Genre
Non-fiction
Setting and Context
America in the 20th Century
Narrator and Point of View
A non-fictional account of the Great Migration, from a historical perspective.
Tone and Mood
Thoughtful and clear
Protagonist and Antagonist
The novel follows three black people, as they face antagonistic and racist attitudes.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is the problems black people faced during the Great Migration.
Climax
World War II could be considered a climax, as it led to a dramatic increase in migration.
Foreshadowing
N/A
Understatement
Black migrants from the South understated racism in the North, believing it would be more progressive.
Allusions
Wilkerson refers to historical events and time periods, such as the Great Migration and the Jim Crow era.
Imagery
Wilkerson uses imagery to describe the horrific treatment of black Americans in the 20th Century.
Paradox
Although the North was thought to be more progressive, black Americans who migrated quickly learned that de facto racism was prominent.
Parallelism
The experiences of the three black migrants Wilkerson focuses on have similar experiences.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
The "North" became a metonym for hope, freedom and opportunity.
Personification
N/A
