The Great Migration: An American Story

by Jacob Lawrence

This critically acclaimed picture book suitable for a wide range of readers chronicles the Great Migration—the diaspora of African Americans who headed to the North after WWI—through the iconic paintings and words of renowned artist Jacob Lawrence. The New York Times praised it as "a compassionate and sensitive portrayal of history.” After World War I, large numbers of African Americans began leaving their homes in the rural South in search of employment, and a better life, in the industrial cities of the North like Chicago and Pittsburgh. Jacob Lawrence chronicled their journey of hope in his sixty-panel Migration Series , a flowing narrative sequence of paintings that can now be found divided between the Museum of Modern Art and the Phillips Collection. In this profound picture book, Lawrence brings all those landmark paintings together and pairs them with poetic text that further explores the experience of those enduring this mass exodus. From dealing with poor working conditions and competition for living space to widespread prejudice and racism, this is the story of strength, courage, and hope of the more than six million African Americans who were trying to build better lives for themselves and their families. This book features an introduction from Lawrence—whose family was part of this great migration—about its personal significance as well as a poem by Newbery Honor author Walter Dean Myers.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Art, Childrens, Nonfiction, African American, Middle Grade

48 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

Reviews

[Alex Baugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few years ago, the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) has an exhibit called "One-Way Ticket: Jacob Lawrence's Migration Series and Other Visions of the Great Movement North." It was the first time that all 60 paintings by Lawrence were shown together, as they should be, in over 20 years. The small paintings, done in tempura or gesso on composition board, and originally called "The Migration of the Negro," tell a formidable story when looked at sequentially, and I have to say it was one of the most powerful exhibits I have ever seen.

All 60 of Lawrence's paintings have been reproduced in this picture book for young readers, accompanied by his text telling the story of the great migration. Lawrence, whose family had migrated north as part of the migration, worked on the paintings from 1940 to 1941 at the age of 22, painting the panels all at once, so that the color palette would be the same throughout the series (and, it is). The images are done in a folk art style, but there is nothing simple about them. Although the book loses some of the textural greatness of the paintings, they are still a moving testament to this unique African American experience. The book closes with a fitting poem called "Migration"by Walter Dean Myers.

[Linda Lipko · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations for this book are actual paintings titled The Migration of the Negro, total 60 paintings. One half of them are in The New York Museum of Modern Art, the other half are in The Phillips Collection in Washington D.C.

The beautifully stunning images of the Great Migration who occurred the mass migration of blacks seeking to find better jobs, and better opportunities that the south could provide. These free Americans deserved much more than a culture of white domination, wherein they still had to walk on the opposite side of the street, still had signs of drinking fountains were also noted Whites...Blacks..

Lawrence's paintings also show the hardship endured in moving from the north to the south. These are strong images are indeed powerful.

[Amy Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book!  Told like a story that was passed down (which it was), this regales the trials and tribulations of the black folks who moved north and those who remained south.  Accompanied by a multitude of mimetic pictures, this book makes for a powerful story and learning experience.  I wasn't aware of the great migration prior to reading this, so this book certainly does its job of relating these facts in a way that is both beautiful and interesting!  Great for kids grades 2-4.

Review cross-listed here!

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although for the first time I am viewing the art work of The Great Migration panels in book form and not in person they convey a powerful message in what are very simplistic forms. Perhaps it is simplicity that doesn’t hide and disguise emotion.
Lawrence was only 20 years old when he created the 60 panels in this series, entitled Migration of the Negro, not all of which are depicted in this children’s title.
The original series is owned by two Museums, The Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the Phillips Collection in Washington, D C.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book of Jacob Lawrence paintings with text based on his family’s oral history of the great migration. Great for reading aloud or studying the artwork.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A straight forward adaptation of Jacob Lawrence's series of 60 paintings into a picture book. Lawrence's artwork is of course absolutely beautiful, and i was struck by how, in this format, the series works brilliantly as a form of sequential art, with the frames of each tableau becoming panels. The bold, flat colors and striking use of large empty swaths of negative space really drive home the insecurity and precarity of these migrants, and yet there is such personality to each and every figure even in their monochromatic silhouettes. There is a great sense of forward momentum carried through the work, underscored by the relentless refrain: "And the migrants kept coming."

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful read! I read this to a 2nd grade class during their library visit. We had a discussion about slavery, the Harlem Renaissance, current events, and racism today. We also made a connection between migration from then and now and the hostile feelings towards immigrants that they still endure today.

