The ’Green Book’ Was a Travel Guide Just for Black Motorists - NBC News
▻http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/green-book-was-travel-guide-just-black-motorists-n649081
For 30 years, a New York City mailman by the name of Victor Green wrote and distributed the Green Book—a travel guide for African American motorists.
Now, to be clear, this was not your average AAA guide or a Zagat’s providing the “hot spots” to travel, this was in actuality a life saver for black folks during the heights of segregation in the United States, from 1936-1966.
The Green Book helped black travelers navigate the dangers and constant humiliations that racial segregation posed.
The book included everything from gas stations that would serve African Americans to restaurants, barber shops, beauty salons and safe places to stay. So, how is it that a book that was in circulation for three decades is relatively unknown today?
Author and playwright Calvin Ramsey is currently working to make sure that Victor Green and his efforts to keep black motorists safe are as well-known as Rosa Parks with his latest project, The Green Book Chronicles.
“Discrimination was so real that not only did they [black travelers] pack their own food; but also their own gas. You never knew when traveling while black what was going to happen to you and if you had kids with you it just added to the anxiety,” said Ramsey.
The Green Book - NYPL Digital Collections
▻http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/collections/the-green-book#/?tab=about
From the Introduction to the 1949 edition: With the introduction of this travel guide in 1936, it has been our idea to give the Negro traveler information that will keep him from running into difficulties, embarrassments and to make his trips more enjoyable. The Jewish press has long published information about places that are restricted and there are numerous publications that give the gentile whites all kinds of information. But during these long years of discrimination, before 1936 other guides have been published for the Negro, some are still published, but the majority have gone out of business for various reasons. In 1936 the Green Book was only a local publication for Metropolitan New York, the response for copies was so great it was turned into a national issue in 1937 to cover the United States. This guide while lacking in many respects was accepted by thousands of travelers. Through the courtesy of the United States Travel Bureau of which Mr. Chas. A. R. McDowell was the collaborator on Negro Affairs, more valuable information was secured. With the two working together, this guide contained the best ideas for the Negro traveler. Year after year it grew until 1941. “PM” one of New York’s great white newspapers found out about it.