Mean Things Happening in This Land: the Life and Times of H.l. Mitchell, Co-Founder of the Southern Tenant Farmers Union; by H.L. Mitchell; foreword by Michael Harrington

Montclair, N.J.: Allanheld, Osmun, 1979. First Edition, presumed. Hardcover. Fine to near fine(-) in near fine(-) to very good(+) lightly edge-worn jacket in archival mylar.. xiv, 358 pages, 6 unnumbered leaves of plates: illustrations; 22 cm; bibliographical references and index. Lengthy inscription to one Wendy Harris in 1981,signed "Mitch" to front free endpaper "H. L. Mitchell (Harold Lenoir Mitchell) was an American labor leader and civil rights activist, born in 1906 in Halls, Tennessee. He is best known for co-founding the Southern Tenant Farmers Union (STFU) in 1934 along with Clay East. The STFU was a pivotal organization that sought to improve the conditions of tenant farmers and sharecroppers in the Southern United States, many of whom were African American or poor whites exploited by the prevailing agricultural system. Mitchell initially worked as a teacher but was deeply affected by the poverty and social injustice he witnessed in the rural South. The STFU was groundbreaking not only for its labor activism but also for its interracial membership, which was a bold move in the racially segregated South. The organization used nonviolent protest, strikes, and other forms of civil disobedience to fight for better wages, fairer leasing agreements, and improved working conditions for tenant farmers and sharecroppers. Mitchell's activism extended beyond labor issues to encompass broader civil rights and social justice causes. He was involved in various initiatives aimed at combating racial segregation and discrimination. His work earned him both admiration and criticism; while many saw him as a champion for the underprivileged, he was often targeted by those who viewed his activities as a threat to the status quo.
Mitchell authored a memoir titled "Mean Things Happening in This Land," which provides an account of his experiences in labor and civil rights activism. He continued to be involved in social justice issues until his death in 1986. His contributions to labor rights and civil rights have made him a significant figure in American social history."-Bing. / Radicalisme -- États-Unis (Sud) -- Histoire. Radicalism. Mitchell, H. L. (Harry Leland), 1906-1989. Mitchell, H. L. (Harry Leland), 1906-1989. Southern Tenant Farmers' Union -- History. Southern Tenant Farmers' Union. Southern States.