Carried Away by the Current: Race, Displacement, and the Tennessee Valley Authority at Pickwick Landing, 1934-1938

Abstract

Carried Away by the Current examines the socio-economic effects of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) hydroelectric project in the Pickwick Landing area from 1934 to 1938, focusing on racial disparities. Amidst the economic adversities of the 1930s, the TVA promised to industrialize and improve living standards through the construction of hydroelectric dams, including the contentious Pickwick Landing Dam. Despite these promises, the dam’s construction inundated land, displacing families and disturbing their livelihoods. Racial undercurrents influenced the relocation and compensation processes. This research highlights the profound post-relocation economic disparities between Black and white families, with Black families experiencing a notable decline in income compared to their white counterparts after relocation. Two main hypotheses underlie this thesis: compounded historical disparities and unequal access to TVA and other public resources as the causes of post-relocation income decline among Black families. Through a mixed-methods approach, including regression analyses and qualitative assessments, the study reveals how TVA intervention aggravated pre-existing racial and economic inequalities. More than a historical analysis, this study emphasizes the enduring racial and economic imbalances exacerbated by infrastructure development. By focusing on the lived experiences of Black families uprooted by the construction of the Pickwick Landing Dam, it highlights the need for development policies that are not only equitable, but also corrective of past injustices. This thesis enriches the ongoing dialogue on governmental roles in socio-economic advancement, urging policymakers to be mindful of the long-lasting impacts of their initiatives on all segments of society, especially those that have been historically marginalized.