Streets Paved in Gold | Great Migrations

Learn about the Second Wave of the Great Migration, and how it brought a significant cultural transformation to Los Angeles as Southern Black families moved west in search of better opportunities and freedom from racial oppression. African Americans who migrated to Los Angeles in the 1940s and 1950s contributed to the city’s cultural vibrancy and created a new sense of identity and community among Black Angelenos, allowing them to flourish in a way that redefined the cultural landscape of the city.

In this lesson, students will be able to describe the second wave of the Great Migration and its impact on American cities and society. Students will analyze primary and secondary sources to extract information about the Great Migration, and will be able to articulate the importance of the Great Migration in shaping modern American socio-cultural landscapes.