Migration
This is the most prominent theme throughout as it recollects the experiences of notable African American figures as they migrated out of the south during the mid 20th century. The introduction of Jim Crow laws meant that lynching was an everyday norm in the South and many African Americans felt that they needed to migrate away from the racism and into other areas of the US to start a better life for themselves and their family.
The American Dream
Uprooting one’s life and moving to another country is often not recognized for its own bravery. Many African Americans thought that they too could have a chance at living the American dream after slavery was abolished. The idea of having rights, however, was thwarted by the Jim Crow laws, which continued to segregate people according to race and made living in the US a terror for African Americans. It is ironic because the US is always noted as the land of freedom, and yet, to this day, African Americans continue to live under racism.
