African Americans migrated for numerous reasons. Some wanted to see the country that they had inherited, formerly having been forbidden to do so due to slavery. Others were in search of their long lost family members, often on search of rumors that took them all across the U.S.. Most of the African Americans, although, migrated to the north mainly to keep their wages high to take care of themselves or their families. I read this on a newspaper from avl.
(children in line for the movies in Chicago)In search of other primary sources i came across letters that were sent to northern newspaper companies and what i came across was extremely touching and informative. A girl of 17 years old and in the 8th grade of Know Academy in Texas (weird...) writes to the Chicago newspapers, in her significantly broken english, to offer them her skills which include washing, cooking, nursing, getting groceries, and cleaning. This tells me that most African American kids were not as educated as they should be and that they can hardly go to school and have any money left over for their parents to live off of, hence why this girl writes that she had to quit school because of insufficient money. "Dear Sir: I am a reader of the Chicago Defender I think it is one of the Most Wonderful Papers of our race printed. Sirs I am writeing to see if You all will please get me a job. And Sir I can wash dishes, wash iron nursing work in groceries and dry good stores. Just any of these I can do. Sir, who so ever you get the job from please tell them to send me a ticket and I will pay them. When I get their as I have not got enough money to pay my way. I am a girl of 17 years old and in the 8 grade at Knox Academy School. But on account of not having money enough I had to stop school. Sir I will thank you all with all my heart. May God Bless you all. Please answer in return mail. * * * PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS, 5/5th/17"
Later on during my research, i found a book called "Warmth of other suns" by Isabel Wilkerson. While researching her work, i came across an NPR website that explains more on how and why she decided to write this book. I learned that the Great Migration was the first time that the servant class of America ever did something without asking. There was no set date for African Americans to migrate north, they did so because of their needs and desires, all by themselves. This source seems trustworthy because Isabel's parents were actually a part of the Great Migration!
The journey north, to The Promise Land, was not without its sacrifices. Many families that desired to go north for a better life could not do so as a family. The train tickets to the north were very expensive relative to the wages that the family got and so only one family member would take the journey to the north in hopes of gaining enough money to send to the rest of the family to join him in the north. Most often, the woman of the family would go north as there were more opportunities for her. The image below is the same website i got this information.
Much of the African Americans that moved to the north were southern coal miners, about 1/4 of migrants were from the agriculture section. Most that successfully arrived in the south could only afford apartment slums. Unfortunately, African Americans still could not escape racism in the North. Having escaped form beatings and lynchings in the South, new migrants to the North were looked down upon for their "country" manners. Most African Americans were segregated into the ghettos and faced many urban life obstacles. I found this information on this website. Having done this topic, i have learned a lot of information on The Great Migration than i started which is a good sign of progress!
