What economic factors spurred the Great Migration of African Americans?

The Great Migration, which occurred primarily between 1916 and 1970, involved the movement of millions of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North and West. A key driving force behind this significant shift was the search for better job opportunities.

During this period, African Americans faced systemic racism, disenfranchisement, and limited economic prospects in the South due to the oppressive sharecropping system and a lack of access to education and skilled jobs. The northern industrial cities, on the other hand, were experiencing labor shortages, particularly during and after World War I. These cities offered a range of jobs in factories and other industries, which attracted many African Americans seeking improved economic conditions for themselves and their families.

While other factors such as a desire to reunite with families and a longing for political freedom might have played a role in some migrations, the overwhelming influence remained the pursuit of better employment opportunities that the North could promise, thus leading many to leave their homes in search of a more prosperous future.