Great Migration, The

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. The Great Migration was shaped by centuries of racial oppression and economic hardship faced by African-Americans in the South. Following the Civil War, the promise of freedom and equality was met with harsh reality as Jim Crow laws institutionalized racial segregation. These laws restricted African-Americans’ access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, creating a cycle of poverty and disenfranchisement. As the years went on, many felt trapped in a system designed to keep them from advancing. Economic conditions in the South were another driving factor. The agricultural economy was largely based on sharecropping, a system that kept African-Americans in a state of economic dependence. Many sharecroppers were unable to escape debt and had little opportunity for upward mobility. With limited access to jobs in other industries, African-Americans saw little hope for a better future in the South. The rise of industrialization in the North created new opportunities that were unattainable in the South. Cities like Chicago, New York, and Detroit saw the growth of factories and other industries that needed labor. These urban centers promised better pay, improved living conditions, and freedom from racial segregation. However, the promise of the North was often exaggerated, with many migrants arriving to find crowded neighborhoods and tough working conditions.