1. The great migration

2. Leaving the Jim crow south
Jim Crow laws gave Blacks a reason to leave
World War I gave them the opportunity to leave
Summer 1914 until November 11, 1918
Blacks trickled into North: 1900 and 1910
“Talented Tenth” moving to northern cities

3. The numbers
Before World War I, 90% Blacks lived in the South. 75% of southern Blacks lived in rural areas “Great Migration” – 1914 through ,000 blacks went North 1920s ,000 left the South. By 1960, 75% of all African Americans lived in cities By 1960, about half of all Blacks lived outside the South

4. Blacks were “pushed” out of the South by
The increase in racial violence
The increase in political and social discrimination
An economic crisis in southern agriculture
Caused by wide-scale flooding
The spread of the boll weevil
Northern Black newspaper editors urged Blacks to leave the South

5. Blacks were “pulled” to the North by
Fairer political and social treatment
Jobs -- World War I created a demand for labor in
Meat-packing, mining, the steel industry, the chemical industry
Ammunition depots, automotive industries, the railroads
Men and women found work in northern factories
Many of the people who once did these jobs were not available
Immigrants
White workers

6. Black migration before world War I
Before World War I, Blacks moved North in stages
First, from the rural areas to southern cities
Then they continued on to the urban North
By the time they reached the North they were familiar with urban life

7. Black migration during world War I
Blacks tended to move directly from the rural areas
No stopover in a southern city
These new migrants were . . .
less familiar with urban life,
poorer
less skilled and educated

8. tensions in the Black community
Differences created tension within the Black communities
Established Blacks vs. newcomers to the northern cities
Some northern Blacks welcomed the newcomers
Others resented the recent arrivals
They competed for jobs
Northern Blacks felt the superior

9. Life in the North New arrivals found low-skilled jobs
New arrivals made less money than white workers
In 1910, Black workers made 1/3 what white workers made
New arrivals faced discrimination by white employers

10. the nation Urban League
Tried to help the newly arrived Black workers Founded by conservative blacks and white philanthropists Used moral suasion to get employers to hire Blacks

11. Labor unions Traditionally, Blacks were kept out of most labor unions,
American Federation of Labor (AFL)
The AFL excluded women and immigrants
Most blacks, women, & immigrants were unskilled workers
Only skilled workers were allowed to join the AFL
Post World War I labor unrest -- Blacks became strikebreakers
White workers usually got their jobs back when strike ended
Resentment from white laborers intensified

12. Leisure Black men spent their free time like most white workers
Taverns and poolrooms attracted single men
Many of the poolrooms were owned by Blacks
In 1920, 1,582 poolrooms were blacks-owned
The 7th most common black-owned business
Saloons or “workingmen’s clubs” offered gym facilities
Boxing and cockfights
Lots of gambling in these places

13. Professional sports
Many African Americans enjoyed going to sporting events
Baseball was the most popular sport
Sporting events were not easy to attend
The cost
Daytime, most were working
Prior to 1947, baseball was segregated.

14. Black-owned professional sports teams
The New York Renaissance, known as the “The Rens”
Harlem entrepreneur Robert Douglas
First all-black, black-owned professional basketball team
Most of their games were played on the road.
Rens played white professional teams in exhibitions

15. negro league baseball In 1920, Andrew “Rube” Foster
The National Negro Baseball League.
eight teams
All but one of the team owners was black
Professional Black baseball lasted until 1947
Jackie Robinson broke the “color barrier”
April 15, Brooklyn Dodgers