Final answer:
African-American communities in northern cities grew due to the Great Migration, driven by segregation, economic strife, and the search for jobs. While facing de facto discrimination and economic challenges, this mass movement fostered cultural growth such as the Harlem Renaissance and increased political activism among African Americans.
Step-by-step explanation:
African-American communities grew in northern cities such as Detroit, Chicago, and New York primarily due to the Great Migration. This exodus from the rural South to the North was driven by factors like segregation, economic strife, and the search for better work opportunities, especially during the industrial boom of World War I. The urban growth of African American populations in these cities continued into the 1970s, despite the persistent challenges of racism, segregation in housing, and economic hardship.
While the North was not segregated by law, de facto discrimination prevailed, with African Americans often forced to live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. The Great Migration also brought about the growth of cities within cities, such as Harlem in New York, fostering the rise of a vibrant African-American culture known as the Harlem Renaissance. This movement was not only a cultural phenomenon but also marked the beginning of increased political activism among African Americans, which would shape the future of civil rights in America.
The transition to the urban North was not without its issues. Economic gains were often offset by a higher cost of living, and European immigrants, fearing job competition, sometimes responded with hostility. Cities experienced race riots, and while legal segregation was absent in the North, discriminatory practices in housing and employment persisted. Despite these challenges, the Northern migration allowed African Americans to establish and grow communities that played a crucial role in the country's political, cultural, and social evolution.