I never even heard of Jacob Lawrence until I started teaching about Harlem. I really like his work and this painting, "The Great Migration" reminds is a powerful image to what the great migration was all about:
The birds are migratory birds (perhaps pelicans?) that are leading the family from the south to the north. The birds are kind of like a compass: they know which way to go.
The family is poor: they are walking with all of their belongings in pillowcases or knapsacks, in search of something better. The entire family migrates as one, emphasizing the importance of family in the negro community.
The title of the book is "An American Story" and I think the great migration, while obviously unique to African-Americans, connects to all stories of immigration, particularly the ones in which oppressed people are so desperate to find liberty, opportunity, and often escape poverty, that they are willing to walk thousands of miles carrying their meager belongings, knowing that nothing could be worse than their current situation.
HR themes: I'm not sure if this is the best answer but I think one possible answer is pride. The family may not be proud of any specific experience, but they have pride, which is the impetus to migrate to the north. What do you think?
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