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This is an image depicts Ethan Roman and his father, Eliazar Cabrera packing up and preparing to leave Los Angeles. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

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Group 6: COVID-19 Migration (Student example)

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Group 6: COVID-19 Migration (Student example)

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Who moved?

People of low socioeconomic status and young people moved from socal to many different states such as Mississippi, Kansas, Alabama, and many others with small not so well known cities and towns.

Why did they move?

They moved due to an upcharge of housing. As well as wanting to be able to spend more money on more things. Additionally, the cost of owning property and renting skyrocketed and pay didn't increase at the same rate leaving many people living from paycheck to paycheck.

Why did they choose their new location and What attracted or pulled them there?

Many people moved to different places but the reason they all migrated was due to the cheaper cost of living. Although the minimum wage was much lower in other states the cost of housing was even cheaper than in LA.

How did this migration affect the area they left (economically, culturally, politically)?

It affected Southern California because many people left their jobs and their places still haven't been replaced leaving many workplaces empty.

How did this migration affect the area they moved to (economically, culturally, politically)?

The area many people migrated to were more conservative due to rural and small areas. Those who migrated from big cities or cities, in general, came from a more liberal and open community due to those places being populated with diversity.

How did this migration affect where you live (Los Angeles/Southern California/California)?

From 2022 to 2023 approximately 160,000 people left Los Angeles County. Additionally, between July 2021 and July 2022 California as a whole lost around 211,000 people. This population decline in Los Angeles caused many residents to notice an increase in homelessness. In addition, the shrinking population can harm and lead to a decrease in the local economy.

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Demographics

During the 1920s, many people of color had moved to Chicago, specifically Black people. Around 500,000 African Americans had moved to Chicago between 1915 and 1940.

1/10th of the people moving away from the South came to Chicago; this caused the Black population in Chicago to double.

After World War I had started in 1914, there was a demand in the northern regions for workers to replace people fighting in the war.

Dr. Christopher Reed notes, " companies sent agents down to the north to recruit workers"

Many of the people moving had been young adults, commonly with families looking for jobs with higher wages, education for their children, and an environment that promised freedom.

The total population of Chicago was 2.7 million by the 1920s

Along with Black people, many Jewish communities came, who were escaping anti-Semitic laws or beliefs in their hometowns. By the 1930s, Jewish people comprised 80% of the Chicago population.

Push Factors

Racial Tensions- between Black and white chicagoans where high due to living in a close proximity. This was exacerbated by the massive riot in 1919 called the Chicago Race Riot. This riot was fueled by the police not incarcerating a white man who murdered a young black man. The violent riots escalated into 38 people dying (23 African Americans, 15 white people) and 537 people injured.

Economic- There were limited job opportunities due to the massive influx of African Americans in such a short amount of time.

Pull Factors

Jobs - the Chicago job market expanded with steel mills, meatpacking plants, and railroad work sites. Many of these jobs did not require formal education and paid much more than what people were getting paid in the South.

The factories in the North paid three times more than what Black people would have made working on the land in the South.

Housing opportunities - The housing in Chicago was affordable, although some of it was overcrowded or poorly maintained, and with many Black realtors and landlords, it made it possible for Black people to rent or buy housing while under other racist housing restrictions

"The Promise Land" - many Black people living in the south saw Chicago as a promise land with jobs, basic wages, houses with running water, and fundamental freedoms that Black people were denied in the south and the past.

How did this migration affect the area they left?

In the span of 60 years (1910’s-1970’s) 5 million blacks moved from the rural south to northern, midwestern and western states. Following this major migration the demographic and economic state of the south changes.

Demographics- The movement was so widespread that by the 1970s the south retained only a little more than 1/2  of the nation's Black American population in comparison with before the migration where it was averaged that 90% of black Americans lived in the south.

Economical changes- After the civil war a lot of Black Americans continued to work in agriculture either as sharecroppers or tenant farmers. The mass migration of Black Americans from the south caused a diminished southern agricultural labor force. This forced tenant farmers to either use more mechanized farming techniques as well as grow a more diverse range of crops.

How did this migration affect the area they moved to?

With an increase in the Black community came an increase in Black owned businesses. Many Black owned businesses were opened along Chicago's State Street, creating a sector referred to as "Black Wall Street"

The success of the businesses on the Black Wall Street had contributed to African Americans' financial independence and stimulated local economic growth.

With new waves of migrants came new waves of music and culture, specifically southern art styles, including Jazz and Blues, which had grown to become a dominant music style in Chicago.

