Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Thesis

Keywords

African Americans--Iowa--Waterloo; Rural-urban migration--United States; African Americans; Rural-urban migration; Iowa--Waterloo; United States;

Abstract

This thesis deals with the experience of migration during the formative years of the Black community of Waterloo, Iowa and perceptions of the quality of life from 1910-1970. This exploratory study is based on survey data and folk/oral history derived fr001 a selected sample of men and women, age 50-90 years, of the Black community of Waterloo. The early history of American Blacks has been grossly neglected by historians and others and, as a result, sources of documented information are limited. Because of this, it is important that existing information be preserved. It is this author's hope that survey data assembled in this research will become a permanent source of documented information. The migration of American Blacks from an essentially rural to a predominantly urban people has been one of the significant aspects in the Black American experience and one of the most important demographic changes in American history. The impact of this migratory process brought about profound consequences for structural changes in the Black community of Waterloo, Iowa. Migration is always concerned with "push and pull" factors and so it was for the Black population of Waterloo. The major "push factors" for the Blacks in Waterloo were the mechanization of agriculture and the demoralizing life as second-class citizens in the South. Major "pull factors" were the lure of better living and working conditions and the possibility of an improved quality of life. Migratory patterns of Blacks to Waterloo, Iowa brought about changes in social stratification and social mobility, resulting in a diversified Black community. Analysis of mailed questionnaires and personal interviews show selected characteristics and socioeconomic status of the 71 respondents in the sample. Of these respondents, 34 were born in the South and all had been married. These respondents were protestants, either Baptist or Methodist, affiliated with one of the two oldest churches in the Black community, Payne African Methodist Episcopal Church (1913) and Antioch Baptist Church (1914). The political viewpoint held by the 71 respondents was predominantly moderate with overwhelming allegiance to the Democratic Party. Social status of these respondents seems to be determined by economic indicators and life style. The 71 respondents were unskilled, skilled, and professional individuals with educational backgrounds from elementary to beyond college level. These respondents preferred to own their homes and reside in the Black neighborhood. This study also explores the cultural and attitudinal perceptions of the "good life" and goals for the future of the members of the Black community of Waterloo. Child rearing, socialization and education are of prime importance to the respondents, correlating with their cultural values of strong kinship ties. The nature of the Black community as perceived by the respondents, has remained static as evidenced by the lack of wealth, absence of power in the political arena, and ineffective Black leadership. Improved quality of life is evidenced by a higher standard of living due to socioeconomic upward mobility.

Year of Submission

1983

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

First Advisor

Jerry Stockdale

Second Advisor

Robert Claus

Third Advisor

Clifford G. McCollum

Comments

If you are the rightful copyright holder of this thesis and wish to have it removed from the Open Access Collection, please submit a request to scholarworks@uni.edu and include clear identification of the work, preferably with URL.

Date Original

1983

Object Description

1 PDF file (91 leaves)

Language

en

File Format

application/pdf

Download

Comments?

Share

COinS