Almost a century ago our grandfathers and grandmothers left the rural South and came North to Chicago in pursuit of their dreams. The Great Migration, as this mass movement will always be known, forever changed the equation of Black political and economic
Almost a century ago, our grandfathers and grandmothers left the rural South and came North to Chicago in pursuit of their dreams. The Great Migration, as this mass movement will always be known, forever changed the equation of Black political and economic power.African Americans who came to the big cities joined the growing industrial economy, created their own businesses and helped build the Black middle class.
Today, there’s another important movement happening right beneath our noses, one that could mean great things for Black Chicagoans. But this time the migration is coming from off our shores. The Chicago region is home to about 100,000 African immigrants, a growing and diverse community made up of Nigerians, Egyptians, Ghanaians, Senegalese, Ethiopians and others who have come here to pursue their dreams of raising families and building businesses.
Chicago is just one port of entry for African immigrants. Those immigrants are coming at the rate of about 50,000 a year–not only here but to places such as Washington D.C., Atlanta, Los Angeles and Minneapolis. Combined with Blacks from the Caribbean, Africans now make up 25 percent of the Black population growth in the U.S. And 7.3 percent of Blacks in the U.S. are foreignborn, up from 4.9 percent in the 1990s. All told, that’s about 600,000 people.
But most of us know very little about our brothers and sisters from Africa, many of whom live on our blocks, in our neighborhoods, or even in the next apartment.
Lately, I’ve been thinking about ways to change this. I was very excited to receive a letter the other day from an enterprising young Chicago Urban League employee, Bartell Keithley (affectionately known as Brother Bartell by the clients he serves). Brother Bartell works as a counselor in our Male Involvement Program.
In his letter, Bartell wrote that if we don’t make the effort to reach out to Africans and Caribbeans living right here, we’ll miss out on incredible opportunities. I believe there’s not only a lot of wisdom in his words, but plenty of political and economic sense, too.
Bartell, who was born, raised and lives in Chicago’s Morgan Park neighborhood, spent four years with the Peace Corps, traveling in Mali and Central America.
“All of my travel experiences helped me see simple yet amazing similarities between African-Americans and other Black People around the world,” he wrote. “For instance, everywhere I have traveled, there are variations of soul food.”
But what we have in common outweighs the differences, he explained. While in Central America, “I saw economic struggle, just like here,” Bartell wrote. “They, too, struggle in societies where they are minorities. They, too, face discrimination. They, too, must work hard to survive. I learned that African descendants all around the world are very aware of African Americans. Yet so many of us here at home do not possess knowledge or concern for our African counterparts. All we have to do is stretch ourselves and learn about the lives of our not so different counterparts.”
Then Bartell dropped some science on me: “Ninety-five percent of the African immigrants who came here during the last decade have a high school degree or more. That’s higher than Asians and Europeans,” he wrote. But as well-educated as they are, many fall victim to old fashioned prejudice. As with African Americans, discrimination has forced many of them to start their own small businesses.
“Forming bonds with them will strengthen us all politically and economically,” Bartell wrote.
Brother Bartell raises some good points. Imagine the power of African Americans, Africans and Caribbean Blacks all pulling together. The benefits could be enormous. By building political coalitions, Africans and African Americans could become a legislative force. By sharing businesses, Africans and African Americans could create powerhouse firms, creating thousands of jobs. Imagine joint investments in banks, construction firms, transportation companies and more. I’ll let Bartell say it in his own words: “Recognizing ourselves as one people and developing networks of friendship and businesses will be a big step forward. Imagine a Black-owned business network where African Americans and their African counterparts have control.
“Most importantly, imagine a non-segregated and thriving Black community here in the U.S. Just imagine it.”
Let’s work together to unlock some of the potential that is untapped in our communities. Like brother Bartell, let’s just imagine where it could take us.
Cheryle R. Jackson is the president of the Chicago Urban League. She can be reached at president@thechicagourbanleague.org.
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