The Great Migration
New Jersey's African American population grew rapidly in the early 20th century during the phases of the Great Migration and Second Great Migration from 1910-1970. African Americans migrated north for the growing numbers of industrial jobs and to get the right to vote, a better education for their children, and improved living conditions. They fled disfranchisement in the South, Jim Crow laws, and a fear of lynching.
- 1910 - 89,760 total colored, 3.5 percent of population of 2.5 million
- 1930 - 208,829 total colored, 5 percent of population of 4 million
- 1960 - 514,875 total colored, 8.5 percent of population of 6.1 million
Read more about this topic: New Jersey In The 20th Century
Famous quotes containing the words the great:
“You remind me of a child-friend who once wrote to tell me about her sister being married. “Now I will tell you all about Bessie’s wedding.” Then came a long account of bridesmaids, and breakfast, and everything else, except the name of the bride-groom! That of course didn’t matter: the great thing was to get married somehow.”
—Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson] (1832–1898)