Lecture on The Great Migration

Introduction

• Lecture by Clint Smith on Crash Course Black American History.
• Discusses the Great Migration of Black Americans in the early to mid-20th century.
• Migration due to push factors (violence, economic hardship) and pull factors (better jobs, economic opportunities).

The Great Migration Overview

• Occurred in two major waves:
  • First wave: 1910-1940
  • Second wave: 1940-1970
• Largest domestic migration in American history.
• Movement primarily from the Jim Crow South to Northern cities, urban South, and the West.

Demographics and Migration Patterns

• In 1910, 90% of Black Americans lived in the South.
• By 1940, 1.5 million had moved north, reducing the percentage to 77%.
• By 1970, only 52% remained in the South.
• Key destination cities: Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, New York City, Los Angeles.

Push Factors

Sharecropping

• Post-slavery, sharecropping bound Black families to the land with debts.
• System ensured continuous economic oppression and dependency on landowners.

Racism and Violence

• Jim Crow laws enforced segregation, suppressing Black communities.
• Violence from groups like the Ku Klux Klan was rampant.
• Black Americans faced institutional and interpersonal racism.

Pull Factors

Economic Opportunities

• Northern industrial jobs in auto, meatpacking, steel, and iron offered better wages.
• Economic mobility was a strong motivator.

Communication Networks

• Stories of success in the North spread through newspapers (e.g., Chicago Defender), church groups, and Black Pullman Porters.

Challenges in the North

• Migrants faced poverty and continued segregation.
• Racism persisted, though different in form from the South.
• Benevolent societies and church organizations helped migrants adjust.

Reaction of the South

• Southern whites worried about losing Black labor.
• Attempts to prevent migration included misinformation campaigns and physical intimidation.

Cultural Impact

• Migration created vibrant Black urban cultures.
• Contributed significantly to American arts, music, and literature.

Perspective on the Great Migration

• Seen as both a refugee crisis and an act of agency by Black Americans.
• Demonstrated determination and courage, reshaping their identities and destinies.
• Isabel Wilkerson highlights the courage and self-determination of migrants in her book "The Warmth of Other Suns."

Conclusion

• The Great Migration is a complex story of hardship and resilience.
• It underscores Black Americans' role in shaping the American Dream on their terms.
• Acknowledgments to Crash Course contributors and supporters.