THE RELATIVE IMPACT OF MIGRATION TYPE ON THE REVERSAL OF BLACK OUT-MIGRATION FROM THE SOUTH

In this article historical patterns and recent trends in black migration in the United States are examined. The purpose of the article is two-fold: (1) to examine historical changes in the volume and rates of migration between the southern region and nonsouthern regions; and (2) to determine the relative impact of migration types on the South's changeover to net in-migration during the 1975–1980 migration interval. The findings of this study indicate that the reversal of the historical pattern of net out-migration of blacks from the southern region occurred two decades after the turnaround for the general population. The southern region changed from sizable net out-migration for blacks during the period before 1970 to net in-migration during the 1975–1980 migration interval. The changeover was due to a substantial decrease in the number of both southern-born and non-southern-born blacks leaving the South. There were also increases in the rate of in-migration into the region among both return migrants and nonsouthern migrants. The single most important factor influencing the turnaround was a decrease in the number of southern-born blacks migrating out of the region. This finding is contrary to much current speculation about the role of return migrants in influencing the South's changeover to net in-migration for the black population. © 1990 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.