The Warmth of Other Suns--Great untold story of a great migration. (years, American)

[wutitiz]

I caught an interview yesterday of the author of a book entitled "The Warmth of Other Suns," which is about the great migration, involving 6 million people, of blacks from the South to North, from around 1920 to 1970.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...wilkerson.html
It was pretty interesting how the Seattle Times conducted the interview. A couple of Times staffers interviewed the author, Isabel Wilkerson, all the while taking random typed questions from people who were logged in to the Times website. (you can replay the interview by clicking 'replay' in the 'play it live' box at the above link).

This migration was proufoundly influential in 20th century US history, yet I've never really heard it discussed much. Everything from politics to music was impacted.

Now there is a mini reverse-migration underway. Last year's census revealed that Chicago lost 17%, or about 1 in 6, of its black residents between 2000 and 2010. Many are moving back to the South.

A more conventional video interview of the author from CSPAN books can be viewed here:
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/295989-7

The book hit bookstores in paperback yesterday, so I plan to go to the store today to pick up a copy, and will have further comments after I read it.

[wutitiz]

sorry I can't for the life of me get my links to come out clickable. Perhaps someone can clue me in.

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by wutitiz

Now there is a mini reverse-migration underway. Last year's census revealed that Chicago lost 17%, or about 1 in 6, of its black residents between 2000 and 2010. Many are moving back to the South.

While some of those may have moved back south, I think a majority of them moved to Milwaukee or Minneapolis or other Illinois cities, whose black populations are growing rapidly.

If that census figure is for Chicago central city alone, most have moved to the suburbs, as have most whites as well. Cities like St. Louis and Cleveland have lost more than half the total population in the past 50 years.

[wutitiz]

yes, I think you're right. 'Reverse migration' might be a little bit of a misnomer on my part. I asked the author about it, and she said she thought it was a matter of blacks moving into the mainstream of American life, and migrating in the same manner that whites always have--to areas with better opportunities in employment, education, housing, etc.

[Capt. Dan]

Originally Posted by wutitiz

yes, I think you're right. 'Reverse migration' might be a little bit of a misnomer on my part. I asked the author about it, and she said she thought it was a matter of blacks moving into the mainstream of American life, and migrating in the same manner that whites always have--to areas with better opportunities in employment, education, housing, etc.

Doesnt this imply that Blacks have made at least some progress since the 20's and can now afford to explore their options?

[wutitiz]

Yes a lot of progress in a fairly short time.

I am trying re-entering the links to the interviews of Isabel Wilkerson. After 45 minutes of fiddling it appears that it was just that I was being blocked due to not enough time/posts on this forum. At least that's my best guess.

ArtsPage | Rewind: Live chat with author Isabel Wilkerson | Seattle Times Newspaper
Michele Norris in Conversation with Isabel Wilkerson - C-SPAN Video Library

[slowlane3]

Here is a 30-minute video of ANOTHER interview with Ms. Wilkerson done last year. http://www.charlierose.com
In the search box, type "Wilkerson".

[ovcatto]

I'm not sure how that story hasn't been told. Maybe not in a best seller, or a book good enough to appear on Oprah, but both sides of the migration have been widely reported.

[wutitiz]

slowlane thanks for link.

[Cheektowaga_Chester]

American Migration Patterns Map - Business Insider