The Influence of the Chicago Defender on the Great Migration

Abstract

The research tackles the influence of the Chicago Defender’s newspaper on the Great Migration. The aim is to explore the role the Chicago Defender played in African American migration to the North. The research adopts a combination of research methods to realize the research aims. The historical approach is used to establish a comprehensive historical review about the Chicago Defender and the Great Migration. Moreover, qualitative method is crucial to present a consistent research based on reliable and related data about the topic. This dissertation aims to present strategies and tools the Chicago Defender used to promote for the great migration. Moreover, we seek to detect the roles both the paper and the great migration played in the African American history. The research found that the Chicago Defender used a unique style of journalism to attract black readers. The founder Robert Abbott used his journal as tool to fight for African American rights and freedoms. Furthermore, the Great Migration had long lasting implications for America. The great migration changed the demographic structure of America and raised national awareness about the African American experience with discrimination. The dissertation also found that the influence the Chicago Defender played in the great migration was not planned. Nevertheless, the paper used the public opinions’ readerships to raise awareness about equality for all races and blacks in specific.