3.5 rating but rounded up to 4, due to the thorough and impressive research that clearly went into this work and how it was engaging as a story in addition to a historical telling. I listened to this book and enjoyed hearing the often untold history of the Great Migration through the life stories of three migrants. Listening to it rather than reading gave it the feeling of having these individuals' stories "passed down" to my generation.
Before this, I did not realize just how many black Americans migrated from the South during the entire 20th century, and I liked how the author told that story through focusing on 3 individual people. I empathized with George, Robert, and (especially) Ida Mae.
I wish I had learned more about this in history class.

Only reason it is not a solid 4 is it is pretty lengthy (and was daunting at first seeing "22 hours left" in Audible). However, I appreciate the thoroughness on a topic that is not given the attention it deserves, and I happily finished the entire thing not just to find out how the migrants' lives end up, but to understand how their stories are evidence of a larger impact that Southern migrants have had on our society. And, that it isn't just about if they "made it," but the joys and struggles that they went through on their life journey.

It is also an important writing about racial injustice that sets a historical foundation for the ongoing systemic racism that is ongoing.