The Southern Tenant Farmers Union was an agricultural institution of the American Depression Era. It was organized by the young socialist H. L. Mitchell. Incidentally, the Union had the support of the socialists and Communists during the Depression era (the latter having been given orders to support more democratic institutions by Stalin). Members included (of course) tenant farmers (most farmers were tenants at this point because of the money they owed), and other economic reformists. They were notably biracial in message.