Final answer:
The migration of African Americans from the South to the North in the early 20th century is known as the Great Migration. It involved about 1.5 million individuals looking for better opportunities and escaping discriminatory Jim Crow laws. This movement had a lasting impact on U.S. cities and culture, giving rise to the Harlem Renaissance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Great Migration is a significant event involved approximately 1.5 million African Americans leaving the rural American South from 1910 to 1930, with about half a million migrating during World War I to take advantage of jobs in Northern factories. The Great Migration was driven by African Americans' desire to escape Jim Crow laws, seek better employment, and live in a more tolerant society.
Major urban centers such as New York, Chicago, and Detroit became destinations for these migrants, thus reshaping the demographic and cultural landscape of the United States. The legacy of the Great Migration is still evident today, as African Americans continue to have a significant presence in cities across the North and Midwest. The impact of this migration also contributed to the cultural developments such as the Harlem Renaissance, with Harlem emerging as a vibrant center for African American culture.