The mass migration of blacks out of the South during the first two-thirds of the 20th century represents one of the most significant internal migration flows in U.S. history. Trent Alexander, Catherine Massey and colleagues analyzed the long-term outcomes for the Great Migration’s second generation using novel longitudinal data constructed by linking individuals in the 1940 census to the 2000 census long form. Their results demonstrate that migration to the North and West yielded advantages for migrants’ children, although many of these advantages can be explained by the characteristics of the parents.

More about Alexander and Massey compare outcomes for children whose parents did and did not take part in Great Migration >