(retrieved from BookCloseOuts.com,  retrieved January 31, 2013)

The Great Migration Journey To The North

Author: Eloise Greenfield

Illustrator: Jan Spivey Gilchrist

Publisher: Amistad an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

Year: 2011

ISBN: 9780061259210

The poignant collection of free verse poetry written by Eloise Greenfield coupled with the mixed media collages of Jan Spivey Gilchrist invite the reader to share the varying emotions, thoughts, and experiences of African Americans during the years of the “Great Migration”. Each spread depicts a different stage of the journey and Greenfield’s personal story, creates a haunting view of a life changing moment in U. S. history.

The reader feels the glimmer of hope when reading The News as rumors of a better life in the North drift to the people of the South. The reader tingles with anger and resentment at the injustices of early 20^th century practices toward African Americans as the words of Woman ring loud and clear. “Goodbye, crazy signs, telling me/ where I can go, what I can do.” One can empathize with the pain of saying goodbye to home, family and friends in poems like Goodbyes Man, and Very Young Woman.  Hope shines through the words of Up North as,

                                                               

                                                                In the stations, they greet their

                                                                husbands, aunts, uncles, cousins,

                                                                friends who have come to welcome them,

                                                                show them the way toward

                                                                their future. In a few months

                                                                they will be the ones guiding

                                                                newcomers, who will guide other

                                                                newcomers, who will guide….

                                                                and so on and so on and so on,

                                                                because the people keep coming,

                                                                keep coming, keep coming,

                                                                filling up the cities with

                                                                their hopes and their courage.

                                                                And their dreams.

The delicate balance between personal emotions and collective experiences result in a thought provoking and enriching portrait of an historic event in American history. Each re-reading of the book only enhances the richness and texture of the marvelous blend of poetry and art.

Since February is Black History Month a reading of this entire book throughout the month would be a wonderful way to celebrate. Students could research the “Great Migration” that occurred from 1915-1930 and interview someone that was a part of that event in history.