The Movement of Black Communities Historically: Are they migrating back South?

 In my recent JOUR 4250 lecture, we screened the documentary "The Black Press: Soldiers Without Swords," which explored a significant migration of Black Southerners to the North. Between 1910 and 1970, an estimated 5 million Black Southerners relocated from the South to the North. This migration occurred in two waves: the first from 1910 to 1930, driven by an increase in factory jobs due to World War I, and the second during World War II, providing employment opportunities not only in major Northern cities but also along the West Coast.

Despite the urbanization and economic growth of Southern cities, many Black Americans chose to settle in the regions where they had migrated during the World Wars. However, this trend has shifted in recent decades, starting in the 1970s, with a growing number of Black Americans moving back to Southern cities. One of the contributing factors was deindustrialization in the North. According to the article "A 'New Great Migration' is Bringing Black Americans Back to the South" on brookings.edu, "Black frustration over deteriorating employment opportunities, discrimination, and de facto segregation in northern and western cities led to a series of well-publicized urban race riots in the 1960s."

During the late 1960s, there was a significant intrastate migration in the South. The states in the deep South, particularly Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana, experienced the highest influx of Black Americans. Southern cities along the Gulf of Mexico witnessed a boom in economic growth and job opportunities, making states like Texas attractive destinations for settling. Data collected by brookings.edu from 1995 to 2000 identified Atlanta as the primary magnet for Black migration, surpassing other Southern metropolitan areas like Dallas, Charlotte, Orlando and Houston.

While job opportunities played a role in the decision to return South, the enduring connections that Black Americans had with the region were also evident. Black northerners maintained ties with their families who remained in the South, creating a sense of familiarity and a welcoming environment that motivated some to return, particularly in the face of deindustrialization.

A ‘New Great Migration’ is bringing Black Americans back to the South | Brookings