Great Migration (African American) facts for kids

The Great Migration was a huge movement of about 6 million African Americans. They moved from the Southern United States to the Midwest, Northeast, and West. People mainly left the South to escape unfair treatment and find better jobs. Many industrial cities in the North and West offered new opportunities. There is even a famous series of paintings about this important time.

Later, starting in the 1960s, many African Americans began moving back to the South. This return was called the New Great Migration. From 1963 to 2000, data shows this shift. People moved back because factories in the North and Midwest were closing. Also, the South started having more good jobs. Racial relations also improved there. Many people also returned to be closer to their families.

What Was the Great Migration?

The Great Migration was one of the biggest movements of people in American history. It happened between 1916 and 1970. During this time, millions of African Americans left their homes in the Southern states. They traveled to cities in the North, Midwest, and West. This journey changed America a lot. It shaped cities and cultures across the country.

Why Did People Move North?

African Americans faced many challenges in the South. They experienced harsh racism and discrimination. Laws called Jim Crow laws kept Black people separate from white people. These laws also limited their rights. Finding good jobs was also very hard. Most jobs were in farming, which paid very little.

Meanwhile, cities in the North and West were growing fast. Factories needed many workers, especially during World War I and World War II. These jobs paid more money. They also offered a chance for a better life. People hoped to escape unfair treatment and find more freedom. They wanted to build a better future for their families.

Life in New Cities

Moving to a new city was not always easy. People often faced new challenges. They sometimes found discrimination in housing and jobs. But they also built strong communities. New neighborhoods grew with churches, schools, and businesses. Music, art, and culture thrived in these new places. The Great Migration helped spread African American culture across the country.

The New Great Migration

After the 1960s, things started to change again. Many African Americans began moving back to the Southern states. This was known as the New Great Migration. It showed how much America had changed.

Why Did People Return South?

Several reasons led to this new movement. Many factories in Northern and Midwestern cities closed down. This meant fewer jobs were available there. At the same time, the Southern states were growing. They offered more job opportunities. Racial relations had also improved in the South. The Civil Rights Movement helped end many unfair laws. This made the South a more welcoming place.

Family ties were also very important. Many people had relatives who still lived in the South. Moving back allowed families to reunite. It also offered a chance to return to their roots. This new migration continues to shape the population of the United States.

Images for kids

• 

  The Arthur family arrived at Chicago's Polk Street Depot on August 30, 1920, during the Great Migration.

• 

  African-American youths play basketball in Chicago's Stateway Gardens high-rise housing project in 1973.

• 

  The Hub is the retail heart of the South Bronx, New York City.

• 

  White tenants seeking to prevent Black people from moving into the Sojourner Truth housing project in Detroit erected this sign, 1942

• 

  Graph showing the percentage of the African-American population living in the American South, 1790–2010

• 

  The Great Migration shown by changes in the African-American share of populations of major U.S. cities, 1910–40 and 1940–70

See also

In Spanish: Gran Migración Afroamericana para niños