Black Migration Headed In New Direction -- From North To South

[Honeykiss1974]

From www.tbwt.com

By Bill Bradberry
TBWT Contributor
Article Dated 4/5/2002


The numbers are in. The great migration of black Americans from the South is over. Large numbers of black Americans are returning to the South.

William H. Frey, in a May 2001 report, documents that "blacks ended the 20th century by returning to the region that they spent most of the century leaving."

Among other things, the report documents that:

The South's black population increased by 3,575,211 in the 1990s, nearly twice the number of blacks the South gained in the 1980s.

The 1990s is the first decade where each of the other major regions registered a net out-migration of blacks.

Florida and Georgia lead all states in black gains. The cities of Orlando and Atlanta show the highest rates of growth. Seven of the 10 fastest-growing counties for blacks are in the suburbs of metropolitan Atlanta.

Frey's report, entitled "Census 2000 Shows Large Black Return to the South, Reinforcing the Region's 'White-Black' Demographic Profile," was compiled at the University of Michigan's Population Studies Center at the Institute For Social Research.

A demographer and Research Scientist at the Center and a Senior Fellow at the Milken Institute in Santa Monica, Calif., he bases his conclusions on U.S. census data from 1960-2000, but anyone who has traveled in either direction over the past few years might have drawn the same conclusion -- it's just that obvious.

The political implications are huge. If they vote the way they did in the November 2000 presidential election, Southern black voters will wield more power than ever before in United States history. The Republicans' Southern strategy will be needing a major overhaul.

The historical reasons why so many headed north were clear. The collapse of the South's cotton economy, the disenfranchisement after the Civil War, the rise of the manufacturing economy of the North, and a misguided perception that Northern whites were less racist that their Southern brothers were reason enough. The rest is, as they say, history.

My father, caught up in the frenzy, headed north too, arriving in Niagara Falls in 1928 with not much more than a smile and an eagerness to get ahead. He often told me that the sharecropping life was brutal, offering no future, no way out of a cycle of poverty and debt.

Shortly after he arrived here, he and a friend opened up a business, the Smith and Bradberry Garage on the back side of Falls Street, where they sold gasoline and oil, fixed flat tires and repaired cars. Dad was quite a mechanic -- he could fix almost anything.

With almost no formal education, he raised a family by keeping his nose to the grindstone, a saying he used all the time but which I did not quite understand then. Now I use it myself as an encouragement to focus on finding solutions.

In fact, I've begun to notice in myself a frightening similarity to some of my dad's characteristics. And that's not a bad thing -- it's just a hard act to follow.

He helped me get a summer job at Carborundum, where he worked for many years. I learned my lesson working as a laborer with a sledgehammer that weighed almost as much as I did -- without an education, I would likely be doomed to the bottom of the financial ladder. I decided to follow his advice and stay in school.

The South we are returning to is a very different place today than it was when our ancestors left it. Gone are the agrarian days on the farm, replaced now by the new corporate culture. Large corporations have moved in and bought out or stolen most of the family farms -- big corporate conglomerates like the biotechnical food and chemical giant Monsanto in Anniston, Ala. There is something ominous about that combination of words.

A St. Louis-based company, Monsanto and its spin-offs Solutia and Pharmacia were handed a verdict last week by a Circuit Court jury finding them liable for damages because they knowingly polluted the "Model City" of the South's water supply and backyard gardens with PCBs -- in some cases at levels 7,000 times the permissible levels -- and then they tried to cover it up.

The jury's verdict was only one among many. A long line of more than 15,000 cases are being prepared by a Montgomery, Ala. law firm.

Solutia, a subsidiary of Monsanto, already agreed in another case to pay $43.7 million to 5,000 Anniston area residents, living where the cancer-causing agents were found. A separate federal trial over PCB contamination in Anniston last year resulted in a $40 million settlement. Local community activist David Baker blames the death of his brother 20 years ago on Monsanto's negligence. His case has not been presented to a jury yet, but he alleges the chemical giant's contamination is also responsible for damage to property as well as the emotional distress of thousands of Anniston residents.

He told reporters that, as a child growing up in the area, the odor from the plant was so foul that people had to stay inside their homes and not eat food from their own gardens because of the pollution.

It was the cover-up that did them in. Like my mom used to say, as she was tearing my skin from my bones with a belt or whatever she could get her hands on, "I'm beating you to within an inch of your life, not because you disobeyed, but because you lied about it."

The cost of cleaning up is too big and too nasty for the local governments to cope with.

Such is the case with my beloved hometown, Niagara Falls. We are faced with the high cost of cleaning up the mess after the big lie but rather than deal with it, folks are just leaving.

