Initiatives + Programs
Soil Collection
An important way to recognize the lives of victims of racial terrorism is through collecting soil at the site of their lynching. This symbolic process is a powerful way for modern descendants and communities to remember those who lost their lives. It restores dignity and honor to victims who were all too often not afforded the honor of a proper burial. It provides a sacred space for community mourning - another element that was often denied to the families of lynching victims.
View our mini documentary and docuseries below.
Juneteenth 2021 Soil Collection Ceremony Mini Documentary
View the mini documentary about our powerful and moving Soil Collection ceremony and remembrance at Juneteenth 2021.
We are so grateful to videographer Bryan Archilla for his dedication to our project and excellent work producing this mini documentary and the docuseries. We are also grateful to EJI for their support of this endeavor.
Soil Collection Process
Soil Collection Sites
Our team conducted research to identify the locations where these Black men were lynched across Union County. We collected soil from the site of each victim’s lynching for placement during the Juneteenth 2021 ceremony into jars from the Equal Justice Initiative, which are labeled with each victim’s name, date of death, and location. Due to concerns around Covid-19, only a small group was present at each collection, but we conducted a small ceremony in remembrance which was documented by videographer Bryan Archilla in the docuseries below.
Tim Kimzey/Spartanburg Herald Journal
Soil Collection Public Ceremony at Juneteenth 2021
Descendants who wish to be involved honored their ancestors by transferring the collected soil into their ancestor’s designated jar during our Juneteenth ceremony. Descendants and UCCRP members read aloud a narrative biography for each man to remember each life beyond the tragedy that ended them. One set of jars remain in Union County, displayed at the L.W. Long Building. Another set of jars are displayed at the Soil Collection wall at Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice.
Soil Collection Docuseries
Videographer: Bryan Archilla
View the following docuseries on the UCCRP’s soil collections to honor and remember Union County lynching victims.
1 - Union County Jail Raid and Massacre Soil Collection
3 - Mose Hughes Soil Collection
5 - Andrew McKnight Soil Collection
7 - Rufus Salter Soil Collection
2 - Lewis Thompson Soil Collection
4 - Mabry Lyles Soil Collection
6 - Dan Jenkins Soil Collection
8 - Sax Joiner Soil Collection
Say Their Names
Sax Joiner | 1865
Lewis Thompson | June 16, 1871
Capt. J. Alexander Walker | January 4, 1871
Charner Gordon | January 4, 1871
Sylvanus Wright | February 12, 1871
Andrew Thompson | February 12, 1871
Joseph Vanlue | February 12, 1871
Aaron Thompson | February 12, 1871
Burt Woodson | February 12, 1871
Thomas Green | February 12, 1871
Ellison Scott | February 12, 1871
William Fincher | February 12, 1871
Mac Bobo | February 1871
Amos McKissick | 1871
Andrew McKnight | June 23, 1889
Rufus Salter | January 7, 1900
Mose Hughes | June 3, 1906
Dan Jenkins | June 21, 1930
Mabry Lyles | April 13, 1934