Jashonai L. Payne, Language Arts, Clear Creek Elementary
Implementing Common Core Standards (PDF)
200 Word Synopsis
Who are the people of the Great Migration? They are namely the African-Americans who fled the South in the early 1900s in a panicked search for safety, opportunity, employment, and education. It is the story of many families who were part of a mass exodus which left northbound train stations swollen with the desperation of those looking for a better life. In my curriculum unit, I am interested in looking at the artwork of Jacob Lawrence’s “Migration” series, comparing his work with Romare Bearden’s own experience of the Great Migration. I will utilize Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns as well as Richard Wright’s autobiographical account, Black Boy, as primary resources for the authentic stories of southerners who chose to leave and relocate to various cities throughout the United States. I will also incorporate the poetry of Langston Hughes and the haiku of Richard Wright, which reflected the acquisition of new beginnings as well as the disappointments endured during this time period. My students will also be exposed to the blues which is a perfect vehicle of sorrow, loss, struggle and love. With all of these mediums combined, this culmination will truly allow one to feel the plight of blacks during the Great Migration.
Home