Some 1 million of African-Americans had left the South by the end of 1919. They traveled by train, boat or bus and a small amount had automobiles or horse-drawn carts. The Northern cities grew large percentages of blacks’ population between 1910 and 1920; including New York with 66%, Chicago with 148%, and Cleveland with 307%, Philadelphia with 500% and Detroit with 611%.
Because of the lack of economic opportunities and harsh segregationist laws, many Southern blacks headed north. They took advantage of the need of industrial workers during WWI. As the black populations rapidly expanding in the industrialized urban areas like Chicago, New York, Detroit and so on, migrants were forced to deal with poor conditions at homes or works and with a widespread of racism and prejudice.
There were a small number of people living in the North surviving as porters, domestics or preachers. Many others work in factories, slaughterhouses and foundries, where working condition was dangerous. Female migrants had a harder time finding work than male. On the other hand, the relationship between blacks and whites got worsened across the country because of rising rents in segregated areas. The most serious event took place in Chicago in July 1919. It lasted for 13 days with 38 people dead, 537 injured and 1,000 black families without homes.
Because of the lack of economic opportunities and harsh segregationist laws, many Southern blacks headed north. They took advantage of the need of industrial workers during WWI. As the black populations rapidly expanding in the industrialized urban areas like Chicago, New York, Detroit and so on, migrants were forced to deal with poor conditions at homes or works and with a widespread of racism and prejudice.
There were a small number of people living in the North surviving as porters, domestics or preachers. Many others work in factories, slaughterhouses and foundries, where working condition was dangerous. Female migrants had a harder time finding work than male. On the other hand, the relationship between blacks and whites got worsened across the country because of rising rents in segregated areas. The most serious event took place in Chicago in July 1919. It lasted for 13 days with 38 people dead, 537 injured and 1,000 black families without homes.