Why African-Americans left the south in droves — and what's bringing them back

The Great Migration is a modern movement that, in many ways, is still unfolding.

During the Great Migration, around 40% of America's Black population left Southern states to go north or west between 1915 and 1970, and the effects of that exodus continue to reverberate.

While the biggest changes took place decades ago, data shows that America’s Black population has continued to move again. These days, however, census findings from the past 40 years indicate a new pattern of Black migration back to the South and away from cities. America simply looks different than it did a century ago, and this new phase of migration is characterized by very different motivations than the last.

With the help of historian Isabel Wilkerson and demographer William Frey, this video maps the progression of Black Americans from the Reconstruction era until today.

[ArturoStojanoff]

The Harlem Renaissance not only changed African-American culture, it redefined American culture, period. Just because it was made and created by black people doesn't make it any less fully American.

[awoa]

Also the cost of living in the city is getting expensive.

[dorkmax]

Because it was the South, and they were black. Roll credits

[samguy]

So that's why the urban accents in big cities sound a bit like southern accents.

[jiihgy]

That explains why my ancestors who were slaves in Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi all of a sudden by the 1900's were in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee. Most of my family has deep roots in Kentucky.

[Middlesecond]

Vox's videos have been on point lately

[Facts]

Yo vox, could you maybe do a video on how you make your videos?

[colinb.]

Emancipation proclamation did not end slavery. It was simply a statement that in the intervention of war, the union could take whatever property they seized from the south, and keep it as their own. Slaves at the time were counted as property, and so they would be released. In fact, during the civil war, there were a couple Union states that still had slavery going on in them. The 13th 14th and 15th amendment truly got rid of slavery. Just wanted to let you know. AP US history taught me well

[tadiafoster]

As a child of immigrants, whose family is from the Caribbean- my heart goes out to the African Americans in this country. It’s hard to learn what the folks endured but I am proud of the progress they made- which in turns benefits all people of color who are now in the country. Their struggle became our gain.

[sTreek]

I hate when people say African American - as if that encompasses all the black people in America, there are black people in America who are not African American.

[lovergurl]

Please stop asking videos about black history if you can not get your language under control. "perceived violence" is incorrect they didn't imagine the violence. That violence was very real and was a legitimate threat to their lives.

[teebee]

So incredibly grateful for my family members who left sharecropping in Mississippi and Alabama behind for Memphis and Chicago! I can't imagine how scary that must've been.

[isunlloaoll]

Do a video on obesity in America please. I think that's one of the greatest problem facing America today. Or autonomous technology, how is it going to change our economy? What will jobs be like in the future?

[victornewman]

When you think about "Chicago Blues" a lot of Mississippians migrated there and took their roots and music with them

[RockSmithStudio]

0:21 wow it's amazing how fast New York grew from 2% African American to 26% within one year!

[travietrav]

Gentrification plays a part in it as well

[serenityjoy]

Thank you Vox for the video. Even though you covered that African-Americans are moving from alot of cities, my own move from Detroit several years ago made me realize there might be other factors prompting moves. In Detroit's case, major job loss from the auto industry, issues with the mayor & governor and blight seemed like a large reason many people left. Are there other people from some some of the other places that have a more personal view on what's causing people to leave?

[tswagg]

Louisiana mostly migrated to Chicago and L.A, Mississippi went to Chicago, Alabama went to Cleveland, Carolina went to NYC, Georgia went to NYC, Texas went to Los Angeles....this is as much I know

[ayarzeev]

Just to clarify, the emancipation only "ended" slavery in select areas, there were notable exceptions in its wording. It solved the issue of runaway slaves coming up to Union encampments. The amendment is what actually ended slavery

[qiyamansari]

I love how ya'll fail to mention the red lining that took place in the north leading to the ghettos that we see today, as well as the systematic oppression that continues to effect us such as the school to prison pipeline, the drug war, ect 😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