Question

Years later i discovered that the united states had been crossed thousands of times by frightened black children traveling alone to their newly affluent parents in northern cities, or back to grandmothers in southern towns when the urban north reneged on its economic promises. the town reacted to us as its inhabitants had reacted to all new things before our coming.

Answer 1

The passage highlights the significant factors that led to African American migration after the Civil War, which includes better educational opportunities and personal freedoms in the North compared to the Jim Crow South. It also discusses the impact of other immigrants on American cities and the challenges they faced alongside African Americans, shaping the social and economic fabric of the United States.

Step-by-step explanation:

African American Migration in Historical Context

The passage describes a significant part of the African American experience pertaining to migration within the United States. After the Civil War, there were various waves of African American migration, particularly during the Great Migration where many moved from the South to Northern cities.

This movement was driven by several factors, including the search for better economic opportunities, education, and freedom from the Jim Crow laws enforcing racial segregation in the South.

Educational opportunities and the desire for personal freedoms were significant factors that motivated African Americans to move northward. Despite facing economic challenges similar to those in the South, the North offered greater educational opportunities and a sense of personal freedom that was less constrained by the rigid and often violent racial etiquette of the South.

Immigration also played a role in shifting the demographics of many American cities post-Civil War. This added to the complexity of urban life, with both recently freed African Americans and immigrants filling in the growing industrial cities. However, these new populations often faced scapegoating and prejudice, even while they contributed significantly to the American workforce and culture.

Over the decades, African American migration patterns continued to shape and reshape the cultural and economic landscapes of American cities. The movement of African Americans, as well as their struggles and contributions, is an essential part of the broader narrative of American history and social change.