An Exodus in the Land of Promise
The Great Migration of African Americans, 1910-1970
The World They Left Behind
The Great Migration was a courageous act of agency by six million African Americans to escape the oppressive Jim Crow South. They fled a system of legal segregation, political disenfranchisement, economic exploitation through sharecropping, and the constant terror of racial violence. As one migrant wrote, they sought to go "where a man is a man."
6 Million
People Migrated
90% to 50%
Black population in the South (1900-1970)
3x+
Potential wage increase in the North
The Journey North
The journey was an ordeal, but it followed distinct corridors defined by railroad lines. These routes became lifelines, connecting specific Southern regions to corresponding Northern cities and forging enduring cultural ties.
Click on a city to learn about its migrant experience.
A New Life: Promise & Paradox
Northern cities offered economic opportunity and freedom from Jim Crow laws, but not from racism. Migrants faced de facto segregation, fierce competition for jobs and housing, and racial violence like the "Red Summer" of 1919. They were confined to overcrowded ghettos but transformed these spaces into vibrant centers of Black life.
Black Population Growth (1910 vs 1970)
New York
Chicago
Detroit
Philadelphia
Forging a New World
Community & Enterprise
Migrants built powerful institutions. Churches like Chicago's Olivet Baptist became social service hubs. Mutual aid societies provided a crucial safety net. This resilience fueled a boom in Black-owned businesses, guided by the "Double Duty Dollar" philosophy—patronizing Black businesses to strengthen the entire community.
A Cultural Renaissance
The concentration of talent in cities like New York and Chicago ignited a cultural explosion. The Harlem Renaissance gave voice to the "New Negro," producing legendary writers, artists, and musicians who reshaped American culture and instilled a new sense of pride and consciousness.
The Enduring Legacy
The Great Migration nationalized the American racial dilemma and created a powerful Black urban electorate that became a key catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement. It unlocked vast economic and creative potential, leading to higher incomes and education for future generations. In a surprising reversal, a "New Great Migration" is now seeing descendants return to a transformed, "New South"—a testament to the profound and lasting changes the original exodus set in motion.