What would be a good thesis statement for my intro paragraph?
Effect and Evolution of African Americans in Minnesota
Intro
The first Great Migration occurred after the Civil War and after the 13th amendment was passed. With the passing of the 13th amendment, many African Americans began to leave the South and migrate to other parts of the region.
Many have heard of the second Great Migration of African Americans, which took place in the late 19th century, but many do not know the effect of African Americans on Minnesota, culturally, economically and socially.
Many freed slaves traveled north where societal, as well as cultural norms were more progressive. Unbeknownst to many, Minnesota saw a fair amount of African American migration and is a great example of the evolution of African Americans from the early to mid 1900’s.
The influx of African Americans to Minnesota caused a positive change in the cultural dynamics of the state as well as economic growth. Although African Americans contributed greatly to the rise of Minnesota, they still faced an immense amount of discrimination both in the work place and in their communities.
I think if you turn this part of that sentence into a statement , you will have a good thesis. I would put it after 1900's and leave the next couple of sentence to put into the relevant paragraphs.
A possible thesis statement for your intro paragraph could be:
"The effect and evolution of African Americans in Minnesota during the early to mid-1900s had a significant impact on the state's cultural dynamics and economic growth, despite the ongoing discrimination they faced in both the workplace and their communities."
To arrive at this thesis statement, you can analyze the key points mentioned in your introduction paragraph:
1. The first Great Migration occurred after the Civil War and the passing of the 13th amendment, prompting African Americans to leave the South and migrate to other regions. This sets the historical background for the topic.
2. Many people are familiar with the second Great Migration, but they may be unaware of the cultural, economic, and social effects of African Americans in Minnesota. This highlights the need to explore these effects in the state specifically.
3. Minnesota, being a more progressive region in terms of societal and cultural norms, saw a significant migration of African Americans in this period, showcasing the evolution of their presence in the state.
4. African American migration to Minnesota brought about positive changes in the state's cultural dynamics and economic growth. This suggests the importance of examining these contributions.
5. Despite their contributions, African Americans still faced discrimination in both the workplace and their communities. This acknowledges the challenges they encountered.
By combining all these elements, your thesis statement provides a concise overview of what will be explored in your essay about the effect and evolution of African Americans in Minnesota.