The first edition, in 1936, covered metropolitan new york only. The green book, as it came to be called, was a game changer, with its listings of blackfriendly establishments. The green book became the bible of black travel during the era of jim crow laws, when open and often legally prescribed discrimination against. 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. The green book guides were published from 1936 to 1966, listing businesses, hotels and tourist homes deemed safe for africanamericans. With the introduction of this travel guide in 1936, it has been our idea to give the negro traveler.
The green book listed businesses that would accept african american customers. In 1936, victor hugo green published the first annual volume of the negro motorist greenbook, later renamed the negro travelers green book. Green, a postal worker who lived in harlem with his wife, alma, encountered discrimination during a car trip. 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 1936 to 1967, the negro motorist green book provided a statebystate listing of hotels, garages, bars, and restaurants that would be safe. 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. The negro motorist green book provided african american travelers with the names and locations of businesses that welcomed their patronage. The smithsonian institution is bringing this story to life with the exhibition, the negro motorist green book. Green book sites national trust for historic preservation.
The negro motorist green book at times styled the negro motorist greenbook or titled the negro travelers green book was an annual guidebook for africanamerican roadtrippers, commonly referred to simply as the green book. The negro motorist green book was an annual guidebook for african american road trippers. The negro motorist green book aided black travelers during. Reader seeks original copy of negro motorist book me. To help black people plan a safe route across the minefield of discrimination in the u. It was intended to provide african american travelers with lodging, dining, and other information necessary to stay safe and comfortable during the era of. Recalling green book, guide for black travelers the. The negro motorist green book, published 19361964, was more than a guide book. First published in 1936 by world war one veteran and united states postal worker turned travel agent victor h. It was published in new york city by mailman victor h. In 1936, he published the first edition of the negro motorist green book, a travel guide for new york city that listed businesses and private homes. 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. The green book, in full the negro motorist green book, the negro travelers. Green, and offered african american travelers a list of welcoming places where they could find lodging, food and other services.
By 1936, many people including african americansnegro or colored then were on the road with shiny new cars,hoping to experience the freedom of the open road,to see the world for business or pleasure. It was originated and published by new york city mailman victor hugo green from 1936 to 1966, during the era of jim crow laws, when open and often legally prescribed. The negro motorist green book was one of the best known of the africanamerican travel guides. Green published it annually from 1936 to 1966 when discrimination against african. Traveling with the green book during the jim crow era. It listed safe places for black travelers or as john williams describes places negroes can stay without being embarrassed, insulted, or worse. The green book was a travel guide published between 1936 and 1966 that listed hotels, restaurants, bars, gas stations, etc. An international travel guide in 1936, when travel was not only inconvenient but embarrassing and potentially deadly. In 1952 it became known as the negro travelers green book. This was during the jim crow era, and there was a lot of discrimination against nonwhite. Mar 10, 2017 victor hugo green, harlem postal worker turned travel agent, published the negro motorist green book from 1936 1967.
It was conceived in 1932 and first published in 1936 by victor h. Compiled by victor hugo green 18921960, a black postman who lived in the harlem section of new york city, the. The negro motorist green book also the negro motorist green book, the negro travelers green book, or simply the green book was an annual guidebook for africanamerican roadtrippers. The cover of the 1940 edition of the negro motorist green book. In 1949 it expanded its listings to bermuda, mexico and canada. The negro motorist green book, popularly known as the green book, was a travel guide intended to help african american motorists avoid. Green started his guide because he had to regularly drive from harlem to richmond, virginia, to visit inlaws, and he was. The negro motorist green book was a travel guide that listed lodgings, tailors and other businesses that welcomed black patrons during jim crow the guide, which was launched in 1936 and. Mar, 2019 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. Green, a black postal worker from harlem, new york, published the negro motorist green book from 1936 to 1964. The title is a reference to the negro motorist green book, a travel guide for africanamericans published from 1936 to 1967 that promised vacation without aggravation.
Like most africans americans in the mid20th century, green had grown weary of. 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. Negro motorist green book serial and kentucky notable. Green, the hotels and restaurants listed in the original negro motorist green book were limited to the new york city area. A copy of the 1955 edition of the negro motorist green book, a travel guide for black americans during the era of racial discrimination.
Negro motorist green book of 1936 helped blacks dodge jim. Racism was a chilling fact of life that, in 1936, inspired the negro motorist green book, a guide to businesses that welcomed african american travelers who. The green book ceased publication in 1967, and the guidebook that for years had offered travel without embarrassment was lost to history. Because of the racist conditions that existed from segregation, blacks needed a reference manual to guide them to integrated or blackfriendly establishments. Sc rare pern negro motorist green book topics discrimination in public. Route 66 and the historic negro motorist green book ncptt. Green published it annually from 1936 to 1966 when discrimination. The true story of the green book movie smithsonian magazine. Most people associate the south in america with segregation. The creator of the guide, harlem resident victor h.
