing out free meals, and grocery stores giving out bags of ice to help keep food from spoiling. Town leadership making lists and collecting inventory to help stock those in need with supplies to get through the next couple of days.
There is anger, disbelief, and outrage in all of this, but more so, there is community, love, and support. I am proud of my town, of my community. For in the darkness of it all, we railed together and didn’t let the insanity of it all keep us down.
MOCO has grown in ways I never thought it would, and I am happy that I stuck around to see it. The residents of MOCO still have several long days ahead of them as power is not expected to be completely restored until later Thursday evening or early Friday. But we will take it day by day. Support those who need it, keep our neighbors warm, and don’t let bigotry get in the way of growth.
I will be on the Good Folk Instagram, posting and connecting people to resources as they pop-up.
Listed below is a list of current recourses:
Thistle and Moon has candles for those who need them while supplies last
Shelter at the Moore County sports complex in Carthage
Speedway gas station in Aberdeen is open
Harris Teeter Grocery and gas is open
Lowes Food in Southern Pines is open
Walmart in Aberdeen is open
Pinebluff Fire Stations is offering water and charging station
Solar power charging stations are available at Vass and Southern Pines locations at United Methodist Church
NC Disaster and Relief set up a shower and laundry trailer in the First Baptist Church of Pinehurst parking lot. They also have wifi, meals, and charging stations
Red’s corner with fire pits, food trucks, restrooms, and beer
Seven Lakes Ace Hardware location has power and will fill propane tanks
RFC winery will be offering one free appetizer, sandwich, or soup per person with proof of residency all week
Power, heat, and wifi at Elliot's in Pinehurst; the cafe and restaurant are open
Local photographer Joseph Hill captured these crucial moments in MOCO.
The Sway Instagram keeps up to date with local businesses posting about resources
The Pilot took down the paywall so locals could keep up to date on the news of the power outages.
For Tomorrow 12/6:
Yellowbird will be handing out free chicken sandwiches from 11am-3pm
Swank Coffe Shoppe will be serving free coffee while supplies last
Southern Pines Library will be open 12/6 from 10am-4pm
Polywogs Play Pen is open 12/6, $10 a kid from 9:30am-3pm
Southern Pines Brewing On Pennsylvania is open with fire pits and charging stations
Grace Church in Southern Pines from 12pm-2pm will have free food, warm drinks, and charging stations
Roseland United Methodist Church will be open for charging stations a free coffee from 9am-12pm
Drug Free Moore County office in Carthage will be handing out free dinners from 3:30-5pm
Food Bank in Southern Pines no-cost food distribution from 10am-12pm; bring your own bag
Southern Pines Growler Company offering pizza at 12:30pm, til supplies last
Robbins First Baptist Church handing out hotdogs starting at 4pm near the John Deer Dealership in Carthage
Tomorrow and 12/7 First Bank will be handing out children's books and meals at The Country Bookshop in Southern Pines from 11am-3pm
Thank you Spencer and Victoria for being the amazing humans that you are and all that you share with us so beautifully with GoodFolk. 💚💚