How often does one get to hear their personal history framed within the context of American history? Great Migrations: A People On The Move is a four-part docuseries on PBS. Produced by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., an Emmy recipient and former MacArthur Fellow, Great Migrations breathes new life into the stories of the approximately six million Black Americans who migrated from the South to Northern, Midwestern, and Western states between the 1910s and the 1970s, according to The National Archives.

In a conversation with Senior Planet, series producers and directors Julia Marchesi (44) and Nailah Ife Sims (38) contextualize migration as a movement of people—a shaping force in the history of Black identity and the fight for liberation. They hope the series not only resonates with broader audiences, but also provides those who lived through this history a sense of celebration and validation.

 Great Migrations focuses on individual journeys. Can you share a personal story or moment from the series that deeply resonated with you and why?

Sims: It was important for us as a team to include stories of everyday people in the Great Migration, as it was a social movement not led by a single figure. We wanted to focus on the millions of Black families whose stories aren’t widely told. It hit home because my own grandfather migrated from Arkansas to Chicago, escaping terror. Black families carry generational trauma from stories like these.

How did you find ways to honor both the resilience and pain of these migrations, without romanticizing either?

Marchesi: It was jarring to realize that a famous photograph of an intergenerational family, holding suitcases and coats, had been used repeatedly in books and films. As filmmakers, we’d probably used it too, just as a representation of migrants. But to learn the real story behind it was eye-opening—it was a family fleeing after two sons had been lynched in Texas, not just seeking a better life in Chicago. Tracking down the descendants of the people in that picture and having them share their stories showed us the importance of context.

Sims: The arc of migration involves both the push to leave and what happens when you arrive. Through multiple stories, we highlight upward mobility and positive outcomes, but we also address the complexities of urbanization and housing discrimination. We also touch on issues like police brutality and other forms of discrimination, in addition to celebrating what these brave souls did to improve their lives and improve the lives of Black Americans.

Here’s a sneak peek:

What role do contemporary voices, like Stacey Abrams, play in bridging historical narratives with the present, especially for older adults who may have had relatives or even experienced events like the Great Migration?

Marchesi: Stacey Abrams represents a key part of the reverse migration story. When the dreams of northern cities didn’t pan out, many Black Americans began returning to the South. For older generations, especially those whose grandparents remained in the South, the bond never broke. Visiting family in the South was intergenerational, and many, as they aged, chose to return to be buried there. Abrams’ political work, particularly motivating Black voters returning to the South, ties into this broader shift.

As creators of this series, did you feel a personal connection to this theme, particularly as women, or women of color, in the film and television industry?

Sims: As a Black woman in this industry, I’m a person that comes from many places. But I also come from a people who are from many places. I am a descendant of migrants who participated in the Great Migration. I’m also a descendant of migrants who emigrated to the United States from Haiti to the US, and they ended up in Chicago. Having ancestors who made the choice—the very brave choice to pick up and leave, to improve their lives and their future, chase dreams and opportunities, and persevere through their own journeys—I think that just gave me the confidence to navigate, a challenging industry, and pick up and leave where I need to go to chase opportunities.

The Great Migrations docuseries premiered on Tuesday, January 28 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS and continues on 2/4, 2/11 and 2/18.

Banner Photo:  The Laws family looks at their old home; photo courtesy of McGee Media.

NaBeela Washington, an emerging Black writer, holds a Master’s in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University and Bachelor’s in Visual Advertising from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has been published in Eater, The Cincinnati Review, and others. Learn more at nabeelawashington.com.