Lecture 8 Outline
North–South Migration in the 20th century
Discussion topics from last week’s readings:
o
Race and Ethnicity in America: A Concise History – How did ethnic origin and race shape the
American immigrant experience? What role did they play in identity formation in the dominant (i.e.
white Protestant) culture?
North–South Migration in the 20th Century
Historical Background – Long-standing cultural divide between North and South, one which pre-dates European
settlement of continent. Institution of slavery was a divisive issue throughout colonial and 19th-century
American history. Western expansion exacerbates issue and ultimately boils over in violence of American Civil
War (1861–1865) between North and South. Post-war Reconstruction era brings rights to freedmen
(emancipated blacks), but only temporarily. Jim Crow laws and failure of Reconstruction were factors that black
migration out of the South.
The Great Migration(s) – Between 1910–1970 nearly 30 million southerners left the South. By far, majority
move to Northern cities. By race, 1/3 black, 2/3 white, in addition 1 million Hispanics (Tejanos). By 1970 an
estimated 35% southern-born blacks and 20% S-B whites live in the North, respectively. This fundamental
demographic change makes the black “problem” a national rather than southern one, but also effects many
subtle changes (culture, politics, religion etc.) in American society. In addition, the South gets whiter.
Reasons for migration – opportunities were a central factor. North offered jobs far better than anything the
South could offer. Wages for similar work often double in Northern cities. South was most economically
backward region of the country and offered poor economic prospects for educated southerners. Southern
poverty was “the Nation’s No. 1 economic problem” during depression – FDR. Immigration restrictions of 1920s
also encouraged migration to North. Mexican migration, from SW and Mexico alike, to Northern initiates wider
trend of Hispanic (im-)migration.
The Black Metropolis—Migration out of the South fortuitous for blacks: Northern cities offer blacks a relatively
autonomous fringe territory on the edge of dominant culture. This leads to opportunities of self-empowerment
but also crime and poverty. A politically active, un-harassed middle class helps form political power base. Black
music, media, sports and culture thrive, and help create bi-directional exchange with white America, helping to
bring focus onto black issues.
The Hillbilly Migration – White migration has different results. White southerners could choose to become
invisible in the face of prejudice and easily blended into dominant culture. White southerners never created
“city within a city” (e.g. Harlem) as did blacks, nor was there much interest in creating a “protest identity”.
White migrants from the South indeed faced prejudice, as South was synonymous with poverty and
backwardness in eyes of the Northern dominant culture. Despite the diversity of Southern whites, stereotypes
of “hillbillies” rampant in the media during the era and help to make southerners an “ethnic group” in eyes of
many – migrants from the South, in effect, become “othered” and are viewed as a distinctly different (lower)
class of white akin to some other white immigrant ethnicities. Some southerners used this to their advantage
(“professional southerner”) like educated elite, sports figures, and musicians, but most migrants primarily
benefited from simply being white (and Protestant) in often predominantly foreign, Catholic northern cities,
where they were often initially welcomed warmly.
Evangelical success in North – Migrants from South bring new, uniquely American forms of religion to North.
Baptist preachers such as C.L. Franklin and John Norris created an evangelical base that was politically and
socially active, and help make aspects of evangelical religion mainstream throughout country. Migration also
spurred growth of Pentecostal practices (faith healing, charismatic Christianity) as well as allowed other novel
religious experiences (black Catholics, Nation of Islam, Judaism). End result: migration brought a diversity and
debate into religious spheres in North. More importantly, black churches in particular became important socialpolitical pillars in society.
The Push for Civil Rights – Civil Rights movement has roots in Northern cities, not the South. Black
empowerment in North (alongside white political elites) created powerful partners in North, as well as the
tools to force civil rights issues in South. North was magnet for southern intellectual, social activists. The 1st
black congressman since Reconstruction (Oscar de Priest) was from Chicago, but born in South. Political power
brought contacts that would be used in later civil rights movement (white patronage, unions, political
movements). Importantly, black political agents learned to use power of protest to gain advantages from local
and federal government alike. Defining factor of pre–Civil Rights-era America is that the Democratic Party
begins to embrace civil rights issue. A rehearsal for Civil Rights movement that occurred in 1950s and 1960s – a
rehearsal that could never have happened in the South.
White Migration and Racism – Southern whites have typically been blamed for much of racial strife in Northern
cities. Movements like revival of Ku Klux Klan and Black Legion undoubtedly southern in tone and symbolism,
but certainly northern in membership. Southerners undoubtedly provided much energy to conservative
political movements in post-WWII era. For example, presidential candidacy of southern segregationist George
Wallace gained organizational and momentum from southern migrants in North. So too did racial fear brought
to fore by issue of southern migration (race mongering becomes a useful political tool in the North too).
Beginnings of new conservatism can be seen as coming on heels of southern migration. Conservatism came to
have a southern tone to it, utilizing plain folks, anti-civil rights arguments catered to middle-class white
concerns (Real Americans vs. “Those People”).
Interestingly, by the 1970s, migration begins to change direction – the South, finally, becomes appealing. The
most important legacy of North–South migration was likely its moderating effect of N–S cultural differences.
The “Southernization of the US” was accompanied by an “Americanization of Dixie” in that it brought both
sides into sustained contact with one another on often a-political levels, creating a more organic culture of
exchange, a hybrid culture of sorts.
Selected Reading:
The Hillbilly: A Cultural History of an American Icon, by Anthony Harkins, either 71–101, or 173–204
Suggested Musical Interlude:
Dooley by The Dillards
I Wanna Be Your Dog by Uncle Tupelo
Birmingham by the Drive-by Truckers
Andrew Pattison
Oulu University
Focus Areas in North American History 682373A
AvP13 ttison