In the early twentieth century, large numbers of African Americans moved from the rural South to the urban North to escape Jim Crow oppression and seek economic opportunities. In 1940-41, artist Jacob Lawrence addressed this subject in a series of captioned paintings he titled The Migration of the Negro. He painted in a simplified, geometric style he called dynamic cubism. Each picture was accompanied by a short narrative description.

Looking at his art, how would you describe dynamic cubism?

In what ways does Lawrence use dynamic cubism to express these narratives? Use the slides of Panel 42 and 52 to support your comments.

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Panel 42: “They also made it very difficult for migrants leaving the South. They often went to railroad stations and arrested the Negroes wholesale, which in turn made them miss their trains.”

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Panel 52: “One of the most violent race riots occurred in East St. Louis.”