In soul food junkies, filmmaker byron hurt briefly describes what it used to be like for african americans to travel in. He started publishing it in 1936 when jim crow had legalized segregation and racialized spaces were highly visible. From a new yorkfocused first edition published in 1936, green expanded the work to cover much of north america. Library locations schomburg center for research in black culture, jean blackwell hutson research and reference division shelf locator. Green, a world war i veteran from new york city who worked as a mail carrier and later as a travel agent. He decided to begin publishing the negro motorist greenbook. Jan 07, 2019 even before the negro motorist greenbook came out in 1936, resorts had opened up all over the country catering to black vacationers. Most of these establishments were owned by african americans, and a few by whites. Victor hugo green, harlem postal worker turned travel agent, published the negro motorist green book from 19361967. Green book helped keep african americans safe on the road. How the green book helped africanamerican tourists navigate a. Even before the negro motorist greenbook came out in 1936, resorts had opened up all over the country catering to black vacationers. Oct 30, 2015 to help black people plan a safe route across the minefield of discrimination in the u. It was originated and published by african american mailman victor hugo green from 1936 to 1966, during the era of jim crow laws, when open and often legally prescribed discrimination against african americans especially and other nonwhites was widespread.
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. The first issue of the green book was limited to blackowned and nondiscriminatory businesses in new york city. The green book, a jim crowera guides for black travelers. An annual guidebook for africanamerican roadtrippers founded and published by new york city mailman victor hugo green from 1936 to 1967. The negro motorist green book wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. Road tripping in the era of the green book indiana landmarks. 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. The negro motorist green book was created by victor hugo green. Immediately popular, the green book became a national guide and was a crowdsourced publication in that users.
The truth is in all areas of the united states,african americans faced segregation,humiliation,danger and hardships in the years of legal segregation. Route 66s legacy of racial segregation travel the guardian. This national roadside companion featured restaurants, hotels, barbershops, beauty salons, taverns, garages, and gas stations that were willing to serve blacks. Nov 27, 2016 in 1936, victor hugo green published the first annual volume of the negro motorist green book, later renamed the negro travelers green book. How the green book saved black lives on the road newsweek. The negro motorist green book, 1949 internet archive. The negro motorist green book promised safer travel without embarrassment.
Few today remember its critical role in expanding horizons for african americans. So harlembased letter carrier victor green published the negro motorist green book. The negro motorist green book 1936 1964 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. According to legal research done by nypl staff, those 21 volumes have no known us restrictions, and can be used and reused freely. Feb 27, 2015 the negro motorist green book, published 1936 1964, was more than a guide book. Nov 16, 2018 in 1936, he published the first edition of the negro motorist green book, a travel guide for new york city that listed businesses and private homes that would reliably serve african americans. The negro motorist green book was first published in 1936 by victor h. Green 1892 1960 was a postal carrier living in harlem when he created the first of his annual green books in 1936. The negro motorist green book smithsonian digital volunteers. Green, began producing the book in the 1930s as a parttime project, but growing demand for its information made it an enduring business. In 1936, he decided to publish the first edition of the negro motorist green book, based on similar guides for jewish travelers. 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.
Green published it annually from 1936 to 1966 when discrimination against african americans was widespread. Before the green book, these resorts offered hidden. Although,many would be able to stop at nice restaurants for a meal. How fear led to the negro motorist greenbook washington post. Green book helped keep african americans safe on the. 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. The green book, travel guide published 193667 during the.
Listing hotels, restaurants and other businesses open to africanamericans, the guide was invaluable for jimcrow era travelers. 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. 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. First published in 1936, the green book was the brainchild of a harlembased postal carrier named victor hugo green. Click on any of the images below to view the digitized copies courtesy of the new york public library digital collections. 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 listed businesses that would accept african american customers the book was the vision of victor green, an african american us postal. Negro motorist green book of 1936 helped blacks dodge. In 1947 the green book, originally known as the negro motorist green book, a classified motorist and tourist guide, included listings covering the united states and alaska.
The negro motorist green book was a publication released in 1936 that served as a guide to african american 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. In 1936, victor hugo green published the first annual volume of the negro motorist green book, later renamed the negro travelers green book. Full view of 1941 edition of the book that sold at auction. The negro motorist green book, published between 1936 and 1966, was both a travel guide and a tool of resistance designed to confront the realities of racial discrimination in the united states and beyond. Compiled by victor hugo green 18921960, a black postman who. B etween 1936 and 1964, the negro motorist green book was essential for the survival of thousands of black americans in an era of segregation cemented into the american legal system through jim crow laws, sundown towns where african americans were under threat of violence after sunset, and a sharp increase in lynchings and other forms of hate crimes. Sep 15, 2010 the negro motorist green book was a travel guide that listed lodgings, tailors and other businesses that welcomed black patrons during jim crow the guide, which was launched in 1936 and. The green book, as it came to be called, was a game changer, with. 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. 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. The guide recommended businesses and attractions around the country, including sites in indiana, that would be friendly to african american travelers. The negro motorist green book wikipedia republished wiki 2. It was first published as the negro motorist green book and later as the negro travelers green book.