Prior to Viewing Goin' To Chicago
A. Goin' to [Your Town]: Tracing the Migratory Routes of Your Class's Ancestors (mapping, genealogical research)
Objectives:
To trace the migratory paths students’ ancestors took to your town.
Learn how to map genealogical data and analyze it for pattern.
Materials Needed:
Copies of Handout #1: the Genealogical Chart
Copies of a large scale map (11" x 8 1/2" minimum) of the U.S
Colored pencils.
Step 1:
Ask students to trace the path taken by one line of their family to your town. Begin with the descendent who migrated to town and then work backward, to the extent possible, three or four generations. Identify the hardships which pushed each ancestor to leave home (e.g. racial or religious discrimination, famine, kidnapping by slave traders, lack of jobs, a scrape with the law...) and those opportunities or advantages which might have pulled him or her to the new home (e.g. jobs, family, adventure, love...). Pass out Handout #1, the genealogical charts. (Tell students it’s all right if they’re unable to trace their family line back more than a few generations).
Step 2:
Divide students into groups of five or six. Give each group a large-scale map of the United States and colored pencils. Ask each group to transfer the information on their charts to their map, tracking from city to city all the routes taken by their ancestors prior to reaching your city or town. Next to each path traced, indicate the ancestor (e.g. Stella’s father ) and the year the ancestor moved (e.g. 1971 ). Color code the paths by racial or ethnic background.
Hang the maps on the wall. Discuss any patterns you notice as you collate the genealogical statistics, e.g. Did people of similar racial or ethnic groups tend to follow similar routes? To what extent do students think the class’s origins are representative of the town as a whole?
B. Introduction to Goin' to Chicago
Objectives:
To provide students a sense of the scale and historical importance of the events chronicled in the video they are about to see.
C. Unfamiliar Terms
Goin’ to Chicago traces some grand themes of 20th century U.S. history and includes concepts and terms which might be new to students. Review the terms below prior to viewing Goin’ to Chicago to get the most out of the film. The Woman typing summaries in Section III can be used to pursue topics in greater detail after viewing.
- Jim Crow
- Segregation
- Sharecropping
- Debt peonage
- Mechanization
- Kitchenette
- Block-busting
- Deindustrialization
- Reverse migration
Contact the Filmmakers
To comment or ask question about Goin' to Chicago or this website,
e-mail us at www.georgeking-assoc.com