Month: April 2018

Stefan Nikolic

(Post 2 of 5)

After reconstruction failed in the late 1870s African Americans wanted to relocate themselves from the south. The article “Selling the American dream myth to black southerner as: the Chicago Defender and the great migration of 1915-1919” by Alan DeSantis covers the reasons why the majority of African Americans flocked to the north east. He covers many theories, but the three most relevant ones are the Push-pull economic theory, the socio-emotional theory, and the Chicago Defender theory.

Continue reading “The Chicago Defender’s Influence on Migration”

Response 4 of 5

“Selling the American dream myth to black southerners: The Chicago defender and the great migration of 1915-1919”

Between 1915 and 1919, there was a large influx of African Americans migrating from the South to the North. Many settled in areas like Detroit, Chicago and New York because of the desire to achieve the American Dream. They believed that the North was the “new Mecca”. Some incentives for the migration included wealth, family ties and freedom. It was believed that there were economic opportunities in the North including open jobs due to many people away fighting in World War 1. Additionally, it was more likely for people to migrate if they had friends and family there, giving attention to the idea of enclaves. Finally, the South contained a lot of oppression, racism and lynching; therefore, many African Americans wanted a new beginning.

“Selling the American dream myth to black southerners: The Chicago defender and the great migration of 1915-1919,” brings the Chicago Defender into light, a black newspaper that “persuaded discontented southern blacks to migrate to the North by waging a migration campaign that utilized the recurring themes found in the American-Dream Myth.” The authors of the newspaper used three stages for their rhetorical campaign: Southern Discontent Stage, Land-of-Hope Stage and Action Stage. Each of these stages built on the others and were used as a way to entice Southerners. Although the Southerners were already aware of the promises in the North and the oppression they were in, the Chicago Defender helped to exemplify and explicitly write out the American Dream that they lacked. This was often passed around to family members, read in public spaces and looked at by about seven people before it was put down.

This journal brings out the concept of enclaves that is discussed in the class. Before the Great Migration, many African Americans lived in states like Georgia, Louisiana, and South Carolina. They created their own communities there and it was a place of familiarity for them. However, due to promising incentives that the North believed to have, many migrated to states like Harlem in New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago. After relocating to the North, new enclaves were created to experience the familiarity that they had back home. This idea of closeness draws to the other reading, Island’s in the City: West African Migration to New York, by Nancy Foner. She writes, “Walking along Brooklyn’s Flatbush Avenue, one immediately notices that the Caribbean has come to New York. All along the avenue, signals of a vibrant Caribbean immigrant presence shout at even the most casual observer.” In Section 3 of Foner’s book, she discusses the West Indian culture present along Flatbush Avenue due to the increase in Caribbean immigrants. This also speaks to the idea of cultural enclaves where immigrants all gather in one place and bring the community that they had before to their new home.

1. 1. Will cultural enclaves ever stop?
2. 2. How do immigrants decide what to bring to their new home? (For example, how do they decide to bring one dish, but not another dish?)

