The Great Migration: An Overview

The Great Migration represents a significant internal migration in American history, during which approximately six million African Americans transitioned from the rural South to urban areas in the North and West from 1915 to 1970. This mass movement was driven by several factors, including the pursuit of better economic opportunities and the desire to escape the oppressive conditions of the Jim Crow South. It involved three distinct streams: from the Southeast to cities like Washington, D.C. and Chicago; from Mississippi and Alabama to industrial hubs in the Midwest; and from Louisiana and Texas to the West Coast. Each stream carried its own cultural influences, reshaping the regions that received the migrants and leading to the establishment of vibrant communities that reflected their Southern roots.