The urbanization of blacks in America
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It has been suggested that this article be merged into Great_Migration_(African_American). (Discuss) Proposed since April 2011. |
The Urbanization of Blacks In America:
During the early 1900s most blacks in America resided in four main cities; New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Boston. The distribution of black America's changed due to a few major factors. These factors play a huge role in what we know today as the Black "community".
Emancipation: Factor 1: After emancipation black Americans began to migrate to northern cities. Some of the reasons for their migration included the opportunity for employment and the fact that blacks were able to vote in the northern states. The number of blacks living in urban areas increased from 28% to approximately 48%. The reason that many Black Americans migrated to northern cities was due to the increase in industrialization.
World War I: (1914- 1918) Factor 2: In response to World War I there was an increasing need for unskilled and skilled labor. The increase in the need to fill labor positions is referred to as the War Boom. Black American's now had the opportunity to better their standard of living with employment opportunities in meat packing, the steel industry and in the south ship making.
World War II: (1939-1945 ) Factor 3: In response to World War II, Black American were migrating to the North and the West where defense operations were located.
In the 1950s only 40% of American Blacks lived on rural farms. The migration of American Blacks from rural farms to urban communities is noted as one of the "most significant transformation in the history of the United States".
In the 1970s, American Blacks were labeled “Urban People”.
