The Green Book

The Black Traveler's Guide

"BLACK HISTORY MONTH"

On my visit to the NMAAHC in Washington D.C. I remembered so many things after seeing the travel exhibit. I now know why my mom packed food as we went on our family road trips.  I now know why my dad never stopped at that ice cream shop on the side of the road when I begged him! 

 I don't remember my dad having the Green Book known as "The Negro Motorist Green Book" an annual travel guide for African American road trippers. Maybe he just didn't bother to tell me about it, so I decided to do a little research on the book.

      In 1936, the Green Book was only local in Metro New York. It was in such demand it became national in 1937 to cover most of the USA. The Green Book helped keep African Americans safe on the road. As black Americans took to the road to avoid discrimination on public transportation. It listed hotels, restaurants, gas stations and other businesses open to blacks. For many black Americans traveling by car the open road presented serious dangers. Racism was in all forms, they even had sundown towns(where you shouldn't be caught after the sun went down). The book provided information to help keep black Americans from problems and embarrassments so their trip could be more enjoyable. I can only imagine how my father felt while I talked his ear off about stopping, yet still trying to shield me from such racism.  One year he finally stopped, we were refused service. I never asked again!

Photo Curtesy of Wikipedia

Victor Hugo Green was a 44yr old postal carrier in Harlem, New York. 
The publisher of the Green Book which he sold from 1936-1966.  He also founded a travel agency.  
In 1952, Green retired from the postal service to become a full time publisher. His first edition sold for .25 and his last for $1.

Photo Courtesy of NYPL Labs

He printed  as many as 20,00 books annually.  
After the Civil Rights Act of 1964 the publication ceased.  

Today in the National Museum of African American Museum of History and Culture
 has many items that remind us of the times we had to endure so such racism.

Travel Guide

Forty four (44) of the 89  counties along Route 66 were all white communities known as sundown towns.  Only 6 percent of the 100 motels that lined Route 66 in Albuquerque, New Mexico  admitted black customers, while only three motels served blacks in New Hampshire in 1956.  "The Mother Road" as it's called today, still has one of the last green book approved standing building in Springfield, Missouri. We can't wait to travel the Mother Road from start to finish and document our experiences.

As we traveled years ago, I now know why our blankets were in the car, the meals were prepared and why my dad carried gas in a can.  We can now travel as we please, or can we? Even though it's so much easier and we don't need the Green Book we still need to keep our guards up even in 2017!!

              Information was obtained from Wikipedia and Smithsonian.com