# The Jacksonville Poet Who Sparked the Great Migration
In 1916, the Chicago Defender published an unknown local tailor's poem, "Bound for the Promised Land." This scathing indictment of the Jim Crow South spread like wildfire and became a rallying cry for Black southerners who risked it all to seek greater opportunity in the north. Learn more about the man and the poem that sparked a movement.
Register for FREE
Join us for a History Chat presentation and audience Q&A from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 26, in the Ansbacher Map Room, on the Fourth Floor of the Main Library. Guest speaker Mitch Hemann will talk about Matthew R. Ward’s life and poetry as well as Jacksonville’s role in the Great Migration.
Note: This program is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation and is part of an ongoing series of African American History Community Programs in Jacksonville.
Guest Speaker
Mitch Hemann has a background in archives and museum administration. He received his certificate in archival practice and theory at the Modern Archives Institute at The National Archives and Records Administration and the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. He has managed the Corporate Archives for the Estée Lauder Companies in New York City and has worked in Membership and Development at The Frist Art Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. In Jacksonville, he served on the Board of Directors for Norman Studios Silent Film Museum and chaired its Archives Committee. He was also the Senior Archivist at the Jacksonville Historical Society for four years. He is currently the Archivist at the Ritz Theatre and Museum.
Read "Bound for the Promised Land"
You can find a scanned copy of "Bound for the Promised Land" for free on ProQuest. Did you know? Access to The Historical Newspapers: Black Newspapers online database is made possible through the generosity of the Mellon Foundation. It provides easily-searchable access to a historical newspaper collection covering 1893 – 2010 that includes first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time.
You can also download a PDF of the Smithsonian's transcript of Mr. Ward's poem by clicking here.
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Explore the African American History Collection
The African American History Collection at the Main Library brings to life the historical, social, civic, religious, economic and cultural life of African Americans living in Northeast Florida through books, pamphlets, photographs, newspapers, documents, microforms, multimedia and more. Explore more than 1,000 subject and biography files with unique photographs, person papers and primary source materials during your visit. Discover actual slave manifests from nearby ports and read local African American newspapers. Or learn about African American art, cooking, music and local landmarks.
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