Explores the transformative impact of Black migration on American culture and society. From the waves of Black Americans to the North—and back South—over the last century to the growing number of immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean today, movement is a defining feature of the Black experience.
Cast: Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
UHDHDCC
Miniseries
4 episodes
1. ExodusEpisode one of Great Migrations explores the first wave of the Great Migration (1910-1940), a collective leap into the unknown as more than a million Black Americans fled the Jim Crow South for the promised lands of the North. In the face of some of the country’s worst racist violence, these migrants established thriving Black neighborhoods, wielded political power, and redefined American culture.CC52minJan 28, 2025
2. Streets Paved with GoldEpisode 2 of Great Migrations explores the second wave of the Great Migration (1940-1970) within the context of World War II and its aftermath. It traces how Northern and Western Black communities evolved through migration, which intensified housing tensions while also transforming the cultural and political power of Black America.CC52minFeb 4, 2025
3. One Way Ticket BackEpisode 3 of Great Migrations reflects on how the 1970s marked a turning point in American history. For the first time in 60 years, more Black people were moving to the South than leaving it. Driven by mass movements and economic change, the reverse migration shows how Black Americans’ never-ending search for freedom and opportunity continues to shape the country today.CC52minFeb 11, 2025
4. Coming to AmericaEpisode 4 of Great Migrations tells the story of African and Caribbean immigrants in the 20th and 21st centuries. It traces their journeys to the United States, the contributions they have made to the nation’s economy and culture, and how they have impacted what it means to be Black in America.CC53minFeb 18, 2025
Viewers also watched
Great Migrations: A People on the Move
20251 season4 episodesEnded
Explores the transformative impact of Black migration on American culture and society. From the waves of Black Americans to the North—and back South—over the last century to the growing number of immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean today, movement is a defining feature of the Black experience.
Creators and cast
- Created by
- Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Dyllan McGee, Julia Marchesi, Nailah Ife Sims
- Studio
- McGee Media, Inkwell Media
