KNES411 4/2 LECTURE: Study Notes on Richard Wright and the Great Migration

Richard Wright is a profound author associated with the era of the Great Migration.
He is a notable figure as a great migrator himself.
Wright is recognized for his significant literary works, including:
- Native Son
- Black Boy

Wright's intention was to publish his books authentically, as any author would.
He was selected by the Book of the Month Club, marking a significant milestone as the first Black American chosen as an author for this program, leading to a substantial increase in readership and potential earnings.
The Book of the Month Club requested changes to Native Son before publication.

Native Son follows the life of Bigger Thomas, a 20-year-old from the South Side of Chicago in the 1930s.
Wright draws from his own experiences as a migrant, having moved from the rural South to Chicago.
The plot centers around Bigger, who is part of an impoverished family that relies on him to secure employment.
Bigger gets a job working for Mr. Dalton, a white man who provides him with employment and also allows him to chauffeur his daughter, Mary, and Mary's boyfriend, Jan.
A pivotal incident occurs when Bigger takes Mary and Jan to Washington Park, where they become intoxicated.

While attempting to help Mary back to her apartment, a series of racially charged events unfold:
- Bigger carries Mary to her bedroom, which raises fear of racial implications.
- In a moment of panic, he accidentally kills her while trying to silence her.
- In an attempt to cover his tracks, he concocts a plan to dispose of her body, hoping to implicate Jan instead.
Bigger confesses to his girlfriend, Bessie, later committing further violence against her.

The reading audience of the Book of the Month Club, predominantly white, requested changes to Native Son, specifically seeking the removal of explicit sexual themes and interactions between Bigger and Mary, fearing negative reception.
Wright was torn but ultimately agreed to make the necessary edits, leading to the book's publication and massive sales in a short period.

Following Native Son, the Book of the Month Club also sought to publish Black Boy, originally titled American Hunger.
Black Boy is structured in two parts, reflecting Wright's life in the South and his experiences in the North post-migration.
The club insisted Wright cut the second half of the book, focusing solely on his Southern experiences during the initial publication.
This change required altering the ending as the second part was no longer published concurrently.

After substantial changes, Wright crafted a new conclusion emphasizing his leaving the South:
- He reflects on leaving to define his identity, seeking understanding and growth.
- This passage ultimately ties into overarching themes of identity and the quest for personal agency amid a complex racial landscape.

The Great Migration saw over 7,000,000 African Americans relocate primarily to urban centers in the North from the rural South during two significant waves:
- The first occurred around World War I, driven by job opportunities in war industries and escaping Jim Crow laws.
- The second wave coincided with World War II, when agricultural jobs in the South diminished and factories in the North sought laborers.
These migrations were often characterized by severe racial tensions.

Key push factors included:
- Racial violence and the oppressive Jim Crow laws governing daily life in the South.
- Agricultural hardships such as the boll weevil infestation that devastated crops and the economic status of sharecroppers.

The boll weevil, a destructive pest, severely affected cotton production, causing many farmers to abandon their land.
The infestation decimated crops for years and contributed to the economic decline of the Southern agricultural economy.
George Washington Carver promoted diversifying crops to combat this issue and sought alternatives to the monoculture of cotton planting.

Sharecropping often led to perpetual indebtedness, leaving African Americans with little financial gain, fostering an urgency to migrate.

Urban centers promised better job prospects due to growing industries in the North, offering opportunities for work, albeit often at a lower status compared to whites;
- Example: Henry Ford’s recruitment efforts in Detroit, where he advertised $5 wages and free training, drastically increased the city's Black population.

Migrating to cities allowed African Americans to experience a newfound social and cultural pride, resulting in significant movements such as:
- The Harlem Renaissance, which promoted artistic and cultural expression, redefining American culture.
- The emergence of the term "New Negro," symbolizing an empowered identity and social mobility.

As African Americans relocated, they gravitated toward familiar communities, leading to racial segregation in cities:
- For example, the establishment of the Black Belt in Chicago, indicating both comfort and systemic discrimination.
Richard Wright’s observations highlighted stark contrasts between rural Southern life and urban living experiences, where he encountered alienation and a lack of endemic nature.

The migration faced backlash, culminating in racial disturbances, including the Red Summer of 1919, where riots occurred in multiple cities due to racial hostility and perceptions of job competition.
Factors leading to violence included returning Black veterans asserting their rights after fighting in World War I and misunderstandings exacerbated by economic competition.

By the 1960s, the dynamics of Black population centers shifted as many moved to suburbs in search of opportunities.
The Great Migration represented a watershed moment, laying the foundation for contemporary racial dynamics and ongoing quests for equality within the United States.