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Last Updated:
2024-09-22 08:20:01

Great Migration

Mass movement of Black Americans from South to North
Mass movement of Black Americans from South to North

The Great Migration was a significant movement of about six million Black Americans from the Southern states to urban areas in the North and West between 1916 and 1970. It offered opportunities for non-agricultural work, higher wages, education, and escape from racial violence.

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1865-06-19
Juneteenth Celebration

On June 19, 1865, the freed people from Texas were informed of their freedom, marking the beginning of Juneteenth celebration. It was later taken to cities like Los Angeles, Oakland, and Seattle during the Great Migration.

1877
Withdrawal of Federal Troops from the South

In 1877, federal troops were withdrawn from the South, leading to a backlash from southern white racists who initiated a campaign of terror, which further intensified over time.

1879
Exodusters Migration to Kansas

After being freed on paper, thousands of African-Americans known as Exodusters fled the violent white backlash following Reconstruction in a short-lived migration to Kansas in 1879.

1880
Migration to Kansas

By 1880, migration of African Americans to Kansas had begun, marking a shift in population distribution. This movement was a precursor to the larger Great Migrations that followed.

1900-01
Population Growth in Chicago

In 1900–01, Chicago's population reached 1,754,473. By 1920, the city had added over 1 million residents.

1902
Discussion of Migration

In 1902, a black woman in Alabama expressed the concerns and discussions within the African-American community about whether to remain in the South or move elsewhere to seek security and better opportunities.

1903
Birth of Ella Baker

Ella Baker was born in 1903 in Norfolk, Virginia, to devout and ambitious parents and grew up in North Carolina.

1910
Establishment of National Urban League

The National Urban League was founded in New York City to assist African American migrants in integrating into urban life by providing support in job opportunities, housing arrangements, and economic education.

1915
Start of the Great Migration

The first phase of the Great Migration began in 1915, leading to approximately 1.6 million African Americans relocating from rural southern areas to urban northern cities between 1915 and 1930.

1917
Zora Neale Hurston's Arrival in Baltimore

In 1917, Zora Neale Hurston arrived in Baltimore after traveling from Florida. She had a non-traditional journey, starting as a maid with a theater troupe and eventually making her way to Howard University, where she began her literary career.

1919
Red Summer of 1919

The Red Summer of 1919 was a period of heightened racial tensions and violence in various cities across the United States, fueled by white resentment towards demographic changes due to African American migration.

1920
Mallie Robinson and her children move from Georgia to California

In 1920, Mallie Robinson, a sharecropper from Georgia, moved to California with her five children, including Jackie Robinson, to escape the harsh conditions of the South. Despite facing discrimination in their new neighborhood, Mallie's children were able to attend integrated schools, providing opportunities for Jackie to excel in athletics.

1927
Richard Wright's Journey from Mississippi to Chicago

In 1927, Richard Wright, a sharecropper's son from Natchez, Mississippi, embarked on a train journey to Chicago at the age of 19. This experience inspired his later works and exploration of the African American experience in the North.

1931
James Earl Jones overcomes mutism

James Earl Jones, as a little boy, went mute for eight years due to the trauma of being uprooted from his mother and the fears of abandonment. He was coaxed out of his silence by a high school English teacher, which eventually led him to pursue a successful acting career.

1932
Opera following the Great Migration to Harlem Renaissance

An opera produced in 1932 that depicts the journey of the Great Migration and its impact on the Harlem Renaissance, showcasing the cultural and artistic developments of the time.

1934
National Housing Act of 1934

The National Housing Act of 1934 contributed to limiting the availability of loans to urban areas, particularly those areas inhabited by African Americans.

1935
Family's Journey North during Jim Crow Era

In 1935, a little boy and his extended family embarked on a northbound train journey from Mississippi, carrying their possessions in wooden crates. They were segregated in the Jim Crow car and had to bring their own food for the trip. The boy, only 4 years old, felt anxious about leaving his farm and missing his mother.

1937
Hansberry Family Moves to Woodlawn Neighborhood

In 1937, Carl and Nannie Hansberry, a black couple from Chicago, moved to the all-white neighborhood of Woodlawn to provide a better life for their family. Despite facing violent opposition from the white residents, they persevered in their pursuit of a home for their children.

1940
Publication of Native Son

In 1940, Richard Wright published his novel 'Native Son' in New York, which received national acclaim. This work, along with others, established him as a prominent figure representing the Great Migration.

1941
Jacob Lawrence's Migration Series

Jacob Lawrence created a series of paintings depicting the struggle of African-American migrants adapting to Northern cities during the Great Migration. The series was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in 1941 and gained significant attention, establishing Lawrence as a prominent African-American artist of the time.

1943
Muddy Waters' Migration from Mississippi to Chicago

In 1943, Muddy Waters, a blues legend, migrated from Mississippi to Chicago via the Illinois Central Railroad. His music played a significant role in defining the blues genre and influencing the development of rock 'n' roll.

1946
Richard Wright's relocation to France

In 1946, Richard Wright, a prominent African-American writer, moved to France after facing hostility and discrimination in various cities in the United States during the Great Migration.

1973
Tom Bradley elected as the first black mayor of Los Angeles

Tom Bradley, born on a cotton plantation in Texas to sharecroppers, migrated to Los Angeles at a young age. Despite facing challenges and discrimination, he pursued education, became a track star, joined the police force, and eventually became the first black mayor of Los Angeles in 1973, serving five consecutive terms.

1975
Black Migration: Movement North, 1900-1920

A book by Florette Henri that focuses on the migration of Black individuals from the South to the North between 1900 and 1920.

1989
Farewell—We’re Good and Gone: The Great Migration

A book by Carol Marks that delves into the topic of the Great Migration, particularly focusing on the farewell and departure of individuals from the South.

1991
Black Exodus: The Great Migration from the American South

A book by Alferdteen Harrison that discusses the significant movement of Black individuals from the American South during the Great Migration.

1997
Bound for the Promised Land: African Americans' Religion and the Great Migration

A book by Milton Sernett exploring the religious aspects of the Great Migration.

2000
The Second Great Emancipation: The Mechanical Cotton Picker, Black Migration, and How They Shaped the Modern South

A book by Donald Holley discussing the impact of the mechanical cotton picker and Black migration on the modern South.

2005
The Southern Diaspora: How the Great Migrations of Black and White Southerners Transformed America

A book by James M. Gregory that explores the impact of the migration of Black and White Southerners on America.

2010
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

A book by Isabel Wilkerson narrating the epic tale of America's Great Migration.

2013
The Great Migration in Popular Culture

The Great Migration is portrayed in the 2013 film 'The Butler' and inspired August Wilson's 'The Piano Lesson'.

2022
Impact of Migration on Children's Mental Health

The children of migrants were found to have higher chances of developing mental health disorders compared to children of non-migrants in the Southern region.

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Great Migration
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