The Chicago Black Renaissance was a cultural movement that included artistic expression and community organizing; this movement played a significant role in advancing civil rights and social justice in Chicago.

The Chicago Black Renaissance created room for cultural hotspots for Black writers, artists, and musicians.

How does this effect where we live in current day

5 million African American families left the south to northern states, midwest states and the western states. This migration caused these areas to becom more racially diverse and these demographics remain prevalent for these cities to this day. This migration not only affected the racial demographics but also the political  demographics of the area because is a greater variety of opinions and representation leads to more progressive views causing these cities to become more democratic/liberal.

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A Sunbelt State, North Carolina, advertised as modernized and sunny climate.

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Group 5: Rustbelt to Sunbelt Migration 1950s-80s

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Group 5: Rustbelt to Sunbelt Migration 1950s-80s

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Who Moved?: There was a somewhat diverse group of people that migrated during the time due to several leading factors. Deindustrialization, the decline of manufacturing jobs and the growth of new industries throughout the South lead many of those involved in manufacturing and heavy duty industry jobs to look for new and better higher paying jobs throughout the South. During this time there was a majority wide spread of white Americans throughout the Sunbelt in look for comfort and opportunity throughout many and all states. However the Great Migration was a period of significant change in demographics and though during that time many Black Americans moved from the South to the North some were draw back to the South due to lower coast living and opportunities.

Push Factors: Many people throughout the state migrated during the 1950s - 1980s due to the a combination of many driven factors such as the attraction of new housing supply and the rising of productivity, an increasing demand for amenities, and the new excitement of transformation from agriculture to manufacturing states. There was a big decline in manufacturing throughout Rustbelt areas and factories due to economic decline contributing to the loss of many jobs and the search for new and better economic opportunities in places throughout the South and the West. Another main contributing factor was because of the need and want for comfort in living spaces due to the harsh heat throughout the Rustbelt many people were drawn to the South especially North Carolina offering a warmer and more mild climate becoming more tolerable overall especially due to the wide spread adoption of air conditioning . Additionally lower rates of taxes and more affordable housing made these areas more attractive for families throughout Rustbelt areas.

Pull Factors:

The Sunbelt states: California, Texas, and Florida were appealing to people because the population was lower, which made the average cost of living more affordable.

Other Factors Include:

There was more land available, and it was more affordable. So with the housing prices being cheaper compared to the cities in the Rustbelt, many people were pulled to the Sunbelt cities. With lower taxes in many Sun Belt states, it created a draw both to individuals and businesses.

After enduring many cold winters, people gravitated towards warmer areas. Sunbelt had warmer climate, which made it more appealing

People grew tired of harsh northern winters, and saw the sunny states in the Sunbelt

Industries began popping up in the Sunbelt citities which created more job opportunities. With new job opportunities, community members would have more of a stable income, and a "better" future.

New industries included aerospace, defense, oil, and technology.

Migration's impact on Rustbelt:

After the large migration from Rustbelt to Sunbelt, the already declining economy faced even more hardship. In the 50s and 70s, there was a major decline in heavy manufacturing in the Rustbelt, this led to factory closures and mass job losses. Families left the Rust Belt communities and left the cities depopulated, declining infrastructures, and falling tax revenues.

The Rustbelt was already undergoing deindustrialization, which created an uncertain economic climate, this was another leading reason for fleeing the area.

Factories closed, which was the economic foundation of the Rustbelt- this led to deindustrialization.

Unions were strong in the Rust Belt, but as industries moved to areas in the Sun Belt, many factories began closing. This led to a high increase in unemployment, and people had to settle for lower-paying service jobs, or no job at all.

Migration's impact to the moved in area:

It impacted the state's population growth. By 2020, more people moved to North Caroline/the Sunbelt area more than people have left. It has increased by age groups, but were more populated by younger migrants, and also the labor work and support.

How migration impacts where we live:

Where we live, California has had a significant economic, social, and environmental impacts, as well as a high population of the highest share of any state and more than double the share in the rest of the country for migrants in 2023. Back then, other impacts were the contributes to the Gold Mining, certain agriculture. In the 20th & 21st century, some migration impacts were based on the high-tech industry and manufacturing, increasing the population in larger companies making the state more popular too.

