The Migration of African Americans from the South to the North - Research Paper Example

The Migration of African Americans from the South to the North Introduction The movement of the African Americans from the south to the north was triggered by various factors among them lack of opportunities in the south. The 6 million mass exodus affected both the south and the north economically. The social effect of the mass exodus was presented when the group moved to north for different reason. Immigration of people have both economical and population effects. The manner in which people adapt to their new environments will determine their economical and social positions. In some case, the population increase creates social problems, which in the end would affect the economic status of a given group. There is need to focus on the African- American population from the south the north. The aim will be to determine the economical components accompany the migration. Migration of individuals from a region affects its initial composition. Population increase has both it negative and positives to economic components; the essay will focus on the impact of the migration. Overview The migration took place during the first world war in that the African. The movement of individuals was triggered by economical factors caused by the First World War. The population was seeking employment and better living standards. Their perceived greener pastures were the motivating factor and the population was required to adjust to the new areas. The war had affected their social lives and it was time to rebuild their lives. The new region was in need of labor and the great migration was an effect of the demand for labor. The large number was enough to supply the north with the much-needed labor. Labor was the key factor and that the market was demanding labor after a large number of individual had migrated to Europe to fight the war. The effect of the war and the migration was visible in these regions (Harrison, 2012). Effect on the labor The north migration of African American had an impact on the labor market. According to Tolnay (2003), the migration was prompted by the fact that the labor market was falling short of supply. The European supply of cheap labor was cut short by the ongoing first. The north hence was in demand of labor. This prompted the shift of market from the European region to local labor force. The effect meant that the employers chose to utilize the internal labor markets. The high population of African American in the south made it suitable for sourcing labor. This prompted the migration of people from the south to the north. The market was able to realize a potential labor market and shifted to attract cheap labor sourced from within the nation. A large majority of people were attracted to availability of industries which where potential employers (Harrison, 2012). The labor market grew and was unable to accommodate the rising population. In the short run, the move was effective as they were able to revive the industrial markets. The influx of African- Americans to the north had a long run effect. The high supply of labor meant that the market had more than enough supply in terms of labor. In a case of Lee Daniels, there is a contrast in her life in delta and her new life in Chicago (Lemann, 2008). In the north, she works in various companies attest of opportunities in the north compared to the south (Lemann, 2008). The high supply meant the labor demand had options to choose. In the end, the market was overcrowded forcing the salaries and wages to decrease. This meant that the labor being supplied included a high number of unskilled individuals meaning labor structures had to be adjusted (Tolnay, 2003). The employers took advantage of the high supply of labor to the market. High supply will have an effect to the price and cost of labor. The employers will adjust prices in an attempt to reduce the number of employees within the firm. In this case, the six million African Americans moving across the country had affected cost of labor with employers having to use numbers to produce large quantity output. Availability of labor meant that many industries were set up to meet the labor supply. Industry utilized the availability of labor to expand their business. The economic status of the immigrants meant that firms utilized their desperation to underpay the population. The population shifts from the south meant that as much as they provided a larger labor market, they were potential customers to processing firms. The migration expanded the sizes of available firm by increasing their outputs. The effect was the same to new firm since the availability of labor meant that people develop their structure based on the high supply of labor. The firms were able to lower their operational cost by lowering their wage bills. The migration had a negative effect to the south. The region experienced low production caused by unavailability of labor (Tolnay, 2003). The young and energetic individual migrated to the north, leaving the unproductive population. This meant that increased population due to increased labor supply meant that their regions of origins. High Purchasing Power The migration to the north meant that the population had a high employment rate compared to previous years. This meant they had a higher purchasing power. There level of expenditure rose due to availability of resources. The region experienced a large cash flow due to increased population and increased wages. The increased purchasing power meant that the north would increase the amount of cash flow into its economy. The high population enables an easy flow of cash. The south was characterized as an agricultural hub meaning the region deepened on agriculture as a means of income. The movement to the north meant that the population embraced industries as their main source of income. An increase in wages will prompt individuals to spend more on basic needs. The demand for goods prompts price of certain goods to increase. The flow of cash into the market meant that people improved their living standards (Harrison, 2012). Effect on housing The African American migration to the north meant that there was a high demand for housing. According to Art to Zoo (1990), initial plans were to offer African American with free houses but as the population grew larger, there was need for property owners to take the opportunity and highly influenced the prices of houses. The available housing was unable to satisfy the demand of the market. Investors had to utilize demand and built several housing units. The high population affected the quality of housing as high demand meant that more units were demanded. The region transformed from a gated region to informal settlements. The failure of investors to satisfy the housing demand prompted individuals to mushroom into slum like regions. The number of people without homes increase the population was overwhelming to the available resources prompting many to seek alternatives. The region experienced an increased number of informal settlements. Those who were unemployed remained homeless, as they were unable to meet market demands. The high cost of living had an effect on those with low wages and the unemployed. The rising population density had an effect on the manner in which people interacted with housing aspects. The demands of housing overwhelmed the supply (Harrison, 2012). The high housing demand pushed the cost of housing to increase. The high earning affected the supply of housing as the price was increased as a means of utilizing the high demand. The few units were costly prompting individuals to formulate alternatives to house their families. The income per capita was high among those African- American who migrated to the north than those who remained at the south of the country. The housing units were an indication that the population had gained more after moving to the north. The high population also influenced the high development of the region. There were improved social amenities such as hospitals and learning institution. The long run effect was that the group had a higher literacy level compared to previous year. The new generation had