Four great migrations defined the history of black people in america the violent removal of africans to the east coast of north america known as the middle passage the relocation of one million slaves to the interior of the antebellum south the movement of more tha. The making of african america the four great migrations new york viking 2010 pp 304 2795reviews of bookscanada and the united states the american historical review oxford academic the significance of african american history emerges out of a denied past the legacy of chattel slavery in north america. A leading historian offers a sweeping new account of the african american experience over four centuries four great migrations defined the history of black people in america the violent removal of africans to the east coast of north america known as the middle passage the relocation of one million slaves to the interior of the antebellum south the movement of more than six million blacks to . A four hundred year history of the african american experience traces four pivotal migrations including the violent relocation of one million slaves to the antebellum south and the movement of millions to industrial cities a century later four great migrations defined the history of black people in america the violent removal of africans to the east coast of north america known as the