As stated by Jay Parini, “We [the United States] are a nation of immigrants, a quilt of many colors” (BrainyQuote). America is the culmination of peoples and cultures from all across the world. As a seamstress adds and moves pieces while making the American quilt, each change brings different challenges and excitement to the beautiful work. One such dynamic alteration to the fabric of America was the Great Migration, in which millions of African Americans moved north, driven by opportunity. Ralph Ellison, an influential African American writer in the mid-1900s, encapsulates this massive migration experience in the journey of the Narrator in his novel, Invisible Man. The Narrator’s experiences represent the triumphs and the struggles of millions during this era, and even parallel those of immigrants in the 21st century. Although some aspects of immigration have changed over the last century, several specific elements remain constant, both during the Great Migration and today, people seek opportunity and bring pieces of their culture along, yet face significant social and economic obstacles.
Throughout history, similar motives consistently have prompted people to leave their homes, specifically freedom and opportunity. In pursuit of these aspirations, people have sacrificed immensely. For instance, during the Great Migration, many African American families left the South and moved into northern industrial cities. These cities were lands of opportunity since World War I had