How the Negro Traveler’s Green Book Helped Black People Get Around in the 1950s
In the 1950s, vacationing in America for blacks was dangerous. The common discrimination that took place during the Jim Crow era meant that black travelers struggled to find a hotel room they could stay in, or a restaurant where they could grab a bite to eat. Too often they have been greeted with hostility, denied service, or worse. So when a brother like me wanted to get out of town, it meant grabbing the Green Book – a travel guide for black travelers offering tips on how to travel safely around the country, as well as a directory of safe places to stay.
Welcome to Retro Week , where we light up the flux condenser and introduce you to the 1950s know-how of everything from making casseroles to building fallout shelters to joys for kids to relax and play with trash.
“Your cooperation will enable us to reach the pinnacle of our goal and continue our efforts to provide guaranteed protection for the black traveler.”
Victor H. Green
The Green Paper was a guide to safe spaces
The Negro Traveler’s Green Book (also known as the Negro Motorist’s Green Book) has been an indispensable tool for black tourists traveling across America. Created in 1937 by former postal carrier Victor H. Green, a directory of businesses that welcome black tourists was intended to help reduce the likelihood of getting “embarrassed” while traveling around the country. owners. “While the first edition only covered the New York area, its latest 1967 edition included listings from across the country, including international tourist attractions. This allowed black travelers to choose from a list of businesses and plan their trips ahead of time to avoid potential obstacles.
“The white traveler had no trouble getting a lodging for many years, but it was different with the black. Before the advent of black guides, he had to rely on word of mouth, and then sometimes there was no place to live. “
Victor H. Green
Driving around meant going around some cities
Because black Americans relied on car ownership to avoid segregated modes of transport, driving was a rather desirable method of exploring the country. Unfortunately, traveling across America was unsafe for drivers who often faced the threat of harassment on the road.
There was also the danger of driving through “sunset cities” – predominantly white cities that refused to live alongside blacks – which created another set of problems. To avoid harassment, many drivers packed up spare parts, food, and gas to avoid stopping in unfamiliar territory while driving.
While the book carries with it a constant threat of danger, it is not entirely harsh to read. Several episodes contained road safety tips under the clever headline “How to stay old” with suggestions such as “Drive close to pedestrians in inclement weather. Dry cleaners appreciate it. ” See? Funny!
Green paper helped the gig economy
The Green Book not only made it easier to find a safe place to live, but it also helped black-owned businesses attract new customers by listing. Entries in the Green Book were often the result of word of mouth. Green urged readers to spread awareness of the Green Paper and suggest new businesses and homes that are eligible for the Green Paper. In addition, the Green Book functioned as a kind of proto-Airbnb, allowing homeowners to list private residences that tourists could stay at for free or for a fee.
“There will come a day in the near future when this guide will not need to be published. It is then that we, as a race, will have equal opportunity and privilege in the United States. It will be a great day for us to pause the publication of this post, because then we can go anywhere and without any difficulty. Until then, we will continue to publish this information for your convenience every year. ”
Victor H. Green
We still need green books
While we don’t necessarily need a Green Paper revival, discrimination is still alive and well when it comes to tourism and black housing. Sites like Airbnb have come under scrutiny after some hosts allegedly denied service due to race .
This could mean there is room for a modern take on the Green Paper philosophy of providing safe places for black travelers. After all, there’s a reason sites like Noirbnb, Innclusive, and Travel Noire, recently acquired by media startup Blavity, have sprung up in the past few years: Vacation while black is still fraught with dangers. The Negro Motorist’s Green Book existed to save black travelers from being forced out of cars or pursued in unpleasant cities. Nowadays, you may just be a victim of rent cancellation, but even so, the threat of violence remains. The fact that these travel sites exist is as much of a problem as the Green Book of Black Travelers: For black travelers, safety is not guaranteed even when you are on vacation.