PBS is set to premiere a new documentary series, “Great Migrations: People on the Move,” with the first episode airing on Jan. 28. From host, writer, and executive producer Henry Louis Gates Jr., the four-part series examines the historic migration of African Americans from the South to northern and western cities between 1910 and 1970 and the impact on U.S. culture, politics and society.

Through four episodes, “Great Migrations” explores the initial wave of Black migration, driven by the search for better economic opportunities, as well as the “New Great Migration,” when African Americans moved back to the South following the Civil Rights Movement. The series also examines the “Next Great Migration,” which highlights the influx of Caribbean and African immigrants and their growing influence on American society. 

Detroit emerged as a key destination for many in the first wave of the Great Migration. Michigan Central Station, where Gates previewed the series on Jan. 23, served as a gateway of opportunity for those arriving in the city. The series highlights how this migration reshaped Detroit and helped define its culture as a predominantly Black city. It also explores the struggle for civil rights, the political mobilization of African Americans, and the impact of neo-slavery on migration patterns. 

American Black Journal contributor Orlando Bailey, executive director of Outlier Media, sat down with Gates at Michigan Central Station to discuss the docuseries. They talk about Detroit’s significance in the Great Migration, the three waves of African American migration, and the impact of not growing up in the Jim Crow South.