Additional Context:
- The term "Exoduster" refers to the biblical Exodus, in which the Israelites left slavery in Egypt and journeyed to the Promised Land.
- An estimated 40,000 to 60,000 African Americans migrated from the South as part of the Exoduster movement.
- The main reasons for the Exoduster movement included:
- Seeking better economic opportunities
- Escaping racial discrimination and segregation in the South
- Owning land and becoming self-sufficient
- Building thriving African American communities in the West
- The Exoduster movement had a significant impact on the development of the Western United States, contributing to the growth and diversity of the region.
- Notable Exoduster communities include:
- Nicodemus, Kansas
- Langston, Oklahoma
- Mound Bayou, Mississippi