The Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to cities in the North, Midwest, and West of the United States occurred between the early 1900s and the 1970s. There were several push and pull factors that motivated this migration.
Push factors:
Jim Crow laws and segregation: The South was still highly segregated in the early 1900s, with the Jim Crow laws enforcing a strict racial segregation. African Americans were often denied access to education, jobs, and voting rights. They faced discrimination, violence, and lynching.
Sharecropping and low wages: Many African Americans in the rural South worked as sharecroppers, meaning they farmed someone else's land and gave a portion of their crop as rent. This system often left them in debt and unable to improve their living conditions. Wages were also low for African Americans, even for those who worked in non-agricultural jobs.
Natural disasters: The rural South was prone to natural disasters, such as floods and droughts, which could devastate crops and homes, leaving families with no means of survival.
Pull factors:
Job opportunities: The North, Midwest, and West offered better job opportunities than the rural South. The booming industries in these regions, such as manufacturing, mining, and transportation, needed a large workforce, and African Americans were able to find jobs that paid better than what they had in the South.
Education and training: Northern cities had better educational opportunities for African Americans, which allowed them to gain skills and training that could lead to better jobs and higher wages.
Political and social freedom: In the North, Midwest, and West, African Americans had greater political and social freedom than in the rural South. They were able to vote, attend integrated schools, and live in integrated neighborhoods.
Overall, the push factors of segregation, sharecropping, and natural disasters, combined with the pull factors of job opportunities, education, and political and social freedom, led to the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural South to cities in the North, Midwest, and West.