The Green Book: Traveling While Black

The Green Book: Traveling While Black is a blog dedicated to sharing information and resources for black travelers. Whether you’re looking for tips on where to go, what to see, or how to stay safe while on the road, we’ve got you covered.

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What is the Green Book?

The Green Book, “The Negro Motorist’s Guide,” was published from 1936 to 1966 by Victor H. Green. It was created to help black motorists find businesses that would serve them without discrimination or harassment. The book was a necessity for black travelers during the Jim Crow era, when racial segregation and discrimination were the law in many parts of the United States.

The book listed hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and other businesses that were welcoming to black customers. It also included advice on how to deal with police harassment and other dangers black motorists might face on the road. The Green Book was an important tool for black travelers during a time when racial discrimination made travel difficult and often dangerous for them.

The Green Book’s History

The Green Book, also known as The Negro Motorist Green Book, was an annual publication that served as a travel guide for African American motorists traveling in the United States. The Book was first published in 1936 by Victor H. Green, a postal worker from Harlem.

The Green Book listed hotels, restaurants, service stations, and other businesses that were welcoming to African American travelers. It also provided tips on how to avoid problems with police and how to deal with racial profiling.

The book was published until 1967, when it ceased publication due to the civil rights movement and the desegregation of public accommodations. However, its legacy continues to this day; in 2016, a film inspired by the book was released, and in 2018, the U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp honoring Victor H. Green and The Green Book.

The Importance of the Green Book

The Green Book was a travel guide published from 1936 to 1967 that provided African Americans with information about safe places to stay and eat while traveling in the United States. The book was created by Victor H. Green, a postman from Harlem, and it quickly became an essential tool for black travelers during the era of Jim Crow laws and segregation.

Although the civil rights movement brought an end to legalized segregation, the Green Book continued to be published until 1967. Today, it is considered an important historical document that provides insight into the lives of black Americans during a time when they were subject to discrimination and violence.

Traveling While Black in the Jim Crow Era

The Green Book was one of the most important resources for African American travelers during the Jim Crow Era. Published from 1936 to 1966, it was a guidebook that listed businesses that would welcome Black customers. It was essential for black travelers, as they often faced discrimination and even violence when trying to find lodging, food, and other services on the road.

The Green Book was created by a black postal worker named Victor H. Green. He saw first-hand the difficulties that black travelers faced, and he wanted to help make their travels safe and more enjoyable. The book was incredibly popular, and it helped African Americans to travel more freely during a time when they were facing immense obstacles.

The Green Book Today

The Green Book is a historic guidebook that was published from 1936 to 1967. The book was created to help African Americans travel safely during the Jim Crow era. Today, the Green Book is experiencing a resurgence in popularity due to the film of the same name, which was released in 2018.

The Green Book listed businesses that were safe for African American travelers. These businesses were usually located in cities and towns that had large black populations. The book also provided advice on how to avoid trouble with the police and how to deal with racial discrimination.

The film The Green Book tells the story of two men who used the guidebook while traveling through the Deep South in the 1960s. The film has been praised for its historical accuracy and its ability to capture the racism and segregation that was prevalent during this time period.

The Legacy of the Green Book

The Green Book, also known as the Negro Motorist Green Book, was published annually from 1936 to 1966. The book was created as a way to help Black Americans travel safely during a time when they were subject to unjust treatment and violence simply because of the color of their skin.

The book listed businesses that were Black-friendly, including hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and more. It was an essential tool for Black travelers during a time when Jim Crow laws and other forms of discrimination made travel very difficult and dangerous for them.

Although the Green Book is no longer published, its legacy continues to this day. The book is now considered an important part of African American history, and it has been featured in museums and exhibitions across the country.

Traveling While Black in the 21st Century

Though The Green Book was published over 50 years ago, its lessons are still relevant today. African Americans face a unique set of challenges when traveling, and The Green Book provides valuable advice on how to stay safe and navigate the world.

In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile incidents in which black travelers have been targeted by racism and violence. In 2015, Sandra Bland was pulled over for a traffic violation in Texas and later found dead in her jail cell. In 2016, four African American students were escorted off a Delta Air Lines flight after their “suspicious” behavior caused other passengers to feel uncomfortable. And in May 2017, two black men were arrested at a Starbucks in Philadelphia after they asked to use the restroom but were denied access.

These incidents underscore the importance of The Green Book and its advice on how to travel while black. While the book is no longer in print, it can be found online and is worth reading for anyone who plans to travel while African American.

Resources for Traveling While Black

The Green Book, also known as The Negro Motorist Green Book, was an annual guidebook for African-American roadtrippers published between 1936 and 1966.

The book was compiled by Victor H. Green, a black postman from New York City. It provided detailed listings of hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and other businesses that would serve black customers. It also contained advice on how to deal with police officers and other officials while on the road.

The book was an essential tool for black travelers during the Jim Crow era, when segregation was still legal in many parts of the United States. It helped them avoid difficult and dangerous situations while they were away from home.

Today, there are many resources available for black travelers, both online and in print. Here are a few of our favorites:

-The Black Traveler’s Guide to America: This comprehensive guidebook is full of helpful tips and advice for black travelers.
-Black Girl Traveling: This popular blog is written by a black woman who loves to travel the world. She shares her experiences and offers advice to other black travelers.
-African American Heritage Sites: This website provides a list of historically significant sites that are important to the African American experience.

10 Must-See Black History Sites

There is an organization called the National Trust for Historic Preservation that offers a number of resources for black history buffs, including a list of what they consider to be the 10 most important sites related to African American history.

1. Dr. Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site, Washington D.C.
2. Freedom Riders National Monument, Anniston, Alabama
3. Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, Church Creek, Maryland
4. John Brown Wax Museum, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
5. Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and Preservation District, Atlanta, Georgia
6. Mother Emanuel AME Church, Charleston, South Carolina
7. Natchez Trace Parkway, Tupelo to Nashville, Tennessee
8. Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Kansas City, Missouri
9. Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Tuskegee, Alabama
10. Unity Temple – Frederick Douglass National Historic Site Washington D

The Future of the Green Book

The Green Book was an annual guidebook for African-American motorists published between 1936 and 1966. The book provided advice on safe places to stop for gas and dining, as well as information on black-owned businesses.

Now, a new generation is reimagining the Green Book for the 21st century. Black travelers still face discrimination and violence on the road, and the new Green Book will be a digital space where they can share information about safe places to stay and travel.

The future of the Green Book is still being written, but it is clear that this important resource will continue to help black travelers find safe haven in a world that is still far from perfect.