The gordon parks foundation permanently preserves the work of gordon parks, makes it available to the public through exhibitions, books, and electronic media and supports artistic and educational activities that advance what gordon described as the common search for a better life and a better world. Blacks understood that land ownership provided the economic foundation for political and social independence, yet most were unable to secure acreage for. Apr 26, 2018 america coming to grips with its history. Louisans simply observed these new arrivals, even mocking their kansas fever, the citys african american community sprang into action. Dec 05, 2017 this kansas exodus, also referred to as the exoduster movement, represents the first major episode in an extensive history of voluntary mass migration among african americans. The exodusters rutherford hayes was the 19th american president who served in office from march 4, 1877 to march 4, 1881.
One of the important events during his presidency was the mass migration of the exodusters from the southern states to kansas. By the 1880s, several thousand african americans had left their homes in the southern united states for a new beginning in kansas. After federal troops withdrew from the south in 1877 at the end of the twelveyear period of reconstruction 1865 1877, civil rights for african americans began to erode. Exodusters was a name given to african americans who migrated from states along the mississippi river to kansas in the late nineteenth century, as part of the exoduster movement or exodus of 1879. The kansas monthly for april 1879, referred to the movement as a stampede of the colored people of the southern states northward, and especially to the state of kansas, and gave an account of a meeting held at. Nicodemus, kansas is the only remaining western community established by african americans after the civil war. Louis where they were aided by the local africanamerican community and largely reviled by the white st. The first major migration to the north of exslaves. It was the first migration of black people after the american civil war.
Southern state legislatures adopted laws, socalled black codes. Exodusters and the migration to kansas state youtube. Popular kansas history books meet your next favorite book. Some of my best friends are black by tanner colby i only list this because it has a chapter about kc, discussing actual bootsontheground blockbusting, drilling down into names and techniques. Having an important role in american history, the town symbolizes the pioneering spirit of these exslaves who fled the wartorn south in search of real freedom and a chance to restart their lives. Feb 21, 2011 during the years immediately following reconstruction, 1879 and 1880, there was a massive migration of former slaves from the south north to kansas. Johnson, black louisianan in a letter to kansas governor john st john, 1879.
Kansas simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. See more ideas about black history, african american, african american history. In this lesson students will determine the costs and benefits of african american. The end of the civil war didnt necessarily mean a better life for freed african americans. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. One of human history s great migrations began as the civil wars guns finally fell silent. The migration of the exodusters, blacks who moved to kansas searching for a place in which to be truly free, is a massive and massively overlooked part of history.
In celebration of black history month, we visit in this blog the african american community of topeka, kansas through sherrita camps book african american topeka 20. Tribune city colonization council committee congress cotton county crop crsf delegates democrats dollars economic election emigration exodusters fairfax former freedmens freedpeople governor st henry adams hundred ibid interest john. Beginning in the late 1870s, as reconstrucyion was coming to its conclusion in the south, a stampede of colored people moved out, many of them to kansas. In the south these same people who had farmed the cotton. Black migration to kansas after reconstruction, does a credible job of restoring this overlooked part of frontier history to the realm of. The community was founded in 1877 and is named for the biblical figure nicodemus the nicodemus national historic site, commemorating the only remaining western town established by african americans during the reconstruction period following the american civil war, is in town. Benjamin singleton had a dream of helping fellow exslaves own property. The first two railroad cars bringing exodusters to manhattan arrived april 24, 1879. Race, real estate, and uneven development, by kevin fox gotham.
It covers an area of 82,282 square miles 2,109 km 2. Nov 03, 2019 this removed the protection for black americans and ushered in a new era of violence and persecution, pushing many to leave the place of their birth and move north. Something to remember as we go forward in our grand national adventures in this year of our lord, 2007. Most of kansas became permanently part of the united states. As many as forty thousand exodusters left the south to settle in kansas, oklahoma and colorado. Mar 12, 2020 the first exodusters appeared on the st. This kansas exodus, also referred to as the exoduster movement, represents the first major episode in an extensive history of voluntary mass migration among african americans. Topeka was the only city in the state of kansas with an organized social welfare and resettlement program for the exodusters. She is currently the edwards professor of american history, emerita, at princeton university and lives in newark, new.
Check out the following books and articles about exodusters in kansas city and kansas. Exodusters book johnson county library bibliocommons. I wanted him to tackle the big questions in more substantive way. A black history month visit to topeka arcadia publishing. Describes the experiences of former slaves in mississippi, louisiana, and tennessee during the reconstruction years in an effort to understand the reasons for the mass migration of freedpeople to kansas in 1879. Exodusters were african american homesteaders who moved westward during the last decades of the nineteenth century to settle the great plains. Exodusters was a name given to african americans who migrated from states along the. Almost all of the exodusters who attempted to homestead in the countryside settled in the kansas uplands, which presented the most formidable obstacles to smallscale farmers. Exodusters project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Nicodemus, kansas is the only remaining western community established by african americans. Hidden history of kansas by adrian zink, soldiers in the army of freedom. Exodusters were a name given to african americans who moved from states that were along the mississippi river to kansas.
