The Negro Motorist Green Book

Students of African American history, the Jim Crow era, and legacy of American racial discrimination will value this historical resource for African American travelers, now introduced by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Traveling the country was dangerous for African Americans in the Jim Crow period, when overt racial discrimination, prejudice, violence, and price gouging were commonplace. TheNegro Motorist Green Book, assembled by New York City postal worker Victor H. Green, was a landmark resource that made travel much more accessible for African Americans. Published annually from the 1936 until two years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it 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 African Americans could feel welcome at. The Oscar-winning film Green Book, which starred Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen and won Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor (Ali), was named for these seminal books. This volume compiles four editions of the book: 1938, 1947, 1954, 1963. Accompanying these works of history is an introduction by Henry Louis Gates, Jr, the Harvard professor, accomplished author and filmmaker, and host of PBS’s groundbreaking series, Finding Your Roots. Never before have these historical resources been published with commentary from such an important and leading voice in the African American community.