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Migrant workers in California fields in the harvest labor force 

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Demographics

In the 1930s, at the height of the Great Depression, 2.5 million people were forced to migrate to Central Valley, CA, due to severe weather. The people who moved were in the agricultural industry. The farmers and their families moved across the country from the Great Plains, including Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and Texas. The people who migrated were mainly white Americans from the lower working class. The Dust Bowl migrants were referred to as “Okie,” which was used in a derogatory way as a generalized description of migrant workers from local California residents

Push Factors

During this time, severe dust storms swept Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, and Texas's Great Plains region, which is the flatlands. It heavily affected agriculture during these times by the dust storms destroying the soil. The soil being damaged made it harder for plants to grow and access nutrients and water. Farmers had to gather their families and abandon the land they worked hard for. The great depression had a significant impact during this time. It pushed farmers to be desperate to make a living with the extremely high unemployment rates, challenging this even more in America alone. These people migrated to California in hopes of better opportunities.

Pull Factors

Many migrant workers from the Midwest chose to move to California due to its climate, relief, and chances for work. California had a favorable mild climate with plentiful resources and fertile soil. Some of these migrants were farmers who sought work in the Central Valley because of the booming agriculture industry which needed laborers to work in farms. Workers were promised abundant pay and good jobs, attracting many families who were looking to rebuild their lives after the Dust Bowl. California was also a place of promised work and the perceived "promised land", depicting it as a place of opportunity where money could be made.

How did this migration affect the area they left?

There was a significant population decline in the Midwest, and thousands of families abandoned their farms and homes in search of work. These rural communities then lost labor, consumers, and revenue. The abandoned farmland also reduced agricultural output from areas that were already suffering from drought and bad conditions. Culturally, there was a loss of community life, as towns lost families and so less people attended church and schools closed down due to lack of enrollment. In some areas, they lost political representation at the state level due to a lack of representatives and less funding. Large landowners were more likely to stay in the area, while small farmers tended to leave, leading to wealth and land control becoming more concentrated towards large landowners.

How did this migration affect the area they moved to?

The increase in population in California also increased the competition for low-wage jobs in agriculture, resulting in wages becoming lower. Large farm owners and the agriculture industry benefited from these desperate migrant workers who were willing to work long hours in difficult conditions with less pay. They were often exploited, with little pay and harsh working conditions, leading to strikes and labor unions. Many California locals also viewed migrants as poor and uneducated, creating belittling labels for them. Migrants brought with them their music, ideals, and religious beliefs, and over time, communities formed, preserving their culture. Politically, there was pressure on public services and the government, as the immediate increase in population pushed governments to expand relief programs.

How does this affect California

This led to a major population increase in California. This gave California its title as the fifth largest food supplier and agriculture in the world. The Dust Bowl shaped and evolved California's farming culture substantially and enhanced it. The Central Valley faces severe droughts up to the present time. People migrated to California for opportunity back in the 30s, and now people see California as a place of opportunity.

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During the Great Migration (1910's), millions of Black Americans migrated from the rural South- to more urban destinations in the North, West, and the Midwest; such as Chicago. This influx of migration was in efforts to escape systemic racism in the South and to seek more economic and educational opportunities.

Black Americans sought refuge from racist groups and politics such as the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) and the Jim Crow laws. Organized groups such as the KKK were a prime example of the prejudice and systemic violence the Black Americans faced during the time. Additionally, Southern, conservative states were not as inclined to provide job opportunities to minorities. And though slavery was abolished nearly 40 years before the Great Migration pro-slavery idealists still occupied the rural South.

Chicago in particular, was viewed by these migrants as the "Promised Land". A urban, progressive, and "promising" city; Chicago was viewed by many minorities as a land with many job opportunities, better wage, advanced home appliances, less racism, and more basic freedom for all.

In the first wave of migration, between 1915 and 1940, the population of Black Americans living in Chicago doubled. However, this sudden influx resulted in crowded tenement housing, and limited educational opportunities. Due to this, many Black Americans were pushed to more segregated neighborhoods in the city which caused racial violence, discrimination, segregation, and indifference from the city’s government. This did not dampen pride for Black Americans, though; it encouraged Black Americans to showcase their rich culture through forms of music, art, and literature. Certain traditions were brought with them from the South and were integrated into Chicago's society. These cultural aspects included the blues(a form of music), religious practices, as well as Southern-style cousine.

The Great Migration caused the Black population in Southern territories to rapidly decline. This demographic shift caused a reduction in the South's agricultural labor force leading to higher demand Black American workers. This demand caused white landowners to become significantly more forceful on obtaining workers.