Of course, it's not just the black folks who are leaving the North, a lot of whites are leaving too, and not necessarily to the South.

Which brings me to my point.

There is little difference any longer between the North and the South aside from the weather. And even that is changing, probably because of some greenhouse effects caused by the release of certain chemicals into the atmosphere by certain uncaring industries, which is making the climates in the North and the South almost indistinguishable.

We need to put our combined noses to the grindstone and figure out how we are going to work our way out of this mess we are in.

The former head of the Niagara Falls Equal Opportunity Coalition, Bill Bradberry now works as an advocate and writer in Florida. You may email him at mailto:ghana1@bellsouth.net

[Steeltrap]

This was a good read. I was, at one time, a migrant to the South. This happened in 1990, when I opted to move to Knoxville, Tenn. for a job, instead of Santa Barbara, which is four hours north of my hometown.

I moved to K-town because I figured that I could get more for my money, which was true. I was also 25 years old at the time and rather sheltered. But I had a very kind editor-in-chief who wouldn't tolerate any overt b.s.

K-town doesn't have a particularly large black population, it was roughly 9% at the time I was there. That's because East Tennessee was Union territory during the Civil War days.

Three years later, I moved to Charlotte. I liked Charlotte, but the job didn't like me and I was forced to move back to California, and a year later, moved to Las Vegas for five years. I'm a reporter -- journalism jobs aren't easy to come by.

I enjoyed the South (even though I couldn't find a man down there ) but I'm a Californian and love being back here, insane housing costs be dayumed.

[straightBOS]

After high school, a large majority of students left the North for Southern HBCUs and have decided to remained after college.
I, too, plan to move down south after graduation. And, thankfully, the job offers have already come.

But I must disagree that the weather is the only difference. The cost of living Down South is extremely lower than up North-especially in the East. And sorry, D-South people, but you guys are a million times slower. Drive slower, walk slower, talk slower, come on now, speed it up! j/k

[ClassyLady]

Originally posted by straightBOS

But I must disagree that the weather is the only difference. The cost of living Down South is extremely lower than up North-especially in the East. And sorry, D-South people, but you guys are a million times slower. Drive slower, walk slower, talk slower, come on now, speed it up! j/k

I thought it was just me ! ! ! I swear, the people down here drive like they have absolutely nowhere to go. It seems like the other cars on the road are always going ten miles under the speed limit. My southern friends call me road rage just because I drive with a purpose.

Anyway, back to the regularly scheduled thread. I came to Florida to be warm for a few years and to get an education. I love my school, but I could never see myself actually living (career, home, family, etc.) south of the Mason Dixon line. My grandmother taught me that . As soon as I graduate from school, I am heading right back up to the Northeast.

[korkscru]

Well StraightBOS and ClassyLady, I'm sorry that you guys feel that Southerners are SSSLLLOOOWWW. I was born, raised, and educated in the South (South Carolina). And I am STILL living, working, and now raising my children in the South (Virginia). I'm not taking offense to ANYTHING that one may say about their MISconceptions about Southerners. I have my own MISconceptions about people from the North. But I think that it's good to learn about people from different areas by talking to them. As a matter of fact, I was able to learn a little more about Northerners when I went to college.

We, Southerners are not "slow" (as the saying goes) , it's just that we tend to take things at a "comfortable" pace. It gives us time to enjoy the "simple" things in life. We enjoy the smell of the grass and the sight of beautiful landscapes. And although, for example, the crime rate has increased significantly, there is STILL something about being able to watch your children grow in an environment that is not all "cement, smoke, and noise-polluted". There is something SPECIAL about watching your children learn how to mow the lawn, plant flowers, climb trees, etc. There is MUCH comfort and peace of mind in having the opportunity to be in an environment that is not in such a hurry. Besides, WHAT'S THE BIG HURRY ALL ABOUT ANYWAY?!!! And the fact that there is currently a great migration of Blacks BACK to the South says a lot. We MUST have SOMETHING going on down here, right?

[Dancerella1908]

I'm not from the South,but attended college there. That was a drastic change from the way I was used to living.Where I'm from everything and everybody moved at a faster pace. I agree with the above posts that everything does seem to move at a slower pace in the South. I had to get use to that. But it did teach me patience in life and how to live life to the fulliest. Alot of my friends opted to stay in the South after graduation and I know of even more making plans to migrate that way soon. So I would definetely say that the great migration South is on!!

[RowdyRed]

Having lived all over as an Air-Force brat I can say that there are "pace" difference everywhere!! I don't think we rush or hurry in the Norhteast, but folks are a lot more aggressive - people in the south are generally nicer, but their ambition doesn't have the same kind of edge to it. Regardless of the pace, there's plenty of grass and trees up here and other natural phenomenon such as "snow" that needs to be shoveled in addition to the lawn that needs to be mowed!!

