whats the anwer to
why Africans move from the rural south to northern cities, beginning in the late 1800s?
There isn't a single answer to why Africans (presumably referring to African Americans) moved from the rural South to Northern cities in the late 1800s. Several factors contributed to this phenomenon, known as the Great Migration:
1. Economic opportunities: Many African Americans moved to Northern cities in search of better job opportunities and higher wages. Northern industries experienced significant growth during the Industrial Revolution, creating employment prospects for African Americans seeking to escape the limited opportunities and low wages in the agricultural sector of the rural South.
2. Escaping racism and segregation: The Jim Crow laws in the South enforced racial segregation and discrimination, which led many African Americans to seek refuge in the North. Despite facing racism and discrimination in the North as well, it was comparatively less severe than in the South. African Americans hoped to find greater freedom, equality, and opportunities in the Northern cities.
3. Push factors from the South: African Americans were subjected to widespread violence, lynching, and racial oppression in the Southern states. The rural South suffered from poverty, limited access to education, and political disenfranchisement. Economic hardship and racial violence further motivated African Americans to seek better lives elsewhere, including Northern cities.
4. Spread of information and networks: The availability of information about job opportunities, better living conditions, and increased social networks through word of mouth, newspapers, and letters played a role in attracting African Americans to Northern cities. Existing African American communities in Northern cities helped newcomers settle, find jobs, and establish support networks.
It is essential to note that the Great Migration was a complex and multifaceted historical event influenced by various factors. The reasons for migration varied among individuals and families, but overall, it can be attributed to a combination of economic, social, and political factors.