Letters of the Great Migration
In 1900, about 90 per cent of the African American population lived in the southern states. That would change dramatically once World War I started in 1914. By the 1960s, the "Great Migration" had moved half the African American population to the north.
The following letters were collected by Emmett J. Scott, Booker Washington's successor as head of Tuskegee University. They well reflect the experience of the Great Migration from the rural south to northern cities, which started on a large scale during World War I and continued through the 1960s. As wartime jobs opened up and European immigrants were unavailable to fill them, northern corporations turned to African Americans in the Jim Crow south. The companies sent labor agents southward promising jobs and often even paying workers' way, offering wages several times those sharecroppers could expect. Once the flow began in earnest, the numbers became a flood.
Most of these letters were written to the Chicago Defender, an African American paper which eagerly promoted the movement northward. The newspaper had radical reputation for protesting racial injustices like lynching, disfranchisement, and segregation. The Defender's national edition circulated widely throughout the black community in the South.
These correspondents are fairly articulate about why they would want to leave, and what they hoped to achieve by coming north.
Letter 1
Sherman, Ga., Nov. 28, 1916.
Dear Sir: This letter comes to ask for all infirmations concerning employ- ment in your connection in the warmest climate. Now I am in a family of (11) eleven more or less boys and girls (men and women) mixed sizes who want to go north as soon as arrangements can be made and employment given places for shelter and so on (etc) now this are farming people they were raised on the farm and are good farm hands I of course have some experience and qualefication as a coman school teacher and hotel waiter and along few other lines.
I wish you would write me at your first chance and tell me if you can give us employment at what time and about what wages will you pay and what kind of arrangement can be made for our shelter. Tell me when c~ you best use us now or later.
Will you send us tickets if so on what terms and at what price what is the cost per head and by what route should we come. We are Negroes and try to show ourselves worthy of all we may get from any friendly source we endeavor to be true to all good causes, if you can we thank you to help us to come north as soon as you can.
Letter 2
Sanford, Fla., Apri1 27, 1917.
Dear sir: I have seen through the Chicago Defender that you and the people of Chicago are helping newcomers. I am asking you for some information about conditions in some small town near Chicago.
There are some families here thinking of moving up, and are desirous of knowing what to expect before leaving. Please state about treatment, work, rent and schools. Please answer at some spare time.
Letter 3
Anniston, Ala., April 23, 1917.
Dear sir: Please gave me some infamation about coming north i can do any kind of work from a truck gardin to farming i would like to leave here and i cant make no money to leave I ust make enough to live one please let me here from you at once i want to get where i can put my children in schol.
Letter 4
Cedar Grove, La., April 23, 1917.
Dear sir: to day I was advise by the defendent [Defender] offices in your city to communicate with you in regards to the labor for the colored of the south as I was lead to beleave that you was in position of firms of your city & your near by surrounding towns of Chicago. Please state me how is the times in & around Chicago place to locate having a family dependent on me for support. I am informed by the Chicago Defender a very valuable paper which has for its purpose the Uplifting of my race, and of which I am a constant reader and real lover, that you were in position to show some light to one in my condition.
Seeking a Northern Home. If this is true Kindly inform me by next mail the next best thing to do Being a poor man with a family to care for, I am not coming to live on flowry Beds of ease for I am a man who works and wish to make the best I can out of life I do not wish to come there hoodwinked not knowing where to go or what to do so I Solicite your help in this matter and thanking you in advance for what advice you may be pleased to Give I am yours for success.
P. S. I am presently imployed in the I C RR. Mail Department at Union Station this city.
Letter 5
Brookhaven, Miss., Apri1 24, 1917.
Gents: The cane growers of Louisiana have stopped the exodus from New Orleans, claiming shortage of labor which will result in a sugar famine.
Now these laborers thus employed receive only 85 cents a day and the high cost of living makes it a serious question to live.
There is a great many race people around here who desires to come north but have waited rather late to avoid car fare, which they have not got. isnt there some way to get the concerns who wants labor, to send passes here or elsewhere so they can come even if they have to payout of the first months wages? Please done publish this letter but do what you can towards helping them to get away. If the R. R. Co. would run a low rate excursion they could leave that way. Please ans.
[Note from Fitzgerald--the letter-writer has a point; local police and officials often tried to keep black laborers from leaving, and often arrested outside labor agents on dubious grounds]
Letter 6
Savannah, Ga., April 24, 1917.
Sir: I saw an advertisement in the Chicago Ledger where you would send tickets to anyone desireing to come up there. I am a married man with a wife only, and I am 38 years of age, and both of us have so far splendid health, and would like very much to come out there provided we could get good employment regarding the advertisement.
Letter 7
Fullerton, La., April 28, 1917.
Dear sir: I was reading about you was neading labor ninety miles of Chicago what is the name of the place and what R R extends ther i wants to come north and i wants a stedy employment ther what doe you pay per day i dont no anything about molding works but have been working around machinery for 10 years. Let me no what doe you pay for such work and can you give me a job of that kind or a job at common labor and let me no your prices and how many hours for a day.
Letter 8
De Ridder, La., Apri1 29, 1917.
Dear sir: there is lots of us southern mens wants transportation and we want to leave ratway as soon as you let us here from you some of us is married mens who need work we would like to bring our wife with us there is 20 head of good mens want transportation and if you need us let us no by return mail we all are redy only wants here from you there may be more all of our peoples wont to leave here and i want you to send as much as 20 tickets any way I will get you up plenty hands to do most any kind of work all you have to do is to send for them. looking to here from you. This is among us collerd.
Letter 9
Atlanta, Ga., April 30, 1917.
Dear Sir: In reading the Chicago Defender I find that there are many jobs open for workmen, I wish that you would or can secure me a position in some of the northern cities; as a workman and not as a loafer. One who is willing to do any kind of hard in side or public work, have had broad experience in machinery and other work of the kind. A some what alround man can also cook, well trained devuloped man; have travel extensively through the western and southern states; A good strong morial religious man no habits. I will accept transportation on advance and deducted from my wages later. It does not matter where, that is; as to city, country, town or state since you secure the positions.
I am quite sure you will be delighted in securing a position for a man of this description. I'll assure you will not regret of so doing. Hoping to hear from you soon.
Letter 10
Houston, Tx. April 30, 1917.
Dear Sir: wanted to leave the South and Go any Place where a man will be any thing except a ker [that is, a dog]. I thought I would write you for Advise as where would be a Good Place for a Comporedly young man That want to Better his Standing who has a very Promising young Family.
I am 30 years old and have Good Experience in Freight Handler and Can fill Position from Truck to Agt. Would like Chicago or Philadelphia But I dont Care where so long as I Go where a man is a man.
Letter 11
Beaumont, Texas, May 7, 1917.
Dear Sir: I see in one of your recent issue of collored men woanted in the North I wish you would help me to get a position in the North I have no trade I have been working for one company eight years and there is no advancement here for me and I would like to come where I can better my condition I woant work and not affraid to work allI wish is a chance to make good. I believe I would like machinist helper or Molder helper. If you can help me in any way it win be highly appreciate hoping to hear from you soon.