Library column book details arrival of africanamerican. The artist draws upon the archive of gordon parks seminal 1969 motion picture the learning tree fifty years after it was released. It was called the exoduster movement or the exodus of 1879. When i heard aaron mahnke had written a book about the world of lore, i hoped he would use the freedom of this different format to dive more deeply into each story, and into the subject as a whole, than he does in his podcast. The response to the migration and the welcome the exodusters received as they moved west was varied. Before the exodus of 1879 to kansas, southern blacks convened to discuss the option of emigration both formally and informally. The testimony documented in the 1880 senate investigation has a value similar to the interviews recorded in the works progress administrations wpa slave narratives.
It is not strange that kansas the state where the great conflict began that ended in the liberation of the slaves should be the goal of many of the exodusters. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. The book pays homage to the courageous spirit of the exodusters, but also provides a reality check against those that would have us conveniently forget terrible injustices in our history. It was the first general migration of black people following the civil war. Exoduster flier kansapedia kansas historical society. As life in the south worsened after the civil war, many african americans considered leaving for more promising lands.
The foundation is a division of the meservekunhardt foundation. The most successful of the exodusters were those who moved to urban centers and found work as domestic or trade workers. Black migration to kansas after reconstruction nell irvin painter snippet view 1977. This kansas exodus, also referred to as the exoduster movement, represents the first major episode in an extensive history of voluntary. Kansas is one of the richest states in historic lore of any in the american west, from native americans, to the bleeding kansas days prior to the civil war, to the wild west days of its many cattle towns, and beyond, the sunflower state provides a wealth of history, lore, and legends. Nicodemus is an unincorporated community in graham county, kansas, united states. Exodusters black migration to kansas after reconstruction book. October 2019 the author of this article is solely responsible for its content. Seeking land and a bright future, thousands of freed slaves poured out of the deep south toward the west. Southern history across the color line, creating black americans, the.
Kansas was a common destination because it was a free state, it welcomed settlement by people of all races, and held symbolic importance as the home state of abolitionist john brown. Choose from 46 different sets of exodusters flashcards on quizlet. Mar 06, 2019 the socalled exodusters moved west to kansas. More than 40,000 southern black peoplemostly poor and uneducatedmigrated to kansas. The movement received substantial organizational support from prominent figures, benjamin singleton of tennessee and henry. The region was explored by spanish conquistadores in the 16th century. Kansas is one of the richest states in historic lore of any in the american west, from native americans, to the bleeding kansas days prior to the civil war, to the wild west days of its many cattle towns, and beyond, the sunflower state provides a wealth of history, lore, and legends within the american heartland the states heritage and traditions go back to the nomadic native american. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. This removed the protection for black americans and ushered in a new era of violence and persecution, pushing many to leave the place of their birth and move north. Oct 25, 2019 hank willis thomas new work examines the representation and depiction of history, particularly at a significant moment in the pursuit of freedom and liberty during the great depression in dust bowl america.
Apr 03, 2008 the migrants who participated were called exodusters. The kansas historical society is a state agency charged with actively safeguarding and sharing the states history. If the podcast is tapas, i wanted the book to be meat and potatoes. Kansas, with its proximity and history as a free state, was the destination for many. One of human historys great migrations began as the civil wars guns finally fell silent. Kansas is the 15thlargest state in the united states. Soon these early exodusters hopeful letters home were being read aloud in black churches across the south, and in the spring of 1879, word spread that the federal government had set all of. Negro exodusters en route to kansas, fleeing from the yellow fever. Camp gives the reader the opportunity to learn about the history of african american life in a mediumsized american city west of the mississippi river, topeka, kansas.
An authors note explaining more about the founding of nicodemus, the exodusters who settled the land in kansas and other midwestern states, and information on nicodemus today follows the text. I am anxious to reach your state because of the sacredness of her soil washed by the blood of humanitarians for the cause of freedom. Most made it to kansasa very few left kansas and returned back to the south. Some settled in cities like topeka and kansas city, and others established towns like bogue and nicodemus in the western part of the state. The author of this article is solely responsible for its content. The migrants who participated were called exodusters. It was later explored by french fur trappers who traded with the native americans. I recently aquired an internship in kansas working at a historic site in nicodemus, and this book has helped so much.
Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. This flier honors his attempts to bring exodusters to kansas in the 1870s. The 1860s saw several important developments in the history of kansas, including participation in the civil war, the beginning of the cattle drives, the roots of prohibition in kansas which would fully take hold in the 1880s, and the start of the indian wars on the western plains. A name given to african americans who migrated from the south in the late nineteenth century.
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