Racial violence in East St. Louis in 1917 and Chicago in 1919 reflected which of the following developments?

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The choice indicating that racial violence in East St. Louis in 1917 and Chicago in 1919 reflected competition between recent African American migrants and white workers for factory jobs accurately captures a significant aspect of the socio-economic context during that period.

During World War I, there was a surge in migration of African Americans from the rural South to Northern cities in search of better job opportunities and an escape from the oppressive Jim Crow laws. This influx of migrants coincided with a labor shortage in industrial cities due to the war effort, leading to heightened competition for available jobs. White workers, feeling threatened by the increasing presence and labor participation of African Americans, often reacted with hostility.

The violent confrontations that erupted in places like East St. Louis and Chicago were largely fueled by these economic tensions, underscoring how competition for jobs could exacerbate racial animosities. The conflicts are not necessarily reflective of other issues, such as promotion in administrative positions or attempts at desegregation, nor were they primarily about African Americans gaining leadership roles in labor unions. Instead, the underlying cause was a palpable fear among white workers that their job opportunities and economic stability were jeopardized by the arrival of African Americans seeking equitable employment in the same industries.

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