An Analysis of the Great Migration in the 1930 to 1960

The Great Migration took place from 1930 to 1960. During this time many African Americans in the south moved from rural areas into urban settings. One major reason was because of the decline in human labor in the cotton industry. The cotton producers of the south had become more mechanized and did not need as much human labor any more.

This forced many blacks to move away from the farm areas and into cities to try and find jobs (McAdam). By 1960 the percentage of blacks living in cities had more than doubled since 1930 to 58% (McAdam). Many blacks also moved into the north seeking employment in cities such as New York, Chicago, and Detroit.

One result of the Great Migration was that now whites and blacks would have to be in the presence of one another more often. The south had harsh segregation policies, many restaurants and other public facilities would not allow blacks inside. This would help to heighten the awareness of blacks to the horrible discrimination they were being subjected to.

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The civil rights movement would start from the roots of the Great Migration. Now that blacks were away from the farms and into cities the harsh reality of the racism that existed was very noticeable. Blacks knew they were being treated unfairly and would first start to fight back during the sit-ins during the 1960's.

Sit-ins

On February 1, 1960, four black students in Greensboro, North Carolina sat at a Woolworth's food counter and refused to leave until they were served (lecture 9/21). This action was the beginning of the sit-in movement, as well as the student movement to come. The four students became known as the Greensboro 4, and the next day so many black students gathered at Woolworth's that there was no sitting room available (Anderson).

This new form of protest spread very quickly and became very popular among blacks. During the 1960's over 70,000 people participated in such demonstrations (Anderson). These sit-ins were non-violent and inspired other forms of non-violent protest such as boycotts and picket lines (Anderson).

Even though the demonstrators intended for a non-violent protest, they were always at a risk for danger. In Greensboro white students threatened the blacks, and there was even a bomb threat made (Anderson). Also, colleges expelled over 140 blacks who participated in the sit-ins, and around 60 faculty members lost their jobs (Anderson).

The sit-ins of the 1960's were one of the first signs that blacks would not sit idly by and be discriminated against. This movement inspired many Americans to join the cause for civil rights, and the formation of organizations such as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).

Formation of SNCC

Inspired by the sit-in movement taking place, students came together and created SNCC to help fight for civil rights. SNCC would be the driving force behind the Freedom Summer that would take place in Mississippi in 1964 (Anderson).

The main issue that SNCC would tackle, as advised by Robert Kennedy, was the right to vote for blacks (lecture, 9/28). At first SNCC tried to register blacks to vote, but were met by violence. So, SNCC leaders decided to target the worst area of discrimination in the United States, Mississippi. They decided on Mississippi because blacks made up 64% of the population, but only 9% of the registered voters. SNCC held a mock election at which over 80,000 people participate in. Certainly this made an impact with politicians because it demonstrated how many votes were out there for the taking. However, the press did not give the mock election very much coverage. SNCC member Bob Moses came up with the idea of Freedom Summer. The idea behind it was to have white college students come to Mississippi and fight for black rights. If the white kids were met with violence the press would publicize it, unlike if it were blacks being subjected to violence (lecture, 9/28). SNCC was beginning to have a very big impact on the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King was selected as the group's leader. He would carry out much of the business of SNCC through his theory of non-violent civil disobedience. King believed that goals can be achieved without violence if approached in a proper manner. The sit-ins and boycotts, such as Montgomery Bus Boycott, were some of King's favorite weapons.

Organizations such as SNCC were beginning to make progress for black civil rights. The most important step toward racial equality was the passing of the Civil Rights Act.

Civil Rights Act

Encouraged by several demonstrations in the south by King, President Kennedy proposed the Civil Rights Act to congress. If passed, the act would outlaw all discrimination in employment based on race, sex, or creed.

It also stated that the federal government funds if a public accommodation is being discriminatory. The bill is not passed through congress and King decides to take action. In August of 1963 King ordered a March on Washington. Over 250,000 people turn out and King delivers his famous "I Have a Dream" speech (lecture, 9/28). The equality of blacks seems to be in grasp until Kennedy is assassinated later that year. Lyndon B. Johnson takes over as president after Kennedy's death. Johnson vows to get the Civil Rights Act passed in tribute to Kennedy. Johnson, who was a former member of congress, knew how to bargain with fellow politicians and was able to get the bill passed in June of 1964. This was a huge step toward racial equality and perhaps the most important bill passed since 1950.

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