Change and protest in the rural south: the Southern Tenant Farmers' Union, 1934-1936

Abstract

In the 1930's the southern tenancy system began to decline as plantation owners attempted to limit their debts in response to the Depression. Tenants were displaced and forced to work as casual day laborers. When the federal government passed crop restriction legislation, tenant displacement increased substantially.

Reduction from tenant status meant economic losses for the already poverty ridden tenants. In northeastern Arkansas the suffering which accompanied reduction in status caused widespread discontent. H.L. Mitchell, Clay East and several evicted tenants formed the Southern Tenant Farmers’ Union (STFU) to stop the displacement of tenants and abuses of government agricultural programs.

In 1934-35, the STFU grew considerably. Its growth during its first year of existence can be attributed to several successful challenges of local planters by the union and continuous evictions from plantations. A successful strike of cotton pickers at the end of 1935 was especially important to the union's attempt to develop a firm base of support. The strike victory did not, however, slow down the deterioration of the tenancy system. In 1936 the union mounted a concerted effort to stop displacement of tenants but met with little success. Consequently, union members began to believe that union activity was futile. Union leaders decided to hold another strike in May, 1936 to demonstrate that the STFU was not moribund. The strike collapsed and the union continued to decline at a more rapid pace.