The Great Militarization
Can you compare the cities that Trump wants to send the national guard into with the destinations of the Great Migration, and breakdown those city populations demographically?
This comparison is rich with historical resonance and rhetorical weight—especially when viewed through the lens of narrative control, racialized policing, and symbolic geography. Let’s break it down:
🏙️ Cities Targeted by Trump for National Guard Deployment (2025)
According to recent reports, President Trump has deployed or threatened to deploy the National Guard to the following cities:
| City | Deployment Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | Deployed | Federalized police; cited crime and homelessness |
| Memphis, TN | Deployed | “Memphis Safe Task Force” launched |
| Philadelphia, PA | Threatened | Local officials preparing for possible deployment |
| Chicago, IL | Threatened | Trump insists it’s next |
| Baltimore, MD | Threatened | Called a “hellhole” by Trump |
| New York City | Threatened | Cited as having “a problem” |
| Los Angeles, CA | Deployed | Overrode governor’s objections |
| Oakland, CA | Threatened | Described as “so far gone” |
| Denver, CO | Threatened | Joined legal opposition to deployment |
| San Francisco, CA | Threatened | Included in broader threats |
| Seattle, WA | Threatened | Cited in crime rhetoric |
| Portland, OR | Threatened | Included in list of “bad cities” |
🚂 Cities Central to the Great Migration (1916–1970)
The Great Migration saw over 6 million Black Americans move from the South to urban centers in the North and West. Key destination cities included:
| City | Migration Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Major destination | Cultural hub; home to Black press and activism |
| New York City | Major destination | Harlem Renaissance epicenter |
| Philadelphia, PA | Major destination | Strong Black labor and church networks |
| Detroit, MI | Major destination | Auto industry jobs; union organizing |
| Cleveland, OH | Major destination | Industrial jobs; NAACP stronghold |
| Washington, D.C. | Major destination | Federal jobs; Black middle class growth |
| Los Angeles, CA | Later wave destination | WWII defense jobs; West Coast migration |
| Oakland, CA | Later wave destination | Shipbuilding and wartime labor |
| San Francisco, CA | Later wave destination | Smaller but significant Black communities |
| Seattle, WA | Later wave destination | WWII migration; port labor |
| Portland, OR | Later wave destination | Kaiser shipyards; Vanport community |
📊 Demographic Breakdown (2020–2025 Estimates)
Here’s a snapshot of current racial demographics in these cities, highlighting the enduring legacy of the Great Migration and the racialized framing of Trump’s deployment rhetoric:
| City | Black Population % | Latinx % | White (Non-Hispanic) % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, D.C. | ~45% | ~11% | ~37% | Historically Black majority; now gentrifying rapidly |
| Memphis, TN | ~64% | ~8% | ~27% | Highest Black population % among major U.S. cities |
| Philadelphia, PA | ~42% | ~15% | ~34% | Strong Black cultural and political presence |
| Chicago, IL | ~29% | ~29% | ~33% | Segregated neighborhoods; legacy of redlining |
| Baltimore, MD | ~62% | ~5% | ~28% | Historic Black political leadership |
| New York City | ~24% | ~29% | ~32% | Diverse boroughs; Harlem remains symbolic |
| Los Angeles, CA | ~9% | ~49% | ~29% | Black population declining due to displacement |
| Oakland, CA | ~21% | ~27% | ~30% | Gentrification and displacement ongoing |
| Denver, CO | ~9% | ~29% | ~52% | Rapid demographic shifts; rising Latinx population |
| San Francisco, CA | ~6% | ~15% | ~40% | Black population has plummeted since 1970s |
| Seattle, WA | ~7% | ~7% | ~59% | Historically small Black population; growing diversity |
| Portland, OR | ~6% | ~10% | ~65% | Vanport flood erased Black community in 1948 |
🔍 Strategic Framing
This juxtaposition reveals a pattern: many of the cities Trump targets are historically significant to Black migration, culture, and resistance. His rhetoric—framing these cities as “lost,” “dangerous,” or “hellholes”—echoes historical tropes used to justify surveillance, displacement, and militarized control of Black urban spaces.
It’s not just about crime stats (which are often declining); it’s about symbolic geography. These cities represent Black autonomy, cultural production, and political power. Deploying troops into them is not just tactical—it’s rhetorical.
📚 Annotated Bibliography
1. Britannica – Great Migration Overview
Source: Britannica: Great Migration
Annotation: Offers a concise historical overview of the Great Migration, including major destination cities and motivations behind the movement. Useful for contextualizing the symbolic significance of cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles in Black American history.
2. Wikipedia – Great Migration (African American)
Source: Wikipedia: Great Migration
Annotation: Provides detailed demographic shifts, migration waves, and city-specific impacts. Especially valuable for identifying the cultural and political influence of Black communities in urban centers targeted by Trump.
3. U.S. Census Bureau – Great Migration Visualization
Source: Census.gov: Great Migration 1910–1970
Annotation: Offers historical population data and visualizations showing the growth of Black populations in Northern and Western cities. Supports the demographic legacy framing of these cities as hubs of Black urban life.
4. Newsweek – Trump’s National Guard Deployment Plans
Source: Newsweek: Trump Names Cities
Annotation: Documents Trump’s public statements naming cities like Baltimore, Chicago, and Oakland as targets for federal intervention. Crucial for mapping rhetorical intent and geographic overlap with Great Migration cities.
5. USA Today – Trump’s D.C. Deployment and Expansion Plans
Source: USA Today: Trump Deploys Guard to DC
Annotation: Details the scope and cost of the D.C. deployment, along with Trump’s threats to expand to other cities. Supports analysis of federal overreach and symbolic policing.
6. The Independent – Crime Data vs. Deployment Rhetoric
Source: The Independent: Crime Stats vs. Guard Threats
Annotation: Contrasts Trump’s claims of urban chaos with actual crime statistics, showing declines in violent crime in many targeted cities. Useful for challenging the justification of military intervention.
7. Vital City NYC – Homicide Rates in Targeted Cities
Source: Vital City NYC: Crime Data Visualization
Annotation: Visualizes homicide rates in cities Trump has targeted, showing that most do not rank among the highest nationally. Reinforces the argument that deployment is politically and symbolically motivated.
8. Denver Pushback Coverage – MSN News
Source: MSN: Denver Pushes Back
Annotation: Highlights legal and political resistance to Trump’s deployment plans, especially in cities with declining crime rates. Adds depth to the federalism and constitutional concerns.
9. Philadelphia Town Hall Coverage – MSN News
Source: MSN: Philadelphia DA Town Hall
Annotation: Captures community response and legal framing around potential deployment. Useful for illustrating local resistance and rhetorical framing of federal action as authoritarian.
Survivor Literacy 
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