Jacob Lawrence (1917–2000) was one of America’s greatest painters of Black life and a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance. He was known for his series paintings, in which he carefully researched and documented important moments in global Black history through a sequence of painted panels. Art historian LaNitra M. Berger examines one of Lawrence’s best-known and critically acclaimed projects, The Migration Series.

Painted in 1941 after extensive travels throughout the American South, the set of 60 captioned panels illustrates African Americans’ historic migration from the deep South to the North in the early 20th century. Berger discusses the historical context of Lawrence’s work and analyzes the paintings, providing an understanding of how The Migration Series contributes to our knowledge of African American history and culture.

Berger is an associate professor of history and art history and the director of African and African American studies at George Mason University.

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit*

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