A vital tool for survival, dignity, and freedom of movement during America’s Jim Crow era.

Discover how The Negro Motorist Green Book helped Black Americans navigate racist travel restrictions during the Jim Crow era by offering safe destinations and economic empowerment through Black-owned businesses.

The Negro Motorist Green Book, commonly known as The Green Book, was an annual travel guide published between 1936 and 1966 by Victor Hugo Green, a Black postal worker in Harlem. It was a lifesaving resource for Black Americans traveling across the United States during a time when racial segregation and discrimination were legally sanctioned in many states.

During the Jim Crow era, Black travelers faced hostile laws and attitudes that made even the simplest road trip dangerous. “Sundown towns”—places where Black people were forced to leave before nightfall—were common, and many hotels, restaurants, and petrol stations refused service to non-white patrons.

The Green Book provided a trusted directory of establishments where Black travelers could find hospitality, food, fuel, and safety. It included:

• Hotels and motels that accepted Black guests

• Restaurants and cafés that served Black patrons

• Gas stations, garages, and repair shops

• Beauty salons and barbershops

• Private homes offering lodging

The Green Book did far more than list safe spaces—it quietly subverted a racist system by:

🔹 Promoting Economic Empowerment

It supported thousands of Black-owned businesses, strengthening local economies and circulating wealth within the Black community. Many of these businesses thrived thanks to their inclusion in the guide.

🔹 Enabling Safe Mobility

Whether traveling for work, leisure, or migration, Black individuals and families could plan their trips with confidence, avoiding humiliation and life-threatening encounters.

🔹 Fostering Cultural Pride and Dignity

In an era when freedom of movement was restricted by race, the Green Book symbolized agency, community, and resilience. It allowed African Americans to participate in the emerging car culture and middle-class lifestyle—on their own terms.

After the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, which outlawed segregation in public accommodations, the Green Book saw a decline in relevance and ceased publication in 1966. Yet its impact endures. It is now celebrated in films, books, museum exhibitions, and academic research as a testament to Black ingenuity and resistance.

• Taylor, Candacy. Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America. Abrams Press, 2020.

• Smithsonian Institution: The Green Book Project

• New York Public Library Digital Collections: Green Book Archive

The Green Book was more than a travel guide—it was a revolutionary tool of survival, resistance, and self-determination. It helped Black Americans not only move safely but also build economic and cultural autonomy in an age of systemic racism.