Alex Salas
U.S History II
April 8, 2026
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The Cultural Impact of the Great Migration on American Society
Throughout the time period 1916 and 1970 millions of African Americans
moved from the rural South to cities in the North and West in what became known
as the Great Migration. Many people left their homes because of unfair laws or
the way they were treated due to their race, they also lacked many job
opportunities in the South (Wilkerson 9). This movement not only changed where
people lived but also had a major effect on American Culture. The American
Culture was influenced by The Great Migration shaping communities, artistic
movements, and advancing the struggle for civil rights.
One of the bigger impacts of The Great Migration was the growth of
African American art and culture. When African Americans moved to bigger
cities like Chicago, New York, and Detroit, they brought alongside their
traditions, music, and ideas with them (Lemann 112). Later on this led to the
Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement where African Americans expressed
their identity through writing, music, and art (Gates and McKay 963). Writers
such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston wrote about African American
life and challenged stereotypes. At the same time jazz music became popular
across the country, with musicians such as Louis Armstrong helped to spread this
new style of music (Southern 221). These changes had a huge impact on
American art and entertainment.
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The Great Migration also changed life in many cities. As more African
Americans moved north it led to new neighborhoods formed where African
American culture grew and developed. These communities became important
centers of social and economic life, with Black-owned businesses, churches, and,
organizations. However, there were also challenges. Many African Americas
faced housing discrimination and were forced to live in certain areas because of
practices like redlining (Gregory 56). Even though these neighborhoods were
often crowded too much they still helped create strong communities and a sense
of unity.
Another major effect of the Great Migration was its role in the civil rights
movement. As African Americans moved to the North, they gained more
opportunities to vote and participate in politics (Gregory 102). This gave them
more power to fight against discrimination and unfair laws. Organizations such as
the NAACP worked to challenge segregation and promote equality through the
legal system (Wilkerson 215). The migration also helped make it clear that racism
existed throughout the country, not just in the South. These changes helped
prepare for the Civil Rights movement of the mid-twentieth century.
The Great Migration had great effects on the economy, for example many
African Americans found jobs in factories, especially during World War I and
World War II, when there was a high demand for workers (Lehmann 145). These
type of jobs often paid more than the agricultural work in the South which
allowed families to improve their standard of living. With better source of money
many people had more access to education and cultural opportunities. However,
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competition for jobs sometimes caused tension between different groups of
people.
In conclusion, The Great Migration had a major impact on American
culture during the twentieth century. It helped develop new forms of art and
music, also changed the structure of cities, and helped the fight for civil rights.
Although many African Americans faced challenges it helped them build stronger
communities and make important contributions to society. In the end the Great
Migration played a key role in shaping American culture and history.
Works Cited
Gates, Henry Louis Jr., and Nellie Y. McKay, editors. The Norton Anthology of African American
Literature. 2nd ed., W.W. Norton, 2004.
Gregory, James N. The Southern Diaspora: How the Great Migrations of Black and White
Southerners Transformed America. University of North Carolina Press, 2005.
Lemann, Nicholas. The Promised Land: The Great Black Migration and How It Changed
America. Vintage Books, 1992.
Southern, Eileen. The Music of Black Americans: A History. 3rd ed., W.W. Norton, 1997.
Wilkerson, Isabel. The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration.
Random House, 2010.