Final answer:
During World War I, affected by a demand for labor and the desire to escape segregation, African Americans participated in the Great Migration, moving to northern cities where they found industrial jobs and experienced fewer civil rights restrictions despite facing discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout the period surrounding World War I, the Great Migration marked a mass movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North. This relocation was driven by a combination of factors such as the demand for industrial workers created by the war, a desire to escape the pervasive racial injustice and Jim Crow segregation laws, and the pursuit of economic opportunities as well as a more equitable social environment. Northern factories, which needed labor for the war effort, actively recruited black Southern workers. Thus, cities like Chicago, Detroit, and New York saw a significant increase in their African-American populations.
The migration offered African Americans the possibility of voting freely, fewer restrictions on civil rights, and the chance to organize and participate in politics. The Northern urban environments also presented opportunities for economic advancement, as black workers could find jobs in a variety of industries such as steel, mining, shipbuilding, and automotive sectors. Nonetheless, the North was far from a utopia; African Americans encountered discrimination, unfair housing practices, and a resurgence of KKK activity. Despite these hardships, the migration continued well past World War I due to the continued appeal of manufacturing jobs and the promise of a better life away from the conditions in the South.