Representing Our "Great Migration"
Between 1910 and 1970 millions of African Americans migrated from the rural South to the industrialized North. This period is known as the Great Migration. The Great Migration was the result of Reconstruction era policies, such as the Jim Crow Laws. Seeking a better life, millions of discriminated African Americans sought greener pastures.
Representing the Great Migration: Jacob Lawrence
One of the greatest artistic, visual representations of the Great Migration is Jacob Lawrence's The Migration Series. Started in 1934, this series took Lawrence several years to complete (18). The series (composed of 60 panels) is in the care of The Phillips Collection in Washington, the District of Columbia.
Jacob Lawrence was born in September of 1917 in New Jersey. As a child of two migrants, Lawrence had a unique perspective on the Great Migration over other Northerners. Growing up in Harlem, New York, also gave Lawrence a different point of view. Harlem was a common destination for many African Americans relocating to New York. It was here that the combination of Southern and Northern ideas and traditions led to the Harlem Renaissance (17).
Jacob Lawrence was born in September of 1917 in New Jersey. As a child of two migrants, Lawrence had a unique perspective on the Great Migration over other Northerners. Growing up in Harlem, New York, also gave Lawrence a different point of view. Harlem was a common destination for many African Americans relocating to New York. It was here that the combination of Southern and Northern ideas and traditions led to the Harlem Renaissance (17).
Sources for Written Information Above:
Jacob Lawrence Teaching Kit created by the Education Office located at The Phillips Collection. Copyright 2001.
Looking at the Great Migration: The Great Migration Series
Relevant Vocabulary:
Social Studies
Language Arts
- The Great Migration - the migration of African American from primarily the South, as well as the West and Midwest, to urban areas in the North from 1910-1970
- Reconstruction- The period following the Civil War in the South that contributed to the Great Migration
- Accent Color- A color used to create emphasis
- Additive process - the process adding of something else to alter or improve a work of art in some way, for example, to change the color or texture
- Collage- composition of materials pasted onto a surface in an artistic manner.
- Color Palette- range of colors used by an artist in a work of art
- Perspective - the simulation of depth in works of art
- Primary colors – the colors known as red, yellow and blue
- Secondary colors – these colors are made from mixing two primary colors. The secondary colors are orange, purple/violet, and green
Language Arts
- Nonfiction – Form of writing in which the narrative told is factual instead of fictional
Expectations for Today's Lesson:
- You will write a 2-5 sentences describing your migration to Coastal Carolina University.
- You will select and implement the concept of an accent color into you finished product.
- The image you generate will represent your written tale of your migration.
- You will demonstrate craftsmanship.