access to formal education and hence supplied the market with skilled labors. In the short run the population filled, the gaps created by the European immigrants and occupied the lower ranks. Increased earning meant the individual where enable to afford basic needs (Harrison, 2012). The population shifted from supplying unskilled labor to supplying the market with skilled labors hence competing with the white population from the north. Effect on Education The high population meant the number of schools had to be increased in the region. The error was characterized by racial discrimination and there was need for separating of schools. Lemann (2008) highlights the story of George Hicks; he represents the benefactors of formal education from the north and as a result works in the public sector. The movement of the African American from the south meant that the groups had increased access to education (Tolnay, 1998). Education increased their value in the job market. This meant that they increased their competiveness in the job market. The population density prompted the increased number of different level of learning institution. The south was negatively affected in that they remained neglected as far as education was concern. The two regions showed disparities with the north having a high supply of educational facilities with the south lacking the necessities (Tolnay, 1998). Education was a contributing factor to the north migration and the increased population density meant that the region had increased educational facilities. Effect on the Health Sector The African American great migration had an impact on the health sector. The effect was both positive and negative. The increased earning triggered by availability of labor, meant that individuals were able to meet cost of treatment. The fear of outbreaks prompted the administration to construct health facilities to cater for the population density (Art to Zoo, 2015). The migration of the African- Americans meant that the north benefited from increased number of health facilities. The level of heath facilities varied depending on the income levels. The high number of facilities increased health provision services. The region developed due to better healthcare services in the region compared to the south. The south remained economically marginalized due to lack of heath facilities among other social amenities. The population density meant increased health worker in the region. The number of health personnel increased due to the demand for the health service (Tolnay, 2003). The migration had an impact on health sector thus overcrowding and the informal settlements by the southern immigrants meant that the north was prompt to disease outbreaks. Social Effect The high supply of labor to the market meant that people who were not absorbed into the labor market choose alternatives to enable then sustaining the high cost of living in the north. The high level of unskilled labors and literacy level meant that a limited number of individual choose business as a source of income. In the end those who were unable to position themselves among the labor market, turned into unsocial behaviors to seek alternatives (Smethurst, 2011). The group created a sense of insecurity among the locals and was need to develop policing policies to cater for the local population. The oppression by employers and local resident prompted the formulation of civil right groups with Dubious being among the founders of trade unions (Lemann, 2008). Security is a major component in any region as it determines the level of investments in the region. The high population from the south meant the level of security had to be increased to cater for the high population (Harrison, 2012). Effect on Local Population Improved heath and access to education meant that the market shifted from demand for unskilled labor to demand for skilled labor. The market created an avenue where the African Americans supplied both skilled and unskilled labor. The movement meant that a large pollution dominated the employment market due to their affordability. The market shifted from skilled European immigrants who where expensive to African- American who supplied both skilled and unskilled labor at a lower cost. The access to employment meant that the population was able to secure the future generations. In the short run, the population was able to supply the market with a large number of unskilled laborers. In the long run the market was dominated with both skilled and unskilled labor. The domination of the group meant that the government increased their revenue collection through taxation of the population (Harrison, 2012). Increased revenue collection meant improved infrastructure and other social amenities. Effect to the South The north experienced economic growth due to supply of labor from the south. Increased number of industries meant that the regions increased their trading activities. The improvement of health facilities and educational facilities meant that the local population was able to access these amenities, which previously were limited. The region economic growth was evident through to the purchasing power. The African- American population had a higher purchasing power compared to their stay in the south. High purchasing power triggered y access to wages meant that in the north the group experienced economic growth (Smethurst, 2011). The south remained marginalized due to the migration as depopulation meat decreased labor supply to the market. Lack of labor supply affected production. The migration also had negative effect to the local population. Increased population density meant the available resources had to be strained. This meant in the short run, the region faced food, water and housing shortages. However as years past measures were in place to cater for the increased population. The increased population affected the housing structures in the north as demand for housing was high compared to its supply. The population caused a housing crisis as a larger population lacked proper housing (Smethurst, 2011). The overcrowding within the regions meant culminated into social problems. The population density had influenced the manner in which individuals interacted with each other. The introduction of the population meant that region developed social classes. The new population constituted the lower class while the locals dominated the high end of the social class. Conclusion The migration of African- Americans from the south to the north was triggered by various factors. These factors include need for education and need to improve economic status. The emigration had impacts on both regions. The economic benefits included access to labor and improved living standards due to increased wages. The population was able to access other social amenities, which initially were limited in the south. The region experienced economic growth as many industries shifted to the north on grounds that the migration supplied the north with labor. The successful immigrants were able to access economic benefit while those who were unsuccessful become a social problem to the region. The access to education was enhanced once the population settled to the north. As the north grew economically, the south suffered. The population density had effect to both sides of the country. Reference Art to Zoo. (1990). Life in the promise land: African-American Migrants in Northern Cities, 1916-1940 Retrieved from: http://smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/migrants/ATZ_Migrants_Dec1990.pdf Harrison, A. (2012) ed. Black Exodus: The Great Migration of from the American South. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi. Lemann, N. (2008). The Promised Land: The Great Black Migration and How It Changed America. New York: Paw Prints. Smethurst, J.E. (2011).The African American Roots of Modernism: From Reconstruction to the Harlem Renaissance. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press. Tolnay, S.E. (1998). Educational Selection in the Migration of Southern Blacks, 1880-1990. Social Forces, 77(2) 487-514. Tolnay, S.E. (2003). The African American "Great Migration" and Beyond. Annual Review of Sociology, 29 209-232. Read More