The mass migration of African-Americans

Unjustly underappreciated flight of African-Americans from the South to the North and the Midwest to the West of the United States. Between the 1910s and the 1970s, approximately six million African-Americans moved in pursuit of employment or even better living conditions. (Hughey 380). The Warmth of Other Suns author Isabel Wilkerson described the Great Migration as a movement that eventually altered the appearance of America. It changed the social, political, and fiscal landscape of American cities. In the story, the author as well argues how the migrants shared a collective culture, which according to her, was made vibrant by the assurance of the American dream. Even so, the greatest the scholar’s argument was that hope propels people through the worst situations, whereby taking action play a significant role in achieving dreams The objective of the viewpoint, even so, enlightens the American people that they all have a lot more than what they have been made to believe.

Since the author’s intention was to capture the scope and the breadth of the exodus, she narrates the story through the experiences of three individuals whose journeys started from 1930’s. They included George Swanson Starling, a fruit picker who migrated to Harlem, Robert Joseph Foster, a college graduate who relocated to Los Angeles as a medical practitioner, and Ida Mae Gladney who migrated to Chicago from Mississippi. From her analysis, the author stated two significant issues that are often discussed by scholars. Foremost, she said that migration is a continuous phenomenon in the American life since the last six decades of the “great exodus” The movers are, as such, are then entailed to three geographical streams and not one as many writers depict (Pendergrass 1444-1446).

The first stream, according to Isabel originates from East Coast of Georgia heading to Washington DC, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. Ultimately, it is the route that her family allegedly took while migrating. George Starling represents this stem. While he was moving, Starling confirmed that his people were treated horribly (Hughey 380-381). In fact, since they lacked unity, it was even harder for him to manage his colleagues or demand extra nickel (Wilkerson, Isabel 185-187 ). It, indeed, endangered his life when he attempted to negotiate. As a result, the participant sought to flee for a better life in Harlem, New York (Wilkerson, Isabel 192).

Ida Mae Gladney, on the other hand, illustrates the second stream. The author says that Ida was not very good at picking cotton. As such, she was not highly helpful in the fields like other African-Americans. Like George, Ida and her entire family also escaped from Mississippi to Milwaukee and later to Chicago (Wilkerson, Isabel 198).

Finally, DR. Foster, an Army surgeon during the Korean War depicts the third stem. He realized that it was impossible to perform surgery in Monroe, Louisiana after leaving the army. As a result, the doctor trekked solely across the desert during a particular night to a place where he could practice medicine. It is, as such, evident that fruitful outcomes call for voluntary sacrifices.

Nevertheless, it is thus unarguable that safeguarding fundamental human rights in the U.S is as a consequence of humanitarian promotion. Furthermore, it is a supreme goal of the United States foreign policy in the bill of International Human Rights. The U.S, particularly comprehends that the protection of human rights safeguards peace, the rule of law, alleviates corruption and avoids humanitarian crises. As such, if human rights are violated, the consequence may not only lead to migration but defection as well.

All the same, the readings of this book fits perfectly with other readings and lectures even though Isabel has provided a whole new perspective of the Great Migration. Nonetheless, the best part of it is that she has highlighted the features of the movement that have previously been ignored considerably.

In conclusion, the book portrays how hope can propel people through the worst of situations, and how taking action is significant in achieving dreams. The actions may call for sacrifices, but they may not be fruitless. Individual hopes and efforts can, as a consequence, change history.

Works Cited

Hughey, Matthew W. ”The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration.“ Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews 41.3 (2012): 380-381. Web. 28 March 2017.

Pendergrass, Sabrina. ”Routing black migration to the urban US South: Social class and sources of social capital in the destination selection process.“ Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 39.9 (2013): 1441-1459. Web. 28 March 2017.

Wilkerson, Isabel. The Warmth Of Other Suns. 1st ed., [Place Of Publication Not Identified], [Publisher Not Identified], 2016,.