The negro travelers green book

The negro travelers green book, spring 1956 by wendell p. The negro motorist green book was a guidebook for african american travelers that provided a list of hotels, boarding houses, taverns, restaurants, service stations and other establishments throughout the country that served african americans patrons. During the time the book was published, choices of lodging, restaurants and even gas stations were limited for black people in. It included places in the south and along the east coast, as well as canada, mexico, haiti, the caribbean and the philippines. The front cover features a black border along the outer edge. The negro motorist green book, popularly known as the green book, was a travel guide intended to help african american motorists avoid social obstacles prevalent during the period of racial segregation, commonly referred to as jim crow. The green book, known variously as the negro motorist green book and the negro travelers green book, was an annual travel guide published from 1936 to 1964 by victor h. Green book helped keep african americans safe on the. This book provided travelers with information on businesses that serviced african american travelers. Back in the day, you couldnt just go wherever you wanted. In 1936, victor hugo green published the first annual volume of the negro motorist green book, later renamed the negro travelers green book. Finally, the travelers green book for 1963 through 1964 leads off with a statebystate listings of rights against jimcro jim crow segregation, plus it has guide. Green book helped africanamericans travel safely the negro motorist green book, a travel guide published for nearly 30 years, listed lodgings, tailors. The negro motorist green book was a guidebook for african american travelers that provided a list of hotels, boarding houses, taverns, restaurants, service.

The publishers make every effort to assure the accuracy of the green book editorial information, and to maintain the high character of its advertising pages. The guide listed, state by state, the restaurants, hotels, service stations, and other businesses that would welcome africanamerican travelers. Probably the most consulted source of information for black travelers, the negro motorist green book later known as the negro traveler s green book did not appear until 1936, but continued publication through 1967, when the achievements of the civil rights movement and desegregation rendered its information less compelling. Download digitized copies of the negro travelers green book, the. The real green book helped guide african americans to safe places as they traveled. Mitchell talks about the dangers faced by african americans travelers in the days of segregation and how the green book. This facsimile of the 1940 edition brings you all the listings, articles, and advertisements aimed at the black travelers trying to find their way across a country where they were so rarely welcome. By the 1950s, the book had been renamed the negro travelers green book, and green eventually expanded it to make recommendations throughout the u. For nearly 30 years, a guide called the negro motorist green book provided african americans with advice on safe places to eat and sleep when they traveled through the jim crowera united states. Consistent with the university libraries mission to make collections accessible worldwide, the digital collections department scans rare, unique, and fragile items held by university libraries and publishes them online for researchers on campus and around the world. How fear led to the negro motorist greenbook the guidebook for african american travelers was published from 1936 to 1964 by victor h. The green book 19361964, also known as the negro motorist green book or the negro travelers green book, was the bestknown travel guide for blacks in america in the 1950s.

This facsimile brings you all the listings, travelogues, and advertisements aimed at the black travelers trying to find their way across a country where they were so rarely welcome. The negro travelers green book was a travel guide series published from 1936 to 1964 by victor h. The green book, in full the negro motorist green book, the negro travelers green book, or the travelers green book, travel guide. It was originated and published by african american, new york city mailman victor hugo green from 1936 to 1966, during the era of jim crow laws, when open and often legally prescribed discrimination against. The green book was first published by victor hugo green. The negro motorist green book also the negro motorist greenbook, the negro travelers green book, or simply the green book was an annual guidebook for africanamerican roadtrippers. It was intended to provide african american travelers with lodging, dining, and other information necessary to stay safe and comfortable during the era of. The green book final edition, in 196667, filled 99 pages and embraced the entire nation and even some international cities. The guide pointed black travelers to places including hotels.

The postracial negro green book questions whether its safe yet for black people to travel around america freely. The negro motorist green book aided black travelers during. At the time, the segregationera guide was meant to direct black new york city. Index and credits for the green book, 1961 edition. Schomburg center for research in black culture, manuscripts, archives and rare books division, the new york public library. This is the green book movie fans want to africanamerican motorists the negro motorist green book, which had by 1959 switched titles to the negro travelers green book, was essential to safe driving in the legallysegregated nation under the jim crow laws.

