The Great Migration (African Americans, 1916–1970) Between 1916 and 1970, over six million African Americans moved from the rural Southern United States to urban centers in the North, Midwest, and West. Fleeing Jim Crow laws, racial violence, and economic stagnation, they sought industrial jobs during World Wars I and II and better educational opportunities. Cities like Chicago, Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles saw Black populations surge, transforming neighborhoods and culture. This internal migration fueled the Harlem Renaissance, civil rights activism, and the rise of jazz, blues, and soul music. Though migrants faced housing discrimination, redlining, and job segregation, they built resilient communities and political power. The Great Migration reshaped American society—breaking the rural South’s hold on Black life, influencing national politics, and laying groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement. It remains a pivotal chapter in the struggle for racial justice and urban transformation in the U.S.
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