The Black Guide That Changed Travel

Discover the history of the Negro Motorist Green Book, a vital guidebook for African American roadtrippers. Founded by Victor Hugo Green, this publication provided safe travel options and listed welcoming establishments across the country during a time of segregation and discrimination.

Audio: Onemichistory.com

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Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Negro_Motorist_Green_Book
https://www.history.com/news/the-green-book-the-black-travelers-guide-to-jim-crow-america https://www.loc.gov/item/2016298176/

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Imagine navigating a world where stepping outside your neighborhood was
like walking through a labyrinth of invisible yet extremely dangerous
trip wires. Now step into the shoes of Victor Hugo Green,
a humble male carrier at Harlem who dreamed of safer
journeys for fellow African Americans during these treacherous times. Join

(00:21):
us as we discuss the history of the Negro motorists.
Green book and if you like stories like this, you
can find stories like this at onistory dot com. I'll
set the suppose challenge some bomby Coffee Patreon and the
scripture below, but without further ado, Let's get started. In
a land gripped with the iron fist of segregation, simply
traveling could be a perilous adventure. In nineteen thirty six,

(00:45):
the United States was a divided country with dream crow
laws that cast a long shadow over the lives of
African Americans and turning road trips into risky ventures steep
with fear and a certainty. Victor Hugo Green, knowledgeable about
the countless stories of African Americans being turned away from
white only establishments, envisioned a life saving guidebook. His ingenuity

(01:09):
created the Negro Motorist green Book, which was a beacon
of hope in the form of a little green book.
John and Mary our African American couple that hit the
road and they shiney new forward the sunsets as they
arrived in a small Alabama town, only to face rejection
after rejection at every hotel that they approached. Exhausted and disheartened,

(01:33):
they would turn to the Green Book at a salvation
in these tough times. Within these pages they found not
only addresses, but the promise of safety and respect a
guest house where they could rest without fear. Victor Green's
Guidebook was more than a collection of addresses. It was
a lifeline. It provided reassurances in the face of dream

(01:54):
crow laws and sundown towns, which were towns where black
folks had to leave before some un said civil rights
leader John Lewis recalled his family preparing for a trip
in nineteen fifty one. There was no restaurant for us
to stop at until we made it out of the South,
So we took our restaurant right there in the car
with us stopping for gas and use the restaurom to

(02:16):
careful planning, Uncle Ottos had made the trip before, and
he knew the places that would offer colored bathrooms and
which were better to pass by. Our map was marked,
and our route was planned that way, by distances between
severn stations where it was safe for us to stop.
The Green Books forward in nineteen fifty six, had poigntly

(02:39):
captured this reality, stating that white travelers had no difficulty
finding accommodations, but with negro it had to be different.
Victor Green knew that his creation had to be more
than just guidebooks, so with every edition, the Green Book
listed more safe havens where African Americans reclaimed the right
to explore America. The inspiration for the Green Book came

(03:04):
from an unexpected source, a small guidebook meant for Jewish travelers,
who also faced discrimination at many vacation spots. Victor was
moved to develop a similar guide to empower black travelers.
The first edition of his brainchild was a modest catalog
that only listed New York hotels and restaurants where black

(03:25):
patrons were welcome. But Victor wasn't content. He craved a
revolution on wheels. In his Harlem apartment, he painstakingly expanded
the scope of his guide by gathering few reports from
fellow postal carriers and offering cash rewards for valuable information,
and tapping into an extensive network of the United States

(03:45):
Postal Service, which was one of the largest employers of
African Americans. Victor Green's Green Book swelled with thousands of
establishments from all over the country that were vetted for
their respect and service to black travelers. As the postal
network buzz with secret insight, the Green Book grew. By
nineteen forty, it was more than just directory. It was

(04:08):
a powerful manuscript. It wasn't just about finding a place
to stay. It was about reclaiming your vacation, the joy
of travel. Hungry motorists passing through Denver could find hospitality
in a dew drop in thirsty wanderers Atlantic could uplift
their spears and Yeah man Or Butler's, and women in
need of beauty rests and Richmond, Virginia could do so

(04:28):
at the rest of bid. In Victor's books remove the
narrative for black travelers. No longer did they need to
worry about where they would find a hot meal, a
clean bed, and a smile. They urged black travelers to
carry your Green Book with you. You may need it Victor
wasn't just offering advice, but a map to freedom in
a very segregated world. The Green Books reach what beyond

(04:53):
hotels and restaurants, but also including beauty salons, nightclubs, and
resorts where black families could vacation in peace, each listed
meticulously arranged by city and state as echoes of the
Green Books masterpiece spread. The guide didn't just help travelers
navigate piscal roles, but it reshaped the social landscape, recirculating

(05:16):
wealth within the black community. It united black owned businesses
and celebrated figures like Booker T. Washington. Over its lifespan,
the book sold more than fifteen thousand copies annually, distributed
through the mail or through churches, but also s so
gas stations, which were owned by entrepreneur who saw the
potential and serving black clients in In nineteen thirty seven,

(05:40):
edition would set you back just twenty five cents, but
by nineteen fifty seven it reached a dollar twenty five,
which is about fourteen dollars today. In an erotic twist,
it was the civil rights movement that led to its decline.
By that time, even white businesses had begun to recognize
the Green Books importance. By the mid fifties, it had

(06:02):
peaked the interests of major organizations like the American Auto Association, airlines,
and even some libraries. However, as state loss began to
change and the Civil Rights Act of nineteen sixty four
made the necessity of the Green Book less and less important.
In the final edition, released right after the Civil Rights Act,

(06:23):
it was entitled The Travelers Green Book nineteen sixty six
nineteen sixty seven, the International Edition for Vacation Without Aggravation.
It was more than just a booklet. It was a
testament to struggle and progress. The cover now featured a
Caucasian woman, symbolizing a broader, more inclusive vision, but it
stayed true to the original mission of guaranteeing safe and

(06:47):
enjoyable journey for all. Thank you. This has been one
of my black history i'mia host country boy, and this
is the story of the Negro Motivate screen book. If
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(07:09):
of this could be possible, and peace