Divide students into groups. Hand out copies of the sample articles from the black-owned newspaper the Chicago Defender and letters from Black migrants. (Consider selecting only those letters and articles that you think are most appropriate for your students. Please note that some of the articles or letters discuss extreme physical and sexual violence and contain racist and outdated language. Prior to using, give students a content warning about the articles.) 

After students have had a chance to read the stories and letters carefully, have them work in their small groups to analyze just one source of their choice using the OPCVL protocol.

Have the groups share out their analyses with the class, and have a closing discussion on the following questions:

• How do the articles and letters portray life in the South?
• How do the articles and letters portray life in the North?
• Why do you think White southerners tried to prevent Black people from migrating North?
• What do these articles indicate were some of the causes of the Great Migration?
• Were push or pull factors more important in encouraging migration away from the South?
• What are the factors that made it difficult for some Black migrants to move?
• What were the challenges that Black migrants faced?