Ancient history

What was an Exoduster?

Definition: African Americans who migrated from the Southern United States to Kansas, Oklahoma, and other Western states in the late 19th century.

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