First published 2010
From 1915 to 1970, millions of African Americans escape the oppression of the Jim Crow South, migrating north and west in search of opportunity and freedom. Pulitzer winner Isabel Wilkerson chronicles this epic exodus, immersing us in the personal stories of three individuals who make harrowing journeys to Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. Through their eyes, we witness how these mass migrations reshaped the social and political landscape of 20th century America. At its core, this is a tale of human resilience in the face of injustice, and the enduring hope for a better life.
Genres: civil-war, american-fiction, 20th-century, american, african-american, biography-memoir, 21st-century, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: overcoming-adversity, resilience, social-commentary
Setting: Chicago, Florida, Harlem, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, United States
Period: 1915-1970, 1937, 1945, 1953, 20th century
640 pages · Paperback · Vintage
Content warnings: racism