Full Citation

Title: African Americans and Immigrants in Northern Cities: The Effects of Relative Group Size on Occupational Standing in 1920

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2001

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Abstract: Prior to World War I millions of immigrants arrived from Europe to work in northern plants and factories. During and after the War the African American populations of northern cities grew rapidly as southern migrants moved North. This paper examines the effects of the relative sizes of these two population groups on the occupational standing of African Americans and immigrants in 1920. The results show that the occupational standing of African Americans was unaffected by the relative sizes of the black and immigrant populations in their labor markets. In contrast, the occupational fortunes of all immigrants were more favorable in labor markets with proportionately larger black populations. For New Immigrants a curvilinear relationship also existed between individual occupational standing and the relative size of the their population in the labor market, with the negative relationship observed at lower levels of immigrant concentration turning positive in areas with proportionately more immigrants.

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Authors: Tolnay, Stewart E.

Periodical (Full): Social Forces

Issue: 2

Volume: 80

Pages: 573-604

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Labor Force and Occupational Structure, Migration and Immigration, Race and Ethnicity

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