The Great Migration
Jacob Lawrence's Depiction of The Great Migration Photo Source: The Phillips Collection
The abolishment of slavery in 1895 seemed promising for newly freed slaves. However, the Jim Crow laws that were enacted further perpetuated the discrimination and inequalities they felt during slavery. During the years 1910 to 1930, there was a huge shift in the demographics of Northern cities. This period known as the Great Migration was a period of mass movement for Southern African Americans in search of job opportunities and a renewed life. In addition to New York, Chicago and, St. Louis, a report titled “The Negro Population of Hartford, CT written by Charles S. Johnson in 1921 highlighted Hartford as a premiere destination for many African Americans during this time.
Photo Source: Trinity College Digital Repository Click on Photo to view the full report
New Beginnings
When African Americans initially made it to Hartford the job opportunities, the tobacco industry in particular, seemed promising. However, many of them found that jobs were not always available. The African American population and immigrant European population in Hartford often competed for the same jobs, and the European immigrants usually were more favored. However, World War I brought job more openings for them as immigration was banned and a number of the immigrant residents of Hartford went to fight for their homeland.
The new African American arrivals faced many challenges in addition to the lack of job opportunities as they tried to settle in the North. Not only did they face backlash from the African Americans that lived in the North prior to The Great Migration, they also felt the implications of racism in the North. They were segregated in one section of the city and endured harsh living conditions. Those who were fortunate enough acquired the means to move, but many others were left behind.
A Sense of Hope
Even though the circumstances were not ideal, the African Americans who were left behind found ways to uplift their communities through churches. There were a number of different churches for different faiths, and the differences in beliefs often caused friction between the African American community as a whole. At the end of his research, Johnson concluded his report with words of encouragement and advice for the new and existing African Americans that both called Hartford home. He stated that despite the differences that seemed to draw them apart, there were a number of individual ministers who possessed strong leadership skills. If they worked to overcome their differences and collaborate together, then they would be able to effectively tackle those who further oppressed and denied them opportunities for attaining a better life.
Johnson was a prominent African American sociologist who studied race relations in the 20th century. Johnson attended Virginia Union University and later earned his Ph.D. from The University of Chicago. Johnson served as the director of the Department of Research and Investigations for The National Urban League. In addition to writing this report, he has written reports on cities including Chicago.
Photo Source: Perspectives in American Literature Paul P. Reuben
Learn More:
African-American Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library
Jacob Lawrence’s Migration Series
Anon. “Charles Spurgeon Johnson (American Sociologist and Editor) — Britannica Online Encyclopedia.” Encyclopedia Britannica. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/305290/Charles-Spurgeon-Johnson.
Anon. “Great Migration: The African-American Exodus North : NPR.” NPR.org. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129827444.
Johnson, Charles. “The Negro Population of Hartford, Connecticut”. Department of Research and Investigations of the National Urban League, New York, 1921. Connecticut State Library. Available from the Trinity College Digital Repository, Hartford, Connecticut (http://digitalrepository.trincoll.edu)