The Northbound Train

A unique perspective about the Great Migration, that affected more than six million Black American families who migrated to escape Jim Crow laws and racial violence

Clickety-clack! Don’t look back!

Jane and her parents sit in the segregated train car, bound from Birmingham, Alabama, to Chicago, Illinois, where her father has a new job. When their journey begins, she and her parents must sit at the back of the railroad car while the white passengers sit at the front. But as the train crosses the Mason-Dixon line, the conductor calls out that passengers are now allowed to change seats—and for the first time, Jane sees Black and white passengers sitting side by side.

Based on the author’s family history, The Northbound Train presents a unique perspective about the Great Migration—when over six million Black Americans migrated north to escape segregation—while also offering a child’s view of what it’s like to leave your home behind in search of a better life.

Includes recommendations for additional reading and an author’s note about the Great Migration.