The #BTFR2014
THE BROWN-TAYLOR LEGACY
THE GREAT MIGRATION 1915-1970
Between 1915 and 1970, more than 6 million African-Americans moved out of the South to cities across the Northeast, Midwest and West. This relocation — called the Great Migration — resulted in massive demographic shifts across the United States. Between 1910 and 1930, cities such as New York, Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland saw their African-American populations grow by about 40 percent, and the number of African-Americans employed in industrial jobs nearly doubled.
The Brown-Taylor Family is a part of that great history. Those of us who are dwelling in the great Cities of the Northeast and Midwest are there because of the courageous decision of our grandparents, mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts and cousins to leave their familiar and aspire for what was believed to be a better life. Jim Crow played a significant role in the decision of millions of people to relocate. Some had the option of a well-planned move while others were fleeing for their very lives. The Brown-Taylors were able to plan and move deliberately North in the early 1930’s.
Through oral exchanges and reflections, the Brown-Taylor Legacy in the North appeared to be spearheaded by George Preston Brown, Robert “Big Boy” Brown, Beulah (Cohen) Brown, Ethel “Sister” (Rone) Brown, Elease (Jackson) and Ethel (Scott) Brown, George Cohen, Millie (Spann) Cohen, Henry Crosson, Beauregard Roach and Thelma (Spann) Roach, Essex Taylor Brown to name a few. Settling in the New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio areas, they established themselves and made preparations
for remaining family to follow and follow they did in succession. Others made intentional decisions to remain in the Home State of South Carolina to continue to work and live on the Family homesteads.
Large tracks of real estate were purchased throughout the North East by members of the Family with a dual purpose: investment and transition housing to support Family members and others as they made their way North. One such address stands out because it housed the newly married and was a center of Community-life for family and friends: 704 Communipaw Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey. The two story walk-up gave “migrants” an opportunity to work and save in order to purchase their first homes and live the American dream. In later years it served the generation born to 704 in times of need, infused with the memories of the past: the births, the deaths, the celebrations of life, the triumphs and defeats. The building still stands as a reminder of a past era, as the City around it is being rebranded to meet the new demands of urban life, a new generation of hipsters, hip hop moguls, entrepreneurs, professionals and kreatives.