Rachel Swed

Reflection 5 of 5

The man in the White Sharkskin Suit by: Lucette Lagnado                           

In her book The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit, Lucette Lagnado begins talking about her father’s life as a successful businessman always dressed in fine attire. Living in Cairo, her father, Leon had a very busy schedule that included waking up to pray at the crack of dawn, going to work, and staying up late gambling way past midnight which he would finally go to bed and start his day all over again. Leon’s lifestyle ended shortly when he met his wife Edith and she was expecting her first child. However, when Leon discovered it was a girl, his lifestyle quickly continued to Edith’s dismay. Edith and Leon had three more kids including our author Lucette known as Loulou in her book. In Cario, everything was very family oriented, Leon lived with his mother Zairfa and cousin Salamone. The family lived a lavish life with expensive clothes, maids who did all the housework, and a spacious house on Malka Nazli street. Everyone loved living in Egypt. But this took a huge turn when Nassar took control and there was a lot of anti-semitism in the area. Many relatives already moved to Israel or America. Nevertheless, Leon was reluctant to leave his life in Egypt. However, one night Suzette was arrested and this made the decision for Leon and the family to leave. The new government of Egypt pronounced that people could not take a lot of money with them only clothes. So, the family bought a lot of fancy new clothes and left Egypt with twenty-six suitcases. They stopped at Paris where they stayed in a dingy old hotel until the family knew where they wanted to go. They were torn whether they wanted to reunite with family in Israel or America. When they were sure they wanted to go to Israel, Edith’s mother, Alexandria died. This discouraged them from going to Israel so they then decided to go to America. When they arrived, they were situated in another hotel. This time, they were pressured to find an apartment right away and get settled on their own. Leon, already an old man, had a hard time finding a job. The older kids went to work right away. Leon settled for selling ties and cloths to strangers on the street with Loulou. They found a four-room apartment in Bensonhurst and settled down. Even in America, Leon still longed for Cairo. However, Loulou wanted to be more Americanized like having a sofa with a plastic slipcover. In America, they still move a few times when their circumstances change such as, landlords kicking them out or when Suzette and Caesar left they found a smaller two-room apartment. Moving to America was a very hard change for the Lagnado family but they managed and found their way eventually. Continue reading “Migration to NYC”

Abhayvir Singh

Response 4 of 5

“Selling the American dream myth to black southerners: The Chicago defender and the great migration of 1915-1919”

By Alan D. Desantis

The Reconstruction era from 1863 to 1877 failed to bring significant change in the lives of African-Americans in the south. 1915 to 1919 marked the era when African-Americans abandoned the south and fled up north for a better life. Such significant was the resettlement that this period is known as the Great Migration. Continue reading “The Belated American Dream”

By Charles Lauer

Reading #1 – Alan D. DeSantis, “Selling the American dream myth to black southerners: The Chicago defender and the great migration of 1915-1919,” June 6, 2009, Pg. 474-511

(Response 2 out of 5)

“… No rhetorical text was more pervasive, more overtly dedicated to encouraging the mass exodus of blacks out of the south, or more fervent in its promotion of northern virtues than was the black, weekly newspaper, the Chicago Defender.” (DeSantis, 476-477)

The Reconstruction Era had ended by 1877 and many promises from the time period still hadn’t materialized decades later. By 1915, done waiting for the proposals of yesteryear,  nearly 10% of the South’s African American population fled North-bound.  As a result, between 1910 and 1920, New York’s black population grew 66%, Chicago’s black contingency grew 148%, and Detroit’s small black community mushroomed to an almost unbelievable 611% increase. This mass movement north would later be labeled as the “Great Migration”.

When asked what were the motivating factors behind the “Great Migration” there seems to be a lot of self-evident answers.  The first being the prospect of better economic opportunities. It’s no secret that being Black up north, during the early 20th century, afforded you things you’d be lucky to find back South, like fair pay, increased employment options, and fair distribution of property.  Finding jobs, buying food and securing shelter, was simply easier once out of the South.

Continue reading ““The Chicago Defender”: The Great Migration’s Unsung Hero”

Immigration and Crime: Race, Ethnicity, and Violence, Intro
Ramiro Martinez, Abel Valenzuela, Jr ed.

Response 3 of 5
by Anna

New York, a city of constant flux, is known to be a hub of immigration. It is home to Queens, the urban place with the global record of ethnic diversity. (Wikipedia) But just because so many people exist in the same place, they don’t always coexist peacefully. Popular sentiment is that an increase of immigration equals an increase in crime. However, according to Ramiro Martinez and Abel Valenzuela, Jr ed, the data points to the contrary. If the numbers suggest one thing, why is public opinion the opposite?

