Herman Wright Jr., Research Fellow, Stephen F. Austin State University
Proposal Type: Panel
Abstract: Isabel Wilkersons book “The Warmth of Other Suns” is the inspiration for this topic. Charlie Rose (PBS) interviewed the new cast of “Raisin in the Sun” on Broadway starring Denzel Washington. They discussed the migration patterns to California, Chicago, NYC and Washington DC. Ms Wilkerson discusses the causes of the migration of millions of African Americans from the south. My family was part of that migration and our web site Thelongblackline.Org discusses the educational movement in the south that was a facet of this migration.
Seeking: Goals:
1. The scope and impact of the migration (geographic, demographic, income/employmnent, ethnic impact)
2. The education movement in the south among African Americans that fueled the migration.
3. The impact of the rapid urbanization of African Americans in the early 20th century from a rural/ agriculture based economy and its impact on America (culturally, wealth demographics and otherwise)
4. Panelist would include historians, environmentalist/ecologist, demographers and economists.
5.The panel would also focus on the impacts on the 21st century, particularly our current education and political issues (i.e charter schools,no child left behind legislation, textbooks, immairation and resegregation)
Related Topics: Preservation, Oral History, Teaching
If you have a direct offer of assistance, sensitive criticism, or wish to share contact information for other people the proposer should reach out to, please get in contact directly: Herman Wright Jr., hermanwright1874[at]gmail.com
If you have general ideas or feedback to share please feel free to use the comments feature below.
Herman: This is a topic that is of great interest to public historians. I think what your proposal needs is some focus or theme that will really tie it to public history. So, for example, you might want to see if there are digital projects that map the impact of the migration or if there are preservation initiatives that are seeking to protect properties that document the migration. Your proposal needs a central question of some kind so that it can explore the way public historians seek to answer that question.
Aloha Herman,
Great topic that needs to be discussed. I echo the previous commenters mention of visual graphic aids. These migratory flows of “internal diaspora” out of the south would really resonate on maps. I will send you a personal email with a couple of other thoughts about your topic.
Justin Mattli
Hello Herman,
I agree with Denise on this–very interesting topic, and one that clearly engages people presently whose families have been shaped by the migration dynamic you describe, and that shapes current political realities along several axes (mentioned in your #5 point). But I do think the panel would be richest if rather than seeking to describe and comment upon the historical phenomenon that was the migration, you turn the question to consider how various publics continue to engage that–or how historians of the migration can or do mobilize that knowledge to interest and engage people in policy discussions related to its aftereffects. As presently conceived, I think the panel is more appropriate for a straight-on history conference than a “public” history one. But I think it could definitely be reshaped into something that work work for NCPH.