For these tours, I created a map connecting each mill site and an accompanying guide to provide further context for the project.
The mills I have selected are connected through a shared history of agitation and struggle. The foundation of Southern participation in the uprising of 1934 was laid through hundreds of spontaneous strikes and work stoppages across the region. The General Strike of 1934 stretched from Massachusetts to Georgia and lasted 22 days. In those 22 days, around half a million workers participated in work stoppages, strikes, and pickets. The response to these direct actions was brutal and deadly. Nearly 20 people lost their lives and almost 200 people were injured. Workers associated with the union were targeted after the strike. They lost their jobs, were evicted from their company homes, and blacklisted across the county.
Using the printed map that accompanies this guide, I invite you to drive to these mill sites. Once there, scan the QR code next to the site name. These codes will take you to a website hosting the audio tour for that specific site. When ready, press play and explore these landscapes while listening to these audio meditations.
