The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

Sample Solution

   

Isabel Wilkerson defines the Great Migration as the movement of six million African Americans from the rural South to the urban North, Midwest, and West between 1915 and 1970. She equates the Great Migration with other vast movements of refugees from war or famine, where people must "go great distances... to reach safety with the hope that life will be better wherever they land."

Ida Mae Gladney, George Starling, and Robert Foster

All three of the protagonists in Wilkerson's book migrated out of necessity. Ida Mae Gladney migrated from Mississippi to Chicago to escape the violence and racism of the Jim Crow South. George Starling migrated from Georgia to New York City to find better job opportunities and a more fulfilling life. Robert Foster migrated from Florida to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming a successful musician.

Full Answer Section

    Despite their different motivations, all three of these migrants faced significant challenges in the North. Ida Mae struggled to find decent housing and employment. George was discriminated against at work and was often the target of racial violence. Robert faced the challenges of racism and segregation in the music industry. However, all three of these migrants also found success in the North. Ida Mae eventually found a good job and a comfortable home. George became a successful businessman and community leader. Robert achieved his dream of becoming a successful musician. Unique challenges faced by black migrants in the North Black migrants in the North faced a number of unique challenges, including:

• Racism: Black migrants often faced discrimination in housing, employment, and education.
• Segregation: Black migrants were often segregated into specific neighborhoods and schools.
• Police brutality: Black migrants were often the targets of police brutality and harassment.

These challenges had a significant impact on the lives of Ida Mae Gladney, George Starling, and Robert Foster. Ida Mae struggled to find decent housing and employment. George was discriminated against at work and was often the target of racial violence. Robert faced the challenges of racism and segregation in the music industry. Wilkerson's personal family experience and history Wilkerson's personal family experience and history influenced the writing of The Warmth of Other Suns in a number of ways. Her father migrated from Mississippi to Chicago, and her mother migrated from Georgia to Washington, D.C. Wilkerson's parents met and married in Chicago, and she was born and raised in the city. Wilkerson's own experiences with racism and discrimination shaped her perspective on the Great Migration. She drew on her own family history and the stories of other migrants to write a book that is both personal and universal. The Black Metropolis The Black Metropolis is a book by sociologist St. Clair Drake and Horace Cayton that was published in 1945. The book provides a comprehensive study of the black community in Chicago. Drake and Cayton argue that the ghettoization model is incomplete because it does not account for the resilience and creativity of black communities. They show how black communities in Chicago developed their own institutions and businesses, and how they created a vibrant cultural life. Source of African American consumer power Even though most African Americans worked in marginalized, low-wage positions, they had significant consumer power. This was due to a number of factors, including:

• The size of the black population: African Americans were a large and growing population group.
• The increasing urbanization of the black population: As more black Americans moved to cities, they had access to more goods and services.
• The increasing education levels of black Americans: As more black Americans attended high school and college, they had more opportunities to find good jobs and earn higher wages.

Black media institutions There are a number of historical and contemporary black media institutions, including:

• Historical:
  • The Negro World (newspaper)
  • The Chicago Defender (newspaper)
  • The Pittsburgh Courier (newspaper)
  • Ebony (magazine)
  • Jet (magazine)
• Contemporary:
  • Essence (magazine)
  • BET (television network)
  • OWN (television network)
  • The Source (magazine)
  • Vibe (magazine)

These media institutions have played an important role in shaping the culture and identity of African Americans. They have also been a powerful force for social change. Conclusion The Warmth of Other Suns is a powerful and moving book that tells the story of the Great Migration. Wilkerson's book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the history of African Americans in the United States.