The Green Book

Even though radio, television and newspapers were full of advertisementss urging people to explore the wonders of the United States, African Americans weren't always welcomed.    Due to prejudice and discrimination,  African American travelers would sometimes find themselves unable to find a place to stay, eat or any other need service. 

In 1936 , Hugo Green  published The Negro Motorist Green Book.  It was a travel guide for African American travelers that provided information about lodgings, restaurants and other businesses that they could patronize without discrimination.

The guide which was published until 1964,  found a readership because while blacks knew which businesses were friendly in their hometowns, it could be difficult to discern which restaurants, beauty shops and night clubs were off-limits or hostile when they were on the road.

Click on the link below to see a short version of the guide.

http://www.teachingushistory.org/ttrove/documents/GreenBook.pdf


NPR Radio did a program discussing  "The Green Book".  Here's the link:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129885990


Here's a commercial from the late 1950's encouraging people to buy Chevrolet cars and travel the USA.