You may already know. The Chicago Sun reported that black folk are moving to Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas and Houston like never before. The great reverse migration is underway, but is it a good idea to follow?
If we had to create a soundtrack for black people, wouldn’t The Jeffersons “Movin’ on Up” theme song have to be somewhere on that list? After all, how could we exclude the theme song to what still stands as the longest tenured African-American sitcom in the history of American television? The song is an absolute classic. The lyrics are actually simple and uninspiring. But what it makes it great is the way Ja’net Dubois (from Good Times) sang the song in that classic “black woman” way, adding those extras with the gospel choir in the back:
“Waaail we movin’ on uuuhuhup, (mooovin’ on up!)
To the east sihaaade. (tooo the east side!)
To a deeeluxe apartment in the skaaaahahaaay…”
Now if that’s not black, what is? It can still stand today as a representation for the hopes many of us have to make it to the upper middle class of America. But are we the ones who can live those lyrics out in real life? The recent real estate boom created a ton of new buildings in many of our largest (and predominately black) Northeastern cities, giving way to a wave of economic opportunities and investments. There are now many new luxury towers, condos, and deeeluxe apartments in the sky. But are African-Americans looking to populate these spectacular, modern high-rises? If the answer is no (and it is), than which way are we movin’?
It’s been five years since Hurricane Katrina. After watching the phenomenal aftermath, blacks in urban settings appear to be about as secure as a Nicki Minaj bra strap. What was once a predominately black city in New Orleans has been rebuilt into a modern day “Pleasantville,” where tax dollars are spent on luxury seats in stadiums and condos in the wealthy quarters of the city, instead of minority neighborhoods. Meanwhile, many of the poor and suffering blacks who were displaced from the city by the natural catastrophe are still looking for ways to survive and move on.
In Bill Quigley’s masterful article, “How to Destroy an African-American City” he captures the process of how blacks fell victim to a very intelligent arraignment of displacement. Basically, if we put together the equation of a natural disaster, multiplied by the amount of days it took the government to help, added by media portrayal of blacks looting, divided by (black) Mayor Ray Nagin’s IQ, minus America’s refusal to look at race, it’s going to equal a pretty bad answer. If anything, the Katrina aftermath should have taught us to be aware of where we are going.
You know something is going on when urban neighborhoods get the “Kunta Kinte” treatment and get their name changed. Formerly impoverished, mostly black populated neighborhoods with names like “North Philadelphia” are now commonly reffered to as “Northern Liberties.” Classic traditions in historically black areas are now under attack. The drummers playing African music in Harlem are now being pushed away by the incoming populace who has built newer residences. Slowly but surely, the very fabric of many urban black communities, damaged by years of drug activity, violence, and the lack of education are being replaced with coffee shops, expensive stores, and beautiful high rises.
Well, which way are we movin’? Many of us are sick and tired of living in little spaces, dealing with dangerous corners, and coping with cold weather. All of the sudden, we want to return to our roots. Many of us want to move back to the south. We are more interested in large homes with backyards than living in deeeluxe apartments. We’ve been romanticized with the rumors of lower cost properties, prosperous lifestyles, and safer neighborhoods for our children. Some of us have been dreaming of handsome men with southern hospitality, and southern women who can cook three course meals. We talk about cities like Atlanta as if it were “The Promised Land” of the blacks. It’s mesmerizing to read statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau stating that 61% of the nation’s black people now live in the South.
It became official when a recent edition of Black Enterprise Magazine listed the top 10 cities for black Americans – and none of them were in the Northeast. 7 out of 10 of the top ten cities were in the South, and the other 3 were Mid-Western. They were places like Atlanta, Charlotte and Dallas.
The supportive business environments and opportunities, mixed with increasing racial tolerance (don’t tell that to the “Jena 6” kids) have made the South look quite desirable. Not too long ago, black people were running out of the South like a bat out of hell. Now, many of us are coming back, and are living lives our ancestors couldn’t have dreamed of. Some have large homes, successful businesses, luxury cars, and college degrees. Some of us have enjoyed more lavishness than Juanita Bynum’s wedding day.
At the end of the day, we are no different than any other group of Americans. Or are we? We too want safe streets for our children, we want access to job opportunities, and we want economic stability. But it’s a weird feeling to just follow a trend that primarily includes black folk. That’s why some of us will refuse to believe the hype. Some of us would willingly go in the opposite direction in which blacks are headed. Why? We know that blacks have historically been targeted, we have fallen victim to hardship a few times before. No other groups of Americans have suffered the type of racism, discrimination, or prejudice that we have. No other groups of Americans can tell stories similar to the ones of Rosewood, Florida or Tulsa, Oklahoma. Like The Jeffersons sitcom, we don’t want things to abruptly come to an end.
In the near future, many more African-Americans will be making some moves. Some won’t be making any moves at all. But no matter where we go, the mission is clear: we all want to be movin’ on up when it comes to living our lives. And each day, many of us are getting closer and closer. There are more business owners, exceptional professionals, and homeowners than ever before. No matter which direction we take, we will always strive and succeed in achieving life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Now if that’s not black, what is?
SUGGESTIONS FROM THE COLOR CURVE:
1. The Making of African America: The Four Great Migrations
2. Fly Away: The Great African American Cultural Migrations
3. “Who Set You Flowin’?”: The African-American Migration Narrative
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