MotorCities - Stop 4 | Junior Ranger

Stop 4: Labor, Immigration and Migration in the MotorCities Region

Have you ever wondered why so many African-Americans moved from the south to the north in the early to mid-1900’s? Well, we have the answer for you, so listen up! The Great Migration, also known as the Black Migration, was a movement of 6 million African-Americans from the rural Southern United States to the Northwest Midwest and Western regions of the United States. This migration occurred between 1916 and 1970. It took place because of the poor economic conditions and brutal racial segregation and discrimination in the Southern states where laws such as the Jim Crow Law were maintained. This migration led to the establishment of very influential African-American communities throughout New York City, Chicago, Los Angles, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, Cleveland and our beloved Motor City, Detroit.

The Great Migration was one of the largest and quickest rapid mass internal movements in history! Can you imagine leaving what you have always known, your home, family, friends…. everything, to move to an unknown land? There was a fear of unchartered territory, possible lack of food, homelessness and possible unemployment. With the odds stacked against many, the Great Migration spurred hope and new beginnings for many families.

Some historians note that there were two Great Migrations. The Great Migration, between 1916 and 1940, which saw roughly 1.6 million people move from rural areas in the South, to Northern industrial cities, and the second Great Migration, which took place between 1940 and 1970. The second or new Great Migration, began after the Great Depression and brought around 5 million people with urban skills to the North and Western parts of the United States.

Activity 5: Do you like puzzles? See if you can complete the crossword puzzle below about the Great Migration! Good luck!

Click here to complete the crossword puzzle. Once you have completed it, be sure to take a screen capture or save it as a PDF. You will want to upload it using the online form. This is the form you will fill out when you have completed all your stops or activities.

Detroit’s Population Through the Years (1880-2010)

Take a look at the chart below, specifically at the years where Detroit’s population increased. This increase in the population spurred more growth within the MotorCities region! Notice anything, interesting? Dig deeper and take a look at the years of the Great Migration. You’ll notice that people came in large numbers, looking for work in the auto industry, moving from the South to the North to make better lives for their families.

Detroit Population Chart

Click Here For Interesting Facts You “Auto” Know About the MotorCities Region, Migration, Immigration & More!

Although the cities and states of the north did not have legalized segregation, there was a de facto segregation in many places that kept blacks out of certain neighborhoods and professions.
The summer of 1919, often termed the "Red Summer," witnessed racial riots and violence across the United States that was both a cause and result of the migrations. In southern towns and cities the violence often led to many blacks moving north, while in northern cities, such as Chicago and Omaha, the sudden increase in the African-American population as a result of the migrations led to white resentment.
The Harlem Renaissance movement of the 1920s was largely the result of the Great Migrations.
The Chicago blues scene was the result of Mississippi migrators.
Henry Ford employed many African-American migrators at his Ford plants.
Black migrants were often resented for taking blue-collar jobs by European immigrants.
Young black male migrants often found themselves competing with white ethnics for "turf" in major cities, leading to the formation of street gangs.
Very few black migrants ended up in small towns or rural areas of the north.
The white business, political, and planter class in the south had mixed reactions to the migrations: some welcomed the exodus, while many in the planter class resorted to nefarious tactics, such as not cashing checks of blacks believed to be headed north, while some raised their black workers' wages.
The Great Depression brought a dramatic decrease in the migration and is considered by many historians to be the end of the First Great Migration
After World War II, Los Angeles, Oakland, and other cities in California recorded large increases in their black populations.
Before the migrations, South Carolina and Mississippi had majority black populations, but today no state is predominantly black.
Since the 1970s, there has been a modest but study reverse migration of African-Americans from the north to the south. The reverse migration has been spurred by urban professionals who have moved to southern cities such as Atlanta, Memphis, Charlotte, New Orleans, and Houston.

Great Migration Fun Activities

Activity 6: Imagine yourself living during the era of the Great Migration!

FOR THIS ACTIVITY YOU WILL DOWNLOAD THIS PAGE TO FILL OUT.

Imagine yourself living during the era of the Great Migration! Your parents have just told you that you have 10-minutes to pack the items that are important to you, that you will need to migrate to the North to the MotorCities Region. Remember, this is the early to mid 1900’s, so cell phones, computers, and video games don’t exist yet! What items would you pack that could fit into one backpack? What types of items would you pack to entertain yourself on the long trip? What items would you need to exist on your new journey… clothes, toothbrush, soap, snacks, books? What are you thinking as you pack your necessities? Will you miss your friends, your home, or your community? What types of things are you looking forward to on your new journey, what sights, sounds, smells? Are you going to write a goodbye letter to your friends? What will you write in your letter? Download the page here , and let your imagination flow. Take a picture of your work and upload it using the online form. This is the form you will fill out when you have completed all your stops or activities. We may feature you and your work on our website!

Activity 7: Become a Famous Artist During the Great Migration!

Believe it or not, the Great Migration played a significant role within the art world. Artist, Jacob Lawrence created a series of panels focused on the Great Migration and the struggles of African-Americans as they made the journey from the South to North, in search of a better life for themselves and their families.

Imagine yourself as an artist who has been commissioned to create a spectacular drawing based on the Great Migration! What types of themes will you incorporate in your drawing, what colors will you decide to use? Take a look at the videos about art and the Great Migration and draw your own masterpiece! Send it to us and it may be featured in our Art Gallery! Good luck! Download the page here, and happy drawing! Take a picture of your work and upload it using the online form. This is the form you will fill out when you have completed all your stops or activities. We may feature you and your work on our website!

Click Here For Videos About the Great Migration That You “Auto” See!

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This project was made possible by a grant from the National Park Foundation through generous support of partners including Union Pacific Railroad and donors across the country.