Migration In The African American Communities example essay topic

Title? Tides Of Change And People There have been many people throughout history noticed by their contribution in history, but as time continues new people with new ideas will emerge to give us a better and clearer picture of history through writing or other expressive ways. Some of the authors and photographers covered in the textbook Convergences, give us pictures or words that illustrate the African American communities in Chicago. Nonetheless, the textbook does not tell the count or the reason of how everything got started back in the 1940's. The "Great Migration", as it was known in the 1940's, occurred in Chicago and was mostly done by African Americans. The reason for The Great Migration was the same as for any other, to seek a better life style.

Everything started with the development of new technology in the farms of the South. New technology created less need for physical labor and reduced the employment in the South. However, this development of technology had the opposite effect in the North. The n new advances created different employment opportunities in the Racine County such as producing material for World War II. Also the newspaper such as the Chicago Defender encouraged migration towards the north. Another way that migration was encouraged was by word of mouth, that is, people would spread the word from one individual to the next.

These reasons gave immigrants hopes and dreams for a better future in a different place where opportunity was for all the people. Racism was another big factor that encourage migration. An article published in August 9, 1919 by the Chicago Defender called "Checking Migration", encouraged migration and said "The white South may as well realize now as later that the day is past when it can with impunity and with safety murder Colored men and brutalize our women. Migration will therefore continue to be one of the means employed to bring about the desired change". He clearly denotes that people should immigrate to produce a "desired change" for so many African Americans. This "desired change" was equal rights between races without prejudices.

For this reason and many others, migration in the African American communities was evident. Clearly denoted in The Journal Times by Rob Golub. ".. after 1940 that the black population grew by more than 2,000 percent in just 30 years". This population growth was only in Racine County. However, some migrants had difficulties in their journey to Chicago and other cities in the North. James Grossman in his article "Historical Research and Narrative" wrote about African Americans and some of the obstacles found in their way "Ticket agents refused to accept the prepaid tickets that earlier migrants sent to their relatives in the South. Police herded travelers from platforms, detaining them temporarily until train had passed through the station".

Many arrived in Chicago with fear and nervousness, for the fact that land was expensive and the most influential fact was that African Americans were not welcome in northern states or communities. Despite the obstacles, population growth in Chicago was evident. So many people migrating from the South made this event "the eye of the storm", that is most people seeking to migrate north, saw an opportunity setting in Chicago. Regardless of the racism, many chose to migrate into the northern states. Chicago shows this in its population growth of approximately 50,000 to 75,000 black newcomers until the 1970's. Clearly, there was much to be gain and nothing to lose if an immigrant decided to migrate, since there was a better lifestyle for newcomers. ".. black Chicago ans enjoyed better schools, greater access to other public facilities and leisure activities, voting rights, and the ability to live from day to day without suffering the indignities of Jim Crow" (Grossman 33).

In addition, there were more job opportunities because of the mobilization of the American Armed Forces in 1917 due to World War II. Many white Americans had to quit their jobs and join the armed forces leaving employment opportunities to African Americans. There were opportunities, but sacrifices were made leaving relatives and family behind in order to succeed. Migrants left their families at the mercies of the outraged south states.

The South was beginning to come to the realization that employees were beginning to decline and becoming harder to find with the lower wages and the prominent image coming from the North. Southerners saw the exodus as a threat to their economic system and they encouraged African Americans to stay by frightening their families. Of course, this didn't stop the force that the movement already carried. The 1940's were a turbulent time in the history of the United States, where historians noted the tides of change that occurred due to racism and new advances in technology. The new opportunities that aroused in the North contributed to the exodus of the African American people towards the North. Also, the lack of jobs in the South combined with the mistreatment towards their communities played a major factor in the movement.

This movement was furthermore fueled by the desperate attempts from the South to stop it. Authors and photographers of the time made it possible to see what people of that age saw and felt and their contributions will be preserved for the future generations to witness that era. sd.