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John Handcox

1904–1992

United States

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Biography

John L. Handcox (1904–1992) was a Great Depression-era tenant farmer and union advocate from Arkansas known for his politically charged songs and poetry. Handcox is noted for playing a "vital role in bettering the lives of sharecroppers and energizing labor union organizers and members." Despite his brief career, many of his songs were so popular that they became standard folk songs themselves, and continue to be sung today.

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Black heritage reference ↗

Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

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