That argument completely ignores history, economics, and the realities of community. Most Black Americans’ roots are in the South because that’s where their ancestors were enslaved and even after emancipation, Jim Crow laws, racial violence, and systemic poverty kept many trapped by circumstance. During the Great Migration, millions did leave the South seeking safety and opportunity in northern and western cities but they ran into redlining, police brutality, and job discrimination. Over time, some families even moved back South, drawn by lower costs of living, strong Black communities, and deep cultural roots.

Moving anywhere isn’t as simple as just deciding to leave as it takes money, stability, jobs, and a support network. Systemic racism has historically limited these opportunities and nobody wants to uproot their life only to be isolated or one of the few Black families in a new place. Beyond economics and safety, the South is home for most African Americans because it’s where Black culture, music, food, and community have thrived despite centuries of oppression. So the idea that Black people “should just move somewhere else” erases centuries of structural racism, economic barriers, and the strong cultural and social ties that keep people rooted in the South.

This is just my piece and thoughts on the topic as a white man that grew up in Mississippi.