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This image depicts Panorama City in the 1950's showing the progress and growth of the newly established city. 

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Who moved?

Young adults in their 20’s and 30's, started to move into the suburbs. Most were part of the middle class and were both blue-collar and white-collar workers. Many of these individuals returned from World War II and were veterans who received G.I Bills that provided benefits. Others were employed in industries that grew through the war period, working in industries such as manufacturing and aerospace. Although the majority of people were white, African American and Latinos also moved into suburban areas where discriminatory housing practices allowed them to. Many white families moved to the suburbs seeking larger houses to move into, with their families fleeing racially diverse cities. As a result of the baby boom following the war, the demand for more housing grew immensely, boosting suburban growth. During this time period, an increase in ownership of cars allowed those families to easily travel from the suburbs to urban centers to work, influencing the layout of the growing suburbs.

Push factors: why did they move?

Urban centers had started becoming overcrowded, leading to housing shortages in places like downtown Los Angeles, where population rapidly grew during and after World War II when people migrated for economic and social opportunity.

Additionally, affordable single-family homes within the city dwindled, which drove those with resources to seek opportunity elsewhere for homeownership, such as in Panorama City where there were prefabricated homes

During the 40s and 50s Black/African Americans migrated to urban centers seeking economic prosperity and the hope of desegregation. This was one of the leading factors for White families' flee to the suburbs

Thousands of White families migrated to the suburbs due to the possibility of desegregation because they feared their children would go to an integrated school., The post-war highway construction programs, redlining, and by the Watts Riots, which changed Los Angeles’s demographics. The Watts Riots were a number of violent altercations that included many Watts residents and South Central Los Angeles neighborhoods with a large African American population, and the Los Angeles police. During this period, LA’s White population dropped from 93.4 percent in 1950 to 24.6 percent in 1980.

Pull factors: why did they choose their new location? What attracted or pulled them there?

Panorama City was developed throughout the 1940’s. It was one of the first planned cities specifically in the San Fernando Valley. It was developed as a result of the post World War II housing boom.

Panorama City and other suburbs offered mass-produced homes that were affordable, providing opportunity to families that couldn’t buy in concentrated city centers. Moreover, there were larger living spaces and conveniences that made people think that they could get a higher quality of life.

The city was highly advertised to bring more and more people to live in the newly built homes. Many were extremely drawn to Panorama City because the developers of the area were highly known for setting land aside to build schools and hospitals along with commercial centers. This allowed the people for a new hope of a “better” life.

The G.I Bill was signed by President Roosvelt in 1922. The bill provided World War II veterans with 52 days of unemployment insurance along with the necessary means to receive job training and post-secondary education. With the G.I Bill, veterans could also access low-interest loans to buy these newly built homes in suburban areas.

Additionally, growing industries and manufacturing jobs in suburban areas offered employment opportunities that appealed to those seeking work, For example, by 1951 Panorama City had a General Motors assembly plant, a mall, supermarkets and more

How did this migration affect the area they left (economically, culturally, politically)?

With fewer people living in the city, there were fewer economic resources as tax bases shrunk. As a result, there were not enough financial resources to support all standing public services and maintain urban infrastructure. This included public schools, infrastructures, and more, leading to a decline in the quality of life.

As a result of the “white flight”, a decline in white owned businesses and institutions occurred in urban centers due to their target clients(other white people) moving to the suburbs.

Additionally, since the majority of the population moving to the suburb was white ( the movement came to be known as “white flight”), there was increased segregation and neighborhoods became increasingly homogenous

How did this migration affect the area they moved to (economically, culturally, politically)?

Suburban areas grew in response to the population boom, which brought more prosperity that could fuel businesses, shopping, and other store fronts that catered to residents

Since the white middle class became the dominant demographic in Panorama City, they gained power over local elections and policies. They manipulated elections and policies to benefit themselves. During this time period, many white-middle class American values became increasingly popular.

How did this migration affect where we live (Los Angeles/Southern California/California)?

The migration to suburbs created urban sprawl which meant that the entire transportation systems needed to shift. There were more freeways, more automobiles and people were forced to start commuting longer distances that impacted traffic

As a result there was more air pollution and also a loss of spaces taken up by roads, changing the landscape

The migration has also influenced current demographics of Los Angeles. During this time period the population of African Americans living in Los Angeles increased because many migrated to the Midwest, North, and West Coast.

As a result different ethnic groups moved to different parts around the city. Los Angeles became one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the United States