Through his interviews, E. Marvin Goodwin discovered that many
blacks had migrated North, inspired by the promise of better jobs
and higher wages; while others had migrated for sentimental or
On a piece of paper, separate the following responses to
Goodwin's question, "Why did you or your parents migrate to Chicago
from Mississippi?" into economic reasons and sentimental
- Female, age 89, Houston, Mississippi, arrived 1950.
"I wanted to change my lifestyle."
- Male, age 65, Eaten, Mississippi, arrived 1940's.
"My family was here."
- Female, age 76, Fayette Mississippi, arrived 1920.
"I came to avoid oppression--Better living."
- Male, age 67, Drew, Mississippi, arrived 1920s.
"Better job opportunities."
- Female, age 63, Yazoo, Mississippi, arrived 1950s.
"Because my husband was here."
- Female, age 70, Greenwood, Mississippi, arrived in the
"Left the South because I needed a change."
- Ms. Jane, age 75, Jackson, Mississippi.
"I moved for better economic conditions and schooling."
- Mr. Darryl G, age 75, Jackson, Mississippi.
"Better job opportunity, racial tension."
- Male, age 73, Mississippi, arrived 1950s.
"Because I was not living a decent life."
- Male, age 60, Mississippi, arrived 1940's.
"In search of a better life."
- Mr. James, age 63, Kosciusko, Mississippi.
"Better wages and better future for family."
- Peter L, age 80, Mississippi.
"To make more money and have a better life."
- Female, age 69, Lexington, Mississippi, arrived 1950s.
"To live with my husband."
Quotations from: E. Marvin Goodwin, Black Migration In
America From 1915 to 1960: An Uneasy Exodus, Wales: The Edwin
Mellen Press, Ltd., 1990.
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