Continue reading “Immigration and Crime: Race, Ethnicity, and Violence”

Week 11

Response 2 of 5

When analyzing the Great Migration of African Americans in the early-mid 20th century, it is important to consider their reasons and the factors which influenced their decision; this information can reveal patterns propagation and “false” advertising of America’s reality. Living in the south during this time, African Americans had little to none job opportunities, poor living conditions, and racial/political ridicule. Their migration patterns are explained by two main theories. The Push-Pull theory suggests a migration mainly caused by job demand and financial opportunities in the North, contrasting with the South’s non existent job market for black people. The socio-economic theory suggests a migration fueled by feelings of inequality, social mistreatment, and general discrimination. In the South, slavery’s after effects stung for a very long time, and are still present today. Even though African Americans were free, their equal status was not considered legitimate by most in the South. Things like Jim Crow laws and the grandfather clause served to further reinforce oppression after slavery. While these two theories are different, they can be boiled down to one simple statement that was at the front of every black person’s mind: life in the north is better for me. This is true whether it is for the previously mentioned reasons or even reuniting with family or attempting to reinvent themselves as a person. While these notions of the North being better in this regard were true, it is not to say that it was perfect. In addition, publications such as The Defender became the megaphone for black people. In “Selling the American Dream Myth to Black Southerners,” Alan DeSantis claims that The Defender’s publication numbers do not tell the whole story of its widespread power. He says that, “They do not account for the two modes of informal modes of paper circulation— borrowing and communal reading. Copies of the defender were often shared amongst family members, friends, church congregations, and even members of other communities who could not afford the luxury of buying a newspaper.” (DeSantis, 478) This means that everyone had access and the information was indulged within the company of like-minded, relating, and trustworthy people. This made it more believable and “real.” It’s name, The Defender, also catalyzed a sense of trust, evoking feelings of being protected and represented. Ultimately, the migration of African Americans to the north was the only viable option for them. The south’s adjustment to post-slavery was much harsher than the north’s due to its rural economy, likewise black people’s social status was also at a plateau. The north offered a chance at a different life, the American Dream, which in many cases was simply a dream, but publications, like The Defender, united African Americans and caused an understanding of their mistreatment and illuminated what they deserve to everyone reading.

 

Questions:

1. Would the migration patterns of African Americans have looked different if more people were illiterate and did not have access to publications? How so?
2. What do you predict would happen if slavery just ended in the year 2018? Technology is everywhere.
3. Why do you think African Americans were not interested in “sticking it out” and building their own strong communities in the south?

Shainu George

Week 11

Response 4 of 5

This article, “Selling the American dream myth to black southerner as: the Chicago Defender and the great migration of 1915-1919” discussed the reasons why southern African Americans were eager to move up north. One reason was the push pull economic theory. Certain factors were pushing and pulling the African Americans decision on whether or not they should stay in the south. Factors that pushed them out included disadvantageous terms of trade and unfair distribution of property. Things that pulled them were employment opportunities and promises of fair pay. Another theory as to why this population chose to move up north was the socio-economic theory. This states that social unfairness and the maintenance of family relations is what motivated migration. The author argues that another important factor of the great migration was the publication of the Chicago Defender, the most read black newspaper in the United States at that time. It influenced the myth of American Dream through three stages; southern discontent, land of hope, and action. It rallied up the blacks in the south by highlighting certain aspects of the American Dream. I agree with the author, Alan Desantis, in that the Chicago Defender played a major role in the migration of black southerners up north. The Defender was important because it had all of the thoughts and ideas of the blacks written down on paper. The fact that it was written out for them probably made it more appealing. The people that wrote the newspapers were literate, and therefore probably smart African Americans. So, if they believed that the American dream could be pursued up North, why wouldn’t it be true? Another reason why I believe the Defender had a big impact on migration is because African Americans read the newspaper. “In 1919, its shipping manifest included over 1,542 small towns and cities throughout the south such as Fry’s Mill, Arkansas; Bibsland, Louisiana; Tunica, Mississippi; Yoakum, Texas; and Palataka, Florida, which each brought over one hundred copies of the Defender per week.” A copy of the Defender was available to everyone in the south. If someone didn’t own a copy they could borrow it from someone or hear about it in church or at the barbershop. The Chicago Defender became the thing to talk about. Once more and more people started talking about the ideas of the Defender, an increasingly more amount of people would feel comfortable with the idea of pursuing the American dream up north.

 

Questions:

1)    Were there other popular black newspapers at that time?

2)    Did certain white people try to stop the publication of the Chicago Defender?