Preliminary Examination of Black Populations in the United States, 1910-1970
Today I examined a dataset of Black population changes in large cities through census records between 1910 and 1970. Both datasets show contrasting messages despite taking place just a few decades apart.
This graph is of the dataset examining percentage of change between 1910 to 1940. Population changes reflect that African Americans migrated from Southern states while states in the North and far West saw increases. There are a few anomolies: primarily New Orleans, LA, Atlanta, GA, and Birmingham, AL. Further research should look into this.
Looking at the second set of census records, the decreases in Black population are more pronounced. Still, the anomolies present in the first graph are still present in the second graph: New Orleans, Atlanta, and Birmingham. I’m curious as to what these localities presented that made them outliers compared to other cities. Did African Americans move here as an intermediary before going North? Were they more secure in these locations?
One major question I ask is whether the survival of these cities to thrive through the Great Migration is part of the reason they are the birthplaces of the Civil Rights Movement? All of the cities I listed are major cities in African American history during the 20th century. Again, more information is needed.