The impact of the Great Migration had an enormous effect on urban life. Of course, a movement of six million people is bound to have a dramatic effect, but I was unaware or had not considered the direct imprint on the “configuration of the cities as we know them [and] social geography” (Wilkerson 10). Perhaps this is because history books do not cover the Great Migration in its entirety, and as Wilkerson states, “a comprehensive treatment of the century-long story of black migration does not exist” (13).
I like how Wilkerson addresses the universality of the issue in her introduction. She mentions many groups of people who had to migrate and leave the areas where they have lived for years in order to “search for something better” (15). Many people I know have families who immigrated to America for various reasons and similarly my parents came to America from the Soviet Union for freedom and something better. I enjoyed Wilkerson’s choice of syntax, using the short phrase at the end of the chapter, “They left,” to emphasize the prevailing subject throughout the book and to answer the unifying question of what “human beings … have often done” when looking for freedom (15).
Ida Mae’s description of her neighborhood is surprising. The street seems dangerous with “urban drug dealers,” “hustlers and pushers,” yet even though “they may have just shot a rival or just got out on parole” they take the time to look out for Ida and tell her to take care (20). The juxtaposition of the seemingly dangerous street and the kindness shown is very interesting and surprising.
Wilkerson brings up a good point when she points out how “the thick walls of the caste system kept everyone in prison” (33). Certain expectations were given to each group of people, causing most to always attempt to stay “within the narrow confines of acceptability” (33). Even the white woman, Miss McClenna, who took Ida to deliver eggs and was upset by the name Ida was called, did not attempt to stand up for Ida and no longer took Ida with her. Perhaps as with the example of the woman with the Catholic statue, she could not “afford even the appearance of having stepped outside the bounds of her caste” (34).
As sociologists often explain, people tend to act in accordance to ‘social norms.’ However unfair, the norms of that time period placed people into social castes based on race. After witnessing and hearing about several racist events, Ida left in “search for something better,” as so many others did as well.
