African-American Urbanization

Paper Summary:

This paper explores the reasons for the surge in African-American migration from the rural south to the urban north of America in the early part of the 20th century. It continues to discuss the economic opportunities, oppression, injustices and denial of social equality experienced by the migrants. The author further explores the African-American culture which emerged within the cities and their unique socialization.

From the Paper:

"The tale of the great black migration, their hardships and struggles to establish a life amongst the urban sprawl, was but another root forming a firm foundation upon which could be built a great future. Allen Ballard, a black professor of political science at New York University who lived during this period, expressed these ideas when he stated: "there was dirt, unemployment, sickness, and death all around our community. Yet, through it all, and out of the very depths of human degradation, came a triumphant sense of certitude about the Southern Blacks' ability to survive the city, as they had surmounted oppression..." "

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