What Are the Causes of the Migration of African Americans?

104 9

    Living Conditions

    • It is often termed "the Great Black Migration" and began in the 1910s and lasted through most of the 1930s, according to the University of Northern Iowa. During the early part of the century, agricultural production was the primary means for earning a living so many African Americans held sharecropper and farming jobs. Living conditions consisted of under-developed rural areas.

      Between 1914 and 1917, harsh environmental conditions in the form of flooding and insect infestations took a toll on agricultural production and caused the destruction of homes and property. These conditions coupled with rampant racial bigotry caused African Americans to seek out new areas to live as well as alternative lines of work. By the end of this migration period an estimated 500,000 African Americans left the southern states in search of better living conditions.

    Higher Wages

    • As agricultural production activities declined in the South, the northern regions saw an increased demand for labor within industrial sectors such as railway and factory work according to the historical resource site In Motion. America's entry into World War I also took a toll on northern labor forces, which increased the demand for industrial laborers.

      Political tensions resulting from the war saw fewer European immigrants migrating to America. As the majority of industrial jobs were filled by European immigrants, this further increased the demand for industrial work. As a result, southern African Americans were recruited by northern industrialists to relocate and work within the manufacturing industries.

      According to the University of Northern Iowa, the lack of work in the south coupled with the prospect of earning higher wages caused African Americans to migrate into the northern and western regions of the United States. Also at issue was the prospect of living in what was perceived as the less racially biased northern environment.

    Political Rights

    • As the 1910s occured shortly after the abolition of slavery practices, political rights for African Americans living in the South were all but non-existent. Racism prevailed throughout the region. According to the University of Northern Iowa, acts of racism took the form of segregation, refusals to rent or sell land to African Americans, minimal legal protections and mob lynchings.

      As African Americans migrated to the north, these indiscretions were brought to light through black-owned newspapers inciting southern-based African Americans to move north. Compared to the southern regions, northern-based African Americans' political rights gave them more freedoms in terms of opportunity and land ownership, though the overall attitude of racism still prevailed.

Source...
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe at any time

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.