Great Migration is a term used to describe the movement of millions of African Americans from the South to many northern cities. What was the cause of this migration? Describe and explain its lasting effects.

Make sure that your response is at least three sentences.

1 answer

The Great Migration, which occurred primarily between 1916 and 1970, was largely driven by a combination of factors including pervasive racial discrimination, economic hardship, and the desire for better job opportunities in northern industrial cities. African Americans sought to escape the oppressive Jim Crow laws and limited economic prospects in the South, spurred by the demand for labor during World War I and the subsequent industrial boom. The lasting effects of this migration reshaped the demographics and cultural landscapes of cities like Chicago, Detroit, and New York, fostering vibrant African American communities and contributing to significant social and political movements, including the Civil Rights Movement, while also influencing music, art, and literature during the Harlem Renaissance and beyond.