During World War I; as many as half a million southern African Americans permanently left the South to create new homes and lives in the urban North; and hundreds of thousands more would follow in the 1920s. This dramatic transformation in the lives of many black Americans involved more than geography: the increasingly visible “New Negro†and the intensification of grassroots black activism in the South as well as the North were the manifestations of a new challenge to racial subordination. Eric Arnesen’s unique collection of articles from a variety of northern; southern; black; and white newspapers; magazines; and books explores the “Great Migration;†focusing on the economic; social; and political conditions of the Jim Crow South; the meanings of race in general — and on labor in particular — in the urban North; the grassroots movements of social protest that flourished in the war years; and the postwar “racial counterrevolution.†An introduction by the editor; headnotes to documents; a chronology; questions for consideration; a bibliography; and an index are included.
#97816 in Books 2001-02-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.56 x 1.06 x 6.46l; #File Name: 0312265999198 pages
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. UpliftingBy VictoryWriterOriginally I expected this book to be a bit shallow. I thought; "170+ pages about hair; yeah; right." But I was wrong. I was able to see the physiological damage that not only happened to me but virtually every other person in America with tightly coiled hair. I've been transitioning for about 6 months after about 25 years of having relaxed hair. I had already faced the sad truth that I had spent most of my life hating a part of me; being ashamed of my hair texture and further ashamed of the damage and thinning that came from relaxers. After reading this book; I saw that the damage to my mind had gone further that I could have ever imagined. I realized that our whole society is plagued with this false notion of straight; blonde; and shiny equaling success; wholesomeness; and all things good; while nappy; black; and matte is associated with the direct opposite. I have learned to enjoy my hair all the more through reading this book. I have a better understanding of our history; and how the negative connotation regarding the African heritage has all but obliterated the self-esteem of countless individuals. I consider this a must read for anyone but especially preteen African American women. This book could have spared me much pain in my teen early adult years.I now think what if it was opposite. What if at the first sign of straight; blonde hair a mother took her five-year-old to the salon; told her that something was wrong with her fine textured tress; that she looked like a wet cat? What if that mother paid to have that child's hair permed in tiny perm rods told her she had to keep putting caustic chemicals in her hair for the rest of her life so that she can be accepted; get a job; or a husband. That mother would be considered abusive. But many children in American receive this treatment every day; and instead of abuse; it's considered normal; fashionable or simply just the way things are.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A MUST READ - I wish I had learned of this book sooner!By CustomerI love this book and believe everyone should read it to understand the importance of Black hair to so many aspects of our daily lives. This book simplifies the underlying reasons Black men and women are so creative and innovative in our hair styles; to begin to love the fact that Black hair is different and beautiful.To understand that to deny Blacks the opportunity to express themselves without criticism is to deny the opportunity to explore the culture. Blacks have an continue to have denial of self in the deliberate raping of a person of their homeland; language; name; religion; body; hair; humanity and ultimately entire self.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A great buy for black womenBy Cyrial JonesA great buy for black women! It gives historical background about the significance and symbolic of our hair from when we lived in our homeland of Mother Africa until now.
