Overview:
During the 20th century, many American southern black
individuals and families made a choice to go north. This is considered a Great Migration. They migrated for the same reasons various
other peoples throughout history migrated.
When life in their region became untenable, they left to places where
there was hope of a better life. For
improved social and economic opportunities.
Going to where they could be employed in their chosen fields. Moving away from where they were relentlessly
persecuted, to where there were less social restrictions and fears. Reluctant to leave, but they left in search
for freedom.
The end of the American Civil War established liberties for
black individuals. But in the south, by
the end of the 19th century, laws were created to segregate the peoples. The Jim Crow laws removed the previously
gained liberties. But the era was
different, with black individuals not restricted to a region. The south did not want to lose the quality
labor, and created laws to try and keep black individuals. Yet black individuals found ways to
leave. Migrating north. What black individuals found in the north was
much better, but not ideal. The north
did not have segregation laws, but socially were still able to enforce
segregation. Black individuals left the
dangers of the south, but the north had dangers as well. Those who migrated could not warn their
successors of the different dangers. Nor
did the north have the social cohesion that they had in the south, in which the
community members would have looked after each other.
Persecution and Jim Crow Laws:
Circa early 20th century, there were black individuals
with no personal account of slavery.
They were free, but not free.
They lived under Jim Crow. Jim
Crow laws had official discrimination laws, but also unofficial social custom
rituals. Breaking a minor ritual or
gesture, would have quickly led to the black individual being assaulted. Everyday interactions favored white
individuals, and subordinated black individuals.
Employment:
Sharecroppers were pinned to the land. The master kept sharecroppers in debt, by not
giving the sharecropper what they earned.
The sharecropper could not contradict the master, because that would
have had terrible consequences. The good
bosses at least allowed the sharecroppers to break even, rather than get the
sharecropper further into debt.
As planters wanted to keep labor, they kept the sharecropper
in debt. The planter claimed that the
sharecropper owned money, and needed to pay off the debt, even if there was no
actual debt. That meant that sharecroppers
either worked for free, or became fugitives if they did not. Should a sharecropper keep a record, it would
not matter because black individual records did not count. The reason for the lack of justice, was
because black individuals could not make or enforce their demands.
WW1 created a labor shortage. Wartime labor shortages created various
creative ways to force individuals into working. Those caught not working were arrested, and
obtained fines which were needed to be paid off working. This was debt peonage, which was an illegal
form of contemporary slavery.
Younger individuals did not obtain their predecessors debts,
did not want to be coerced, and were not satisfied with working on
plantations. WW1 opened up a lot of jobs
in the North, and the younger individuals were willing to go North. They went North for the income, and because
there was more liberty there.
There were those who went north for work, but later came
back to the south. The problem was that
their perspectives have changed. They
became accustomed to fair wages, and various freedoms and liberties. They had become used to their life not being
in danger for even minor social infractions.
Going back south, the dissatisfaction with the lower income caused them
to form groups and hold out for higher wages.
Those who earned money received more than they even thought possible. Not because it was a lot of
money, but because it was far more than was possible in the past. This was only due to the war. They disapproved of the war, but secretly
also did not want it to end.
There was a huge disparity in pay between white and black
individuals. White individuals could
provide for their successors, and therefore accumulate wealth. Black individuals could barely provide for
themselves, and thereby save enough for successors. This created an intergenerational disparity
wealth gap. A name was the only thing
black individuals could give their successors, making that name very
important. Communities utilized the same
beloved names.
Migration, and The North:
Those who left the south, took memories of the south with
them. Being reminded, by insignificant
things, of the where they came from. Generally,
the more ambitious the migrant, the further they are willing to go and overcome
greater obstacles. Migration requires
energy, and planning. A desire and
willingness to act. They are more likely
to be better educated than those of their original regions, and more motivated. Leading them to become successful in the new
region.
In the north, black individuals were allowed to vote. But they were not really sure how, but
learned. Their ability to vote changed
who got into office. And were able to
remove individuals who wanted to keep the power to abuse black
individuals. In the south, black
individual knew better than to try to vote even if they had the option.
Although there were no segregation laws in the north, people
still found ways to segregate based on race.
To degrade black values and individuals.
As black individuals earned money, they started to move into better
neighborhoods. Neighborhoods that were
primarily white. There was an assumption
that black individuals would reduce the value of the neighborhood, which set an
expectation that lowered the retail value of the neighborhood. With falling prices, white individuals could
not finance investments. Leading to many
white people selling what they had at low prices and leaving the
neighborhood. White people left in
advance of any black individuals moving there.
Many who left the south due to dangers, did not consider the
different dangers of the places that they moved to. They were usually small-town individuals,
moving to urban environments without knowing the problems of their new
region. In the south, migrants had a
community that could warn the people of dangers, and watch out for others. But where the migrants moved to, they did not
have a support network. They were not
warned of the dangers of drugs, guns, and violence. They did not know these dangers, and
therefore could not warn their children of these dangers. The conditions of the northern cities brought
down many migrants.
Caveats?
The book is composed of mostly
narrative and examples. Not much
explanation of the content. The history
is told from the perspective of various peoples, with different stories to tell
about their migration. Can be hard to
keep track of the different narratives.
The book is
polarizing. Showing the struggles of
black individuals, and how they were persecuted by white individuals. The problem is what is not expressed, that
not all white people supported Jim Crow laws.
The white people who undermined Jim Crow laws. The caste system is very difficult to
overcome, from each perspective.