The green book was a travel guide just for black motorists. The negro motorist green book smithsonian digital volunteers. Carry your green book with you you may need it was the advice contained in the green book. Hence this guide has made traveling more popular, without encountering. Denotes the negro travelers green book recommended hotel, motels, tourist homes, etc. The negro traveler can depend on the green book for all the information he wants, and has a wide selection to choose from. The real green book made jim crowera travel safer the. Compiled by victor hugo green 18921960, a black postman who. In 1936, a black postal worker named victor hugo green published the first edition of the negro motorist green book. Green also began to list other services, including barber and beauty shops, drugstores, and night clubs where africanamericans were welcomed. Omission of k does not necessarily mean inferior accommodations. Green published it annually from 1936 to 1966 when discrimination against african. The creator of the guide, harlem resident victor h.

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. It was first published as the negro motorist green book and later as the negro travelers green book. Route 66 and the historic negro motorist green book ncptt. A full view of the cover of the negro motorist green book. First published in 1936, the green book was the brainchild of a harlembased postal carrier named victor hugo green.

The green book listed businesses that would accept african american customers. The border encompasses nearly all of the coverpage text. The green book, in full the negro motorist green book, the negro travelers green book, or the travelers green book, travel guide published 193667 during the segregation era in the united states that identified businesses that would accept african american customers. Negro travelers green book, 1956 digital collections. Published materials division, south caroliniana library. The green book became the bible of black travel during jim crow, enabling black travelers to find lodgings.

Victor hugo green november 9, 1892 october 16, 1960 was an american postal employee and travel writer from harlem, new york city, best known for developing and writing what became known as the green book, a travel guide for african americans in the united states. The negro travelers green book 1959 facsimile edition for. Green called it the negro motorist green book, or the green book, for short. It was intended to provide african american motorists and tourists with the information necessary to board, dine, and sightsee comfortably and safely during the era of segregation. The guide to travel and vacations was an annual travel guide that helped african americans navigate segregation. Published between 1936 and 1967, the guide officially known as the negro motorist green book informed such travelers of where in america. With the introduction of this travel guide in 1936, it has been our idea to give the negro traveler. The green book, which was initially called the negro motorist green book when it was first published in 1936, became so vital to black travelers that thousands would not make plans without it. Also available in digital form on the library of congress web site. Listing hotels, restaurants and other businesses open to africanamericans, the guide was invaluable for jimcrow era travelers. It listed not the best places but often the only places which welcomed black travellers in those days one writer called it the bible of every negro traveler in the 1950s and early 1960s.

The negro motorist green book was a paperback guide published for black motorists traveling in the united states in an era when they might be denied service or even find themselves threatened in many locations. From a new yorkfocused first edition published in 1936, green expanded. A new green book for black travelers has emerged citylab. Victor hugo green published the first annual volume of the negro motorist green book, later renamed the negro travelers green book. The green book was a travel guide just for black motorists 1940 book cover of the negro motorist green book, from the new york public library collection. The negro motorist greenbook smithsonian institution. For nearly 30 years, a guide called the negro motorist green book provided african americans with advice on safe places to eat and sleep when they. How the green book helped africanamerican tourists navigate a.

Green book detoured bay areas black travelers around. The green book, also known as the negro motorist green book, later known as the negro traveler s green book in 1952, and finally the travelers green book in 1960, was a guide for black travelers journeying within the united states and abroad. First look at copy of negro motorist green book auction. That advice came from new york city mailman victor hugo who came up with the idea for the negro. This guide while lacking in many respects was accepted by thousands of travelers. New york native, world war i veteran, and postal carrier, victor h. The negro motorist green book green book an annual guidebook for africanamerican roadtrippers founded and published by new york city mailman victor hugo green from 1936 to 1967. Started by victor hugo green, a new york citybased postal carrier, the guide pointed african american travelers to businesses that would serve them.