The Great Migration

The Great Migration The movement of 1.6 million African Americans out of the rural Southern United States to the urban Northeast, Midwest, and West between 1910–1930

The Great Migration 1910-1930 (second wave,1930 to 1970) Movement of 6 million African Americans out of the rural south into the Northeast, Midwest, & West. New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Indianapolis Largest internal movement of an American population. By the end of the Great Migration… African Americans became an urbanized —rather than rural—population. Northern American cities became significantly more black

The Great Migration Push Factors Racial Violence Economic Repression Rise of the KKK & Lynching Economic Repression Share cropping & Tenant Farming KKK: Boycotts and Intimidation Political Repression Jim Crow Laws & Sundown Towns Environmental Devastation Volatile Weather of 1915-16 (drought and flood) & Boll Weevil

The Great Migration Pull Factors Economic Opportunity? Political Rights Unity and Solidarity Hope Mystery, Adventure and Myths

Where African-Americans Migrated To & Why The Great Migration Where African-Americans Migrated To & Why Primarily Chicago, Detroit and NY Also: St. Louis, Indianapolis, Philadelphia Industrial Towns with Booming Industries Towns With Supportive Networks

The Great Migration What Migrants Brought With Them Economic Despair Illiteracy Political inexperience Experiences & Memories Hopes and Dreams Fear & Despair Racism & Prejudice Culture: music, poetry, prose, visual art…

Effects of the Great Migration Shift Blacks from a Rural Population to an Urban Population Increase the number of African Americans living in North cities; Make these cities truly multi-racial

The Harlem Rennaisance

HARLEM RENAISSANCE Rebirth of African-American culture Jazz Age begins Louis Armstrong – World Famous Jazz musician. African American authors/poets Langston Hughes - encouraged African Americans to look to the future

The Harlem Renaissance In the 1920s, many African American artists settled in Harlem, New York City Black artists, musicians, and writers celebrated their African and American heritage

Harlem Renaissance Poets Claude McKay: From Jamaica, wrote the poem, “If We Must Die” that condemned lynchings Countee Cullen: Taught high school in Harlem, wrote of the experiences of African-Americans

Langston Hughes Zora Neale Hurston Best Known of the Harlem Renaissance poets Also wrote plays, short stories, and essays Encouraged African Americans to be proud of their heritage Protested racism and acts of violence against blacks Zora Neale Hurston Wrote novels, short essays, short stories Traveled throughout the South in a battered car collecting folk tales, songs, and prayers of black southerners Published these in her book, “Mules and Men”

Dreams Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams For when dreams go Life is a barren field Frozen with snow.

Major Effect of Harlem Renaissance African-American cultural pride flourished in the cities.

The Jazz Age Jazz: Born in New Orleans, created by African Americans, combination of West African rhythms, African American songs and spirituals, European harmonies Famous jazz musicians: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Lena Horne and more. The Cotton Club: night club located Harlem from 1923 to 1940. It was a white-only establishment even but featured many of the best Black entertainers and jazz musicians of the era.

Louis Armstrong Nicknamed Satchmo or Pops, A jazz trumpeter and singer. Considered one of the most influential jazz artists of all time. Remembered for songs like 'Star Dust,' 'La Via En Rose,' 'What a Wonderful World.'

Josephine Baker American-born dancer, singer, & actress Known as the "Black Pearl," "Bronze Venus" and even the "Creole Goddess.“ First African-American woman to star in a major motion picture, Zouzou (1934) or to become a world-famous entertainer. Refused to perform for segregated audiences in America, Also noted for her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.

Duke Ellington Composer, pianist and bandleader of jazz orchestras. Career spanned over 50 years, Led his orchestra from 1923 until death in 1974 Most prolific composer of the twentieth century in both number of compositions and variety of forms.