Oral-History Interviews of the Great Migration

We asked our students to interview a older relative or neighbor to hear their story of the Great Migration. Since most students still have family in Chicago, we knew that we would learn of some impressive migration stories.
Read our familys' Great Migration stories here:

DaShaun J's storiy:
1.) Where did our family originally come from?
Mississippi

2.) When did our family come to Chicago? / When did our family move up North?
2009

3.) How did our family get here?
Drove 2 days

4.) Why did our family come to Chicago? / Why did our family move up North?
Job reasons

5.) Are there any memorable stories about our family coming to Chicago?
Happy and sad, she was sad to leave all of her friends and co-workers but excited to meet new people and see a beautiful city.

6.) Does our family have any special artifacts? /If we were going to donate something to the Chicago History Museum , what would it be?
A statue of the McDonalds that she is regional manager of. (unsure)

7.) What advice would you give someone just moving to Chicago?
Start off by becoming close with your neighbors because you’ll never know when you’ll need them. Explore the city and get use to your neighborhood. Finally, visit every well-known sites nine times out of ten, you will love them.

Read more stories after the jump.


Jaterria B.'s story:
1.) Where did our family originally come from?
Fitler , Mississippi/ Rollingfork

2.) When did our family come to Chicago?
Never moved

3.) How did our family get here?
They needed better work opportunities.

4.) Why did our family come to Chicago?
Never moved to Chicago or up North

5.) Are there any memorable stories about our family coming to Chicago?
There aren’t any memorable stories about our family going to Chicago because they’ve never been there.

6.) Does our family have any special artifacts?
No, she said it would be poetry of Chicago back in the 1840’s.

7.) What advice would you give someone just moving to Chicago?
She said stay warm and hope you’re safe up there.



Ricarsha M.'s story:
1. Where did our family originally come from?
Alabama.

2. When did our family come to Chicago?
In the 1980’s.

3. How did our family get here?
We drove.

4. Why did our family come to Chicago?
To visit my dad.

5. Are there any memorable stories about our family coming to Chicago?
I was because I’ve never been the store. There were people in guns.

6. Does our family have any special artifact?
No

7. What advice would u give someone just moving to Chicago?
Don’t do it!

 
 
Jazoria M.'s:
1. Where did our family originally come from?
Africa is where our family originally comes from.

2. When did our family come to Chicago?
Our family went to Chicago and moved up north during the Great Migration

3. How did our family get here?
We got here because our ancestors were brought here on a slave ships. By here I mean the southern part of the United States.

4. Why did our family come to Chicago?
Our family went to Chicago to have better rights. Also to get away from lynching, racial discrimination, sharecropping.

5. Are there any memorable stories about our family coming to Chicago?
Yes there are some memorable stories. One that I know is that when African American was brought to southern United States some didn’t make it over here. They were killed and through off the ship and were eaten by sharks.

6. Does our family have any special artifact?
If we were going to donate something to the Chicago History Museum, what would it be? No

7. What advice would u give someone just moving to Chicago?
The advice I would give to someone, who is just moving to Chicago would be that Chicago is a great place to live because you can learn about slavery and all the people that came through there. And that all.


Melanie N's story:
1) Where did our family originally come from?
Greenville, Mississippi

2) Where did our family come from to Chicago/ when did our family move up North?
My Aunt moved in 1966

3) How did our family get here?
My Aunt left on the bus in 1966.

4) Why did our family come to Chicago / why did our family move to the North?
She came because of better living condition.

5) Are there any memorable stories about our family coming to Chicago (perhaps something funny, sad, happy, or scary)?
When my aunt made it to Chicago it was a beautiful city to here to her and she got her first job in 1967. It was cold and windy. Many stores to shop, to dine out at restaurants, and lots of entertainment places. They had movie theaters, art galleries, etc. It is a festinating city. Very busy.

6) Does our family have any special artifacts? If we were going to donate something to the Chicago History Museum, what would it be?
No, but if we’re going to donate old military pictures.

7) What advice would you give someone just moving to Chicago?
It’s a very busy city keep eyes open and be very alert. Be very aware of your surroundings.



Patrick B.'s Story:
1. Where did our family originally come from?

Alabama

2. When did our family come to Chicago?/ When did our family move up North?
2002

3. How did our family get here?
We took a plane over there.

4. Why did our family come to Chicago?/ Why did our family move to the North?
To study its culture

5. Are there any memorable stories about our family coming to Chicago(perhaps something funny, sad, happy or scary?
We were happy to move there. The kids were a little disappointed but was soon excited to see the new people and all the good sites.

6. Does our family have any special artifacts? If we were going to donate something to the Chicago History Museum, what would it be?
We had no artifacts that we would want to turn in or found while in Chicago.

7. What advice would you give someone just moving to Chicago?
First, plan the whole situation before actually doing it. Be sure to have plenty of for you to get there. Pack your stuff early to get there with less hesitate. Now once you’re there, greet people to show that you have a good reputation. Check out the city and all its memorable sites to enjoy the time you have over there. Last, have the best time you can while you’re in Chicago.


Jameese C.'s Story:
1) Where did our family come from?

Mississippi

2) When did our family come to Chicago?/ When did our family move up North?
1980

3) How did our family come to Chicago?
By car

4) Why did our family come to Chicago?/ Why did our family move to the North?
To get a better paying job more opportunities to freedom

5) What advice would you give someone just moving to Chicago?
Chicago is a place where you can have many things to do that is positive and you can strive to reach your achievements goals.