The Green Book
Audio recording
The Green Book, first published in 1936 by Victor Hugo Green, was a vital travel guide for African American road travelers during the Jim Crow era.
It provided a list of businesses and services that were relatively safe and welcoming to Black travelers, including restaurants, hotels, and repair shops.
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At a time when racial discrimination and segregation were widespread, the guide helped Black Americans avoid the dangers of refusal, arrest, or violence, especially in “sundown towns” where they were unwelcome after dark.
The Green Book expanded from covering the New York area to much of North America, enabling safer and more informed travel for African American families, athletes, entertainers, and professionals.
It became an essential tool for navigating the open road while confronting systemic racism..