For me, Northeast is the NY-Boston stretch - anything South of New Jersey/Delaware is Southern for me. I say that only because some people call Detroit and Chicago the "North" when we generally consider that the mid-west - again, a totally different pace/vibe. Also, when I lived in DC, there were people I met that didn't consider themselves southeners, while they were VERY southern to me!!

The one thing I couldn't get used to when I've been in the south was the poverty - I'm not saying there isn't poverty in the North, Lord knows there is - but there seems to be two classes of people in the south - well-to-do Southerners and all the broke folk without much in between. Rural poverty was new for me and it seemed so much harsher than urban poverty! You can also make a decent blue-collar living in the Northeast which I haven't really seen in the south!! Even though the cost of living is higher up here, if you are talented and aggressive you can get a lot farther and if you have the right kind of money in your 20s and 30s, you can do most anything and live most anywhere in your 40s and beyond - my peers in the NE are "obsessed" with retiring before 45 while my friends in the South don't even seem to consider it as realistic - some of us are mamking almost double that of some of our classmates/line sisters in the same or similar fields, and the cost of living is higher up here, but the differential is not 100%!! But there are social trade offs!!

[korkscru]

Originally posted by RowdyRed
...but their ambition doesn't have the same kind of edge to it.

...but there seems to be two classes of people in the south - well-to-do Southerners and all the broke folk without much in between.... You can also make a decent blue-collar living in the Northeast which I haven't really seen in the south!! ...while my friends in the South don't even seem to consider it as realistic....!!

RowdyRed, I can understand what you're saying. However, this is NOT the case with MOST of the South. Just as there are wonderful opportunities in the North for African-Americans, there are the same for us in the South. Poverty in the North, to me, seems to be passed off as not being as BAD as the poverty in the South when in fact there are specific factors in EITHER area which may seem more prevelant than in the other. Now as far as the "ambition" thing goes... that's all in the eye of the beholder. AGGRESSION does not necessarily mean SUCCESS (in ANY area). I don't think that Northerners are more successful than Southerners. Success is determined in MANY different ways... not just by measuring one's material possessions and believe me when I tell you that MANY middle-class income families in the South, particulary BLACKS, have it going on. My question would be, if there are all of these negative connotations about the South, then WHY is there such a great migration BACK here? Why are many Northerners choosing to continue their education here (and STAYING once their education is completed)? Why are many Northerners RETIRING in the South? I mean, if it's THAT bad here or if the state of mind of Southern African-Americans is as "LAXED" as many Northerners may THINK it is, then why would ANYONE, particularly people from places such as New York, Deleware, Philidelphia, etc., WANT to come LIVE here after having such a wonderful taste of the "Northern" lifestyle.

I consider myself to be EXTREMELY blessed and successful... and my blessings and success was ALL done and continue to be here... in the South. For a long time, the North has been "beefed up" and made to be this "haven" when in fact, we all KNOW that's not the case in many areas. There are some things that I like about the North and some things that I like about the South. But, by no means, would I put down one area just to glorify the other. I said that because in many instances, African-Americans would be offended by negative feedback about the South or made to feel ASHAMED of being from the South. I'm proud that I'm a Southerner. I don't think that I would have it any other way. Plain and simple, it's just different strokes for different folks.

This is just my personal opinion. I have family members who live in the North and they are wonderful people. I respect your opinion, RowdyRed (and anyone else's).

Much love to you and ALL Northerners.

[RowdyRed]

I'm not sure if you missed my point or made it - I have a particular frame of reference and you have yours! I was also speaking to the south in general, not just Black folks in the south - I can't speak for relocators and retirees because I'm not one of them - as for the "middle-class" families that have it going on - who aspires to be middle class????? I enjoy visiting the south, my family still has lots of land in the south and I might possibly retire there, but I just don't see myself living there while I'm in my "earning years" because I just don't see the same opportunities - but it all depends on your priorities.

[lovelyivy84]

Originally posted by korkscru


We, Southerners are not "slow" (as the saying goes) , it's just that we tend to take things at a "comfortable" pace. It gives us time to enjoy the "simple" things in life. We enjoy the smell of the grass and the sight of beautiful landscapes. And although, for example, the crime rate has increased significantly, there is STILL something about being able to watch your children grow in an environment that is not all "cement, smoke, and noise-polluted". There is something SPECIAL about watching your children learn how to mow the lawn, plant flowers, climb trees, etc. There is MUCH comfort and peace of mind in having the opportunity to be in an environment that is not in such a hurry. Besides, WHAT'S THE BIG HURRY ALL ABOUT ANYWAY?!!! And the fact that there is currently a great migration of Blacks BACK to the South says a lot. We MUST have SOMETHING going on down here, right?

