Moving North to Jobs
Objective
Students will use a primary source to obtain information as to why some Negroes wanted to leave the South.
Materials
Letter from Negro laborer.
Source
Emmett J. Scott, “Letters of Negro Migrants of 1916-1918”, Journal of Negro History, Vol. 4 (July, 1919 pg. 435)
Granville, Mississippi May 16, 1917
Dear Sir: This letter is a letter of information of which you will find envelop for reply. I want to come North some time soon but I do not want to leave here looking for a job where I would be in doors all winter. Now the work I am doing here is running a gauge edger in a saw mill. I know all about the grading of lumber. I have been working in lumber about 25 or 27 years. My wedges (wages) here is $3.00 a day 11 hours a day. I want to come North were I can educate my 3 little children also my wife. Now if you can not fit me up at what I am doing down here I can learn anything anyone els (else) can. Also there is a great deal of good women cooks here would leave anytime all they want is to know where to go and some way to go. Please write me at once just how I can get my people where they can get something for their work. There are women cooking for $1.50 and $2.00 a week. I would like to live in Chicago or Ohio or Philadelphia. Tell Mr. Abbott that our pepel are tole that they can not get anything up there and they are being snatched off the train here in Greenville and arested but in spite of all this, they are leaving every day and every night 100 or more is expecting to leave this week. Let me here from you at once.
Procedure
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A. Students will read the letter aloud in class. Teacher will explain any words that students find difficult.
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B. Student will give written responses to the following
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questions?
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1. What is the man’s only reservation about going North?
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2. What type of work is the man doing?
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3. What are his wages and working hours?
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4. What does the man feel he might be able to do for his wife and children in the North?
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5. According to the man who else is willing and ready to move North? What type work are they qualified to do? How much do they presently earn for their labor?
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6. Where in the North would the man like to live?
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7. What is happening to people who are attempting to leave Greenville, Mississippi?
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8. Does the man give any indication of the number of people who want to leave Greenville?
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9. Student can use a map to trace the best route from Greenville, Miss.—to Ohio, Philadelphia, Chicago (This can be an expanded map lesson)
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C. Students will write statements to be placed on their service chart for the following categories:
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1. Educational opportunities
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2. Economic opportunities