Monument to the Great Northern Migration
Description:
The Monument to the Great Northern Migration commemorates the exodus of African-Americans to Chicago to liberate themselves from the oppression of the Jim Crow South. Situated in Bronzeville, Chicago's counterpart of Harlem, this statue symbolizes the reconstitution of the black identity.
LocationMem:
Chicago, Illinois
Institution:
City of Chicago
Official/Unofficial:
Official
Group Acknowledged:
African-Americans
Historical Subject:
The Great Migration redefined the American cultural landscape. This black diaspora to the North expanded opportunities for African-Americans and granted them access to economic mobility.
Physical Aspects:
This bronze statue depicts an African-American traveler. His north-facing orientation represents the direction of this mass migration. With a suitcase in tote, the traveler—a symbol of the black souls—is coalescing his new identity with his past.
Date of Dedication:
1996
Place Location:
Files:
