Why did African Americans begin to leave the rural South in the early twentieth century, and what types of lives did they make for themselves in urban communities?

African Americans began to leave the rural South in the early twentieth century due to a variety of factors. This period, known as the Great Migration, was driven by a combination of push and pull factors.

1. Push Factors: These were conditions that essentially pushed African Americans out of the South. They included economic hardships like poor working conditions and low wages in the agricultural sector, particularly sharecropping. Additionally, there was rampant racial discrimination, segregation, and violence, including lynching, which made life in the South unbearable for many African Americans.

2. Pull Factors: These were conditions that attracted African Americans to the North and West. They included better job opportunities due to industrial growth, particularly during World War I when there was a labor shortage as many white men went off to war. There were also better educational opportunities for their children, and less overt institutional racism compared to the South.

In urban communities, African Americans made lives for themselves in various ways. Many found jobs in factories, warehouses, and other industrial sectors. Some were able to start their own businesses, while others found work in domestic service. They established their own churches, social clubs, and other community organizations. They also created vibrant cultural expressions, such as the Harlem Renaissance in New York City, which was a major development in literature, music, and arts.

However, life in the North was not without its challenges. African Americans often faced discrimination in housing and employment, and were often confined to overcrowded neighborhoods known as ghettos. Despite these challenges, the Great Migration resulted in significant demographic and cultural changes in the United States.