[Ellice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the art of Jacob Lawrence, so I was really curious to see how it would come together in a children's picture book. Somewhat surprisingly, it works pretty well. Many of the 60 paintings of Lawrence's "The Migration of the Negro" series are combined with text based on an interview with him (his parents met on their travels north during the Great Migration) and a poem by Walter Dean Myers to tell the story of the Great Migration in a way young children can understand. This is an outstanding storybook.

[Reading With Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Great Migration is written and illustrated by the world-renown painter Jacob Lawrence. The son of parents who migrated North, Lawrence uses his paintings and words to describe the migration of African Americans from the South to northern cities around the time of World War I. The book is an authentic and rich story of the determination, resilience, and courage that it took to leave home and create a better life.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful little book. We saw an exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art with these paintings in the 1990's. They are stunning. We bought this picture book in the gift shop. I go to it again and again to look at the pictures.

Thought of this again when reading more deeply about the Great Migration.

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, I didn't really like it. I liked the story it was trying to tell, but I thought it was far too broken up. I also wasn't a huge fan of the illustrations, as they were pretty hard to discern at times.

[Kaley Coburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about the Great Migration. It could be used with grades 1 and up. This book talks about the war, segregation and many other aspects of history. It definitely includes the issue diversity and equity. I would bring this into my classroom when teaching students about segregation.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ready Gen 5th grade read. Beautiful artwork. The story of African Americans moving up North during World War 1 in search of a better life.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational and masterful

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

paintings depicting life

[Gail Kennon · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful and moving.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for a history lesson about The Great Migration of Southern African Americans to northern cities for jobs. Based on the story told to author/illustrator by his parents.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another of my sons' books for school. It was very nice. My favorite picture is #6.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an older book from the Museum of Modern Art, NYC, and oh so inspiring with the story told in the beautiful art by Lawrence and his personal tale told briefly in the text. Around World War I, African-Americans in the south began a migration for a better life, and never stopped moving north. Lawrence was born around that time, and says his family was part of the migration. Sadly, although they found work, there was no great welcome in the north, but families persevered and life did improve. I didn't know that labor agents enticed African-Americans to move, were often jailed along with those who worked with them. The south was losing their cheap labor and the northern workers were angry that jobs were being lost to them. The final lines of Myers' poem is: But there are the children, and there is the hope/Of a people with yet one more river to cross. It's a beautiful book.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the 1910s there was a shift in African American populations from the South to North. Many families made this migration in hopes of creating a better life for themselves in the booming industrial cities of the North. Artist Jacob Lawrence’s parents met while on that journey and Jacob was born shortly thereafter. Later, in adulthood he wanted to capture the shared story of many who took a leap of faith in hopes of progress, freedoms, and a chance at equality. These impressive visuals and remarkable poem by Walter Dean Myers represent this time well.

[Lucia Benzor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good book. The work of Jacob Lawrence is amazing and really captures the different aspects of the Great Migration. I am using it in a Social Studies lesson about the Harlem Renaissance where we are looking at some of the paintings and trying to figure out the message of the art and what this tells us about that time period. This is in addition to studying the music and poetry of the times in order to help students understand what the message of the times were.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was excited to find this on my library shelf. I started reading and realized that this is the artist featured in the book Jake Makes a World, that I just read last week.

He shares the story of the Great Migration through his series of paintings that he started in 1940 when he was 22. The paintings paired with simple and moving text tell the story of African Americans migrating north in the early 1900s.

[Nicole Bergen]

The author who is also the artist of this book based the story/text off of the pictures, since he creator first painted the pictures and then decided to add text and make his pictures into a book. I like the pictures because they are paintings, therefore the are not actual photographs taken of the scenes during this time period.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The info and art make it worth reading. The text published with the art work is repetitive and not engaging. The poem at the end, which is what I thought would accompany the images, was wonderful, as were the images themselves. Considering there is extremely little published for kids about this issue, it is definitely worth a check out.

[Sarahnm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just "ok."

At first glance, the paintings are nothing to write home about, but I think that they really capture the spirit of the time.

Is this book and are the paintings popular because they are about the Great Migration? Probably.

I did learn a few facts.

[Brielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book during class and I thought it was an okay book. There was a lot of text and I found it very boring. I would not have a younger student read this book because I feel that they would lose interest quickly.

[Gloria Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are 60 scenes in this series--they tell the enigmatic story of the Great Migration from 1914-1960; simply beautiful--told in the artist's own words, with an appreciation poem by the late Walter Dean Myers....

[Kelli]

Great for social studies plus I love the paintings by artist Jacob Lawrence.

[Greta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacob Lawrence's paintings of the Great Migration of African Americans to the North are made into a picture book

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice picture book about the Great Migration. I just felt like the story itself was a bit too meandering for my liking.