4.2 The development of urban African American communities

The Great Migration saw millions of African Americans move from the South to northern cities, seeking better opportunities and escaping racial oppression. This massive population shift led to the formation of concentrated African American neighborhoods in cities like Chicago, Detroit, and New York.

These urban communities faced challenges like housing discrimination and employment barriers. However, they also developed vibrant cultural scenes, strong institutions like churches and businesses, and became hubs for civil rights activism, shaping the broader struggle for equality.

The Great Migration and Urban African American Communities

Characteristics of Great Migration communities

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• Rapid population growth in northern and midwestern cities
  • Millions of African Americans migrated from the South (Mississippi, Alabama) to escape racial oppression and seek better economic opportunities in cities like Chicago, Detroit, and New York
• Concentrated African American neighborhoods formed due to segregation
  • Housing discrimination led to the formation of predominantly black neighborhoods (Harlem in New York City, Bronzeville in Chicago)
  • Overcrowding and substandard living conditions were common in these neighborhoods
• Development of vibrant African American cultural scene
  • Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement celebrating African American art, literature, and music (jazz, blues), flourished in the 1920s and 1930s
  • Entertainment venues (jazz clubs, theaters) provided spaces for artistic expression and community gatherings

Role of African American institutions

• Churches served as community pillars
  • Provided spiritual guidance, emotional support, and a sense of belonging
  • Platforms for political activism and civil rights advocacy (Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem)
  • Offered educational and social services (Sunday schools, youth programs)
• Black-owned businesses supported economic development
  • Provided employment opportunities for African Americans facing discrimination in the broader job market
  • Reinvested profits into the community, fostering local economic growth
  • Symbols of pride and self-determination (banks, insurance companies, newspapers)
• Social and fraternal organizations promoted community uplift
  • Groups like the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and the Universal Negro Improvement Association advocated for self-help and community improvement
  • Provided networking opportunities and support systems for African Americans navigating urban life

Challenges in urban settings

• Housing discrimination and segregation limited opportunities
  • Restrictive covenants and redlining practices prevented African Americans from accessing quality housing and homeownership
  • Led to overcrowding and substandard living conditions in African American neighborhoods
• Employment discrimination and barriers to well-paying jobs
  • African Americans often relegated to low-wage, menial positions despite their skills and qualifications
  • Labor unions frequently excluded African American workers or placed them in separate, less powerful locals
• Racial tensions and violence targeted urban African American communities
  • Communities faced racial violence and riots (Chicago Race Riot of 1919)
  • Strained relationships with city authorities due to police brutality and discriminatory law enforcement practices

Impact on civil rights movement

• Urban African American communities served as bases for grassroots activism
  • Organizing and mobilizing civil rights campaigns on a local level
  • Local leaders and organizations played key roles in national movements (March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963)
• Concentrated African American populations led to increased political empowerment
  • Greater representation and influence in local and national elections
  • Advocated for civil rights legislation and social justice reforms
• Cultural influence challenged stereotypes and asserted black identity
  • Artistic and intellectual output of urban African American communities (Harlem Renaissance) had a lasting impact on American culture
  • Helped shape the broader struggle for equality by celebrating African American heritage and pride