Notes on The Great Migration
THE GREAT MIGRATION
- Migration period (1915-1940) of Black Americans from rural Southern areas to urban centers in the West, Midwest, and Northeast.
PUSH AND PULL FACTORS
Push Factors (Reasons for leaving the South)
- Jim Crow Laws: Institutionalized racial segregation that limited the rights of Black Americans.
- Discrimination and Racism: Continuous presence of social discrimination against Black individuals.
- Violence: Threat of lynching and racial violence.
- Poverty: Economic hardships and lack of opportunities in the rural South.
- Job Opportunities: Increased demand for labor during World War I led to available jobs.
- Less Racism: Relative decrease in overt racism in Northern cities compared to the South.
- Educational Opportunities: Greater access to education in urban areas.
“THE PROMISED LAND”
- Although Northern cities represented hope, they came with restrictions:
- Black Americans faced job discrimination and were often restricted to lower-paying jobs.
- Segregation into designated Black housing areas limited integration into mixed communities.
- Racial tensions were high; competition for jobs led to resentment from white communities.
- Notable incidents included racial riots, such as the ones in 1919 where 250 Black individuals died in Northern cities.
- In the South, lynchings contributed to an additional 300 deaths, alongside violent events like the massacre in Arkansas.
THE NORTH’S WORST RIOT – CHICAGO; JULY 1919
- A significant race riot initiated by white aggression:
- A Black teenager drowned after being attacked while swimming in an area 'customarily used by whites.'
- Casualties: 38 people killed (23 Black); 537 injured (342 Black).
- More than 1,000 families, predominantly Black, became homeless due to extensive property damage during the riot.
WHAT REALLY CAUSED THE RIOT?
- Further investigation required:
- Analyze Documents C, D, and E for insights.
- Review Document A for a leading Black American’s perspective on the motifs surrounding the violence.