Introduction to the Great Migration
Between 1915 and 1970, six million Black Americans fled the southern United States for cities in the North and West. This mass relocation, known as the Great Migration, became one of the most significant events in American history. These individuals were escaping a rigid social system that controlled every aspect of their lives, from where they could walk to how they were allowed to speak. They traveled by train and car to cities like Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, seeking the basic rights of citizenship that the South denied them.
In October 1937, Ida Mae Brandon Gladney secretly prepared to leave Mississippi. She and her husband had spent their lives as sharecroppers, but they decided to move their children away from that unfair economic system. To avoid trouble, they acted as if they were merely traveling into town for the day. Ida Mae’s mother prayed for their protection as they boarded a segregated train car, leaving the only world they had ever known for a future they could not yet see.
In April 1945, George Swanson Starling fled Florida after challenging the powerful owners of the citrus groves. He realized his life was at risk and boarded a northbound train to escape the threat of violence. At the station, a railing divided the stairs to ensure that Black and white passengers did not touch the same steps. As the train pulled away, George felt a sense of relief to be leaving the citrus trees behind, carrying only the promise to send for his wife once he reached New York.
By 1953, successful professionals like Robert Joseph Pershing Foster also felt the need to escape the restrictive laws of the South. Although he was a trained surgeon, Robert was not allowed to practice in his Louisiana hometown because of his race. He decided to drive two thousand miles to California to find a place where he could work freely and be judged by his skills. His solitary journey represented a search for dignity that the southern states refused to provide.
This movement transformed the entire country by changing the culture, language, and politics of American cities. Many famous figures in modern America are the children or grandchildren of these migrants. Despite their massive contributions to the workforce, these migrants were often unfairly blamed for city problems. However, historical data shows that those who moved from the South were actually more likely to be married, more likely to work, and less likely to live in poverty than the people already living in the North.
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