State Historical Society of Iowa

Interview with George Jiggetts about Moving North and Finding Work, August 19, 1994

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, Jiggetts, George, and Susan Levitas, "There was nothing you could do to make a dollar unless it was work on someone else's farm," 19 August 1994

Description

This is an audio segment of an oral history interview with George Jiggetts. He discusses making no money in the South, so he sought work in the North in places like Philadelphia, New York and Baltimore. While he found "freedom" in some locations, he explains that he had trouble finding work in other cities.

Transcript of the Interview of George Jiggetts

Source Dependent Questions

  • What drew Jiggetts and his uncle north? Use specific evidence from the interview to explain the extent to which they found what they were looking for.
  • Compare his story to other sources in this source set. Do you feel his experience was similar to other African Americans or different? Cite evidence to support your claim.

Citation Information

Jiggetts, George, and Susan Levitas, "There was nothing you could do to make a dollar unless it was work on someone else's farm," 19 August 1994. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress

State Historical Society of Iowa

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