The Negro Motorist “Green Book” is commonly referred to as simply the Green Book. This book was an annual travel guide published from 1936 to 1966. Its founder conceived it to help African Americans navigate the difficulties of traveling during the era of segregation and Jim Crow laws.
Travelers, postal workers, and business owners helped create the listings, which made them trustworthy and extensive. The guide was organized by state and city, so finding safe places to stop while traveling was simple. It often included helpful tips for handling car problems or police encounters.
The Green Book was indispensable to Black travelers who wanted to visit their families, go on vacation, and conduct business safely and confidently. It also instilled a sense of community by mapping Black-owned businesses and furthering economic independence.
As the Civil Rights Movement grew stronger, the Green Book began promoting its goals through articles and ads encouraging people to be active and aware. When segregation laws were abolished by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the guide was no longer needed; thus, its last edition came out in 1966.
The Green Book has been remembered today as evidence of the strength and ingenuity of African Americans who refused to let systemic racism get in the way of their travels and aspirations. It inspired books, documentaries, and movies, including the 2018 movie Green Book. Copies of the guide are now historical artifacts in archives and museums, preserving for future generations evidence of the barriers of the past and the determination of those who broke them down to create a better, more inclusive future.