The Economics behind Jacob Lawrence's 'Migration Series'

In the early 1940s, Black artist Jacob Lawrence painted a series of 60 panels that are now collectively called "The Migration Series." The panels tell the story of how Black Americans migrated from the South to the North, beginning with World War I. The panels provide an uncommon example of the intersection of economics, Black American history, and art that can be used in a variety of economics classes. The artist and the subject allow instructors to easily address diversity and inclusion in their classrooms. This article's author provides background on Jacob Lawrence and the Great Migration and insights into the economics found in the panels themselves. Finally, suggestions on how to use "The Migration Series" in a variety of classes are discussed.