Episode 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.

Episode 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.

Episode 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.