What was the Great Migration?

The Great Migration refers to the significant movement of African Americans from the rural Southern United States to urban areas in the North, particularly during the early to mid-20th century. This migration occurred in two main waves, first from around 1916 to 1940 and then continuing after World War II.

During this period, millions of African Americans sought to escape the oppressive conditions of Jim Crow laws, systemic racism, and economic hardships prevalent in the South. In contrast, many Northern cities were experiencing labor shortages due to World War I and industrial growth, which created job opportunities for those migrating.

As a result, this movement not only transformed demographics in Northern cities, contributing to cultural developments (such as the Harlem Renaissance), but also had a lasting impact on social and political relationships in America, influencing civil rights movements and changing the landscape of American life.