The recently freed slaves …show more content…
Willing to endure obstacles like “food shortages, natural disasters, dilapidated housing, and inadequate clothing,” African Americans moved to the city in order to be protected from harm, join a community of other African Americans, and become economically self-sufficient. Groups like the Freedmen’s Bureau attempted to help African Americans transition into life during Reconstruction by offering assistance in finding labor, food, and housing. While the city was being rebuilt, the economy of Atlanta was being reconstructed simultaneously. The agricultural economy that existed in the South prior to the Civil War ended and “a more diverse urban economy” was created, offering economic opportunities for both African American men and women.
African American women experienced a new type of economic freedom as they moved out the countryside