Black Boy: The Historical Effects of Migration
Created By: Meghan M. Gabor
SUNY Fredonia
The
history of African Americans begins even before the birth of the United States.
Since this time, African Americans have endured many arduous struggles such
as slavery, white oppression, and civil rights. It is no coincidence
then that a majority of these themes are present within Black literature
and art. One dominant theme within this literature has been that of
migration, including the external migration from Africa to America, and internally
from the south to north.
Following the end of World War I in 1919, almost half a million black Americans
migrated from the rural south to industrial cities in search of not only jobs,
but also an escape from racial prejudice. This movement marks the begining
of what has been become known as "The Great Migration.
" To develop a deeper understanding
about African American migration, one only has to read such books as Richard
Wright’s Black Boy to understand the cultural and historical
significance of the movement. This autobiography presents one man’s
unique experience during the Great Migration. One can attain a thorough
understanding of the African American journey from the years 1890 through
1940 by looking at: how, and to what ends Wright uses the theme of migration,
how Wright's migration experience relates with similar patterns in history
and other literature, and also how each of these authors' justify their actions
and accomplish their desired goals.