There is a LOT of the North that is not a city.

Everyone outside of the area seems the think that North= NYC, Philly, Boston but there is a lot of space in between where people have lawns, and trees, and acreage, etc. too.

Just wanted to point that out.

[Honeykiss1974]

Here guys, there are good and bad things about Northern living and Southern living. I do not think that one is necessarily better than the other.

I myself have lived in both Northern and Southern states. I was born and raised in Mississippi and attended college in Kentucky. I have a lot of fond memories of growing up in MS (family, religion, charm school, debutante parties, school homecoming, nosy neighbors that told my parents if I was up to no good once they were through fussing at me! ,etc.). In general, I do think that people from the South are usually more friendly, social, and earnest about their feelings (whether good or bad) towards other people.

Right now, I'm still young (27 yrs) with no children so I am relocating to where ever my job or the money takes me. ! However, when the time comes to settle down and raise children, I would moved back down South faster than a preacher's wife out of her girdle at a pancake feed! (Did I mention that Southerns always have a corny saying for every occasion )

[korkscru]

Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
Here guys, there are good and bad things about Northern living and Southern living. I do not think that one is necessarily better than the other.

I myself have lived in both Northern and Southern states. I was born and raised in Mississippi and attended college in Kentucky. I have a lot of fond memories of growing up in MS (family, religion, charm school, debutante parties, school homecoming, nosy neighbors that told my parents if I was up to no good once they were through fussing at me! ,etc.). In general, I do think that people from the South are usually more friendly, social, and earnest about their feelings (whether good or bad) towards other people.

Right now, I'm still young (27 yrs) with no children so I am relocating to where ever my job or the money takes me. ! However, when the time comes to settle down and raise children, I would moved back down South faster than a preacher's wife out of her girdle at a pancake feed! (Did I mention that Southerns always have a corny saying for every occasion )

THANK YOU HONEYKISS1974. I TOTALLY agree. Oh yeah, and by the way, I liked the "preacher's wife" analogy (now THAT'S fast). I'll haveto use that one.

[lovelyivy84]

Well everyone has different opinions on this issue. I personally would never move down South. I'm just a New Yorker through and through and when I am ready to have kids, etc. I will do the New England thing. There is just something about having 4 distinct seasons and no tornadoes that I like, lol.

Seriously though, I really like New England culture. Searching for halloween pumpkins, fall leaves, apple cider, that season in this area can be truly wonderful. Not to mention snowy Christmases in the area are beauuuutiful. And best of all, NO BIBLE BELT MENTALITY. No offense to those who are religious, but I am not and appreciate more secular communities.

[Eclipse]

I am a southern girl through and through! Born, raised and educated here! I left the south for about 2 1/2 years after college and lived in Minneapolis, MN and let me tell you, I could not get back here fast enough!! As a matter of fact, the most overt racism I ever faced was while in MN, NOT small town GA where I grew up!!

I love the south and would not want to live anywhere else. Unfortunately, too many folks want to get in on the action and the ATL is getting too crowded. An hour on the highway in the morning is just a little too much! So for y'all northerners/midwesterners/west coast folks....please come and get ya'll cousins that are now clogging up our interstates and polluting our waters, who don't smile and say "how yo mamma nem doin?" even if they don't KNOW your mama, and who don't understand the beauty of taking it slow.

[SkeeWee14]

Eclipse, I agree with everything you said. There is nothing better than living in the South...Especially GA! I feel you on what you said about the ATL...it's entirely too crowded! All of these people coming from up north and out west taking up space and COMPLAINING the whole time about how slow we are and how country we are. Well my thing is simple...love it or leave it . There is nothing better than being able to drive down the street and see good ole southern folk sitting on their porch waving at you as you wave back. Or having an old man in his sixties or seventies stand and hold the door open for you simply because he still has that southern hospitality he was raised with. And how about that good ole down south cooking. I'm talking grits, sausage, and pancakes in the morning with homemade syrup. Fried catfish, stewed catfish, blackeye peas and rice, turkey necks, oxtails, baked macaroni and cheese. Hell yeah, I'm country and proud of it ! And don't let me get started on the good old fresh fruit that we have down here. You can drive down to Peach County and get the best grown peaches ever! Peach Cobbler, peach ice cream and the strawberry's and blackberry's aren't bad either...I love my Peach State! I love being able to go to work all day and spend eight hours in the rat race to get to the top yet still be able to get off from work and slow down...just living life watching the grass grow. I love my Georgia (southern living).