The Negro Motorist Green-Book

History of the Green-Book First published in 1936, the Green-Book was the brainchild of a Harlem-based postal carrier named Victor Hugo Green. Like most Africans Americans in the mid-20th century, Green had grown tired of the discrimination blacks faced whenever they ventured outside their neighborhoods. Rates of car ownership had exploded in the years before and after World War II, but the lure of the interstate was risky for African Americans. “Whites Only” policies meant that black travelers often couldn’t find safe places to eat and sleep, and so-called “Sundown Towns”—towns that banned blacks after dark—were scattered across the country. The Green-Book’s listings were organized by state and city, with the vast majority located in major metropolises such as Chicago and Detroit. More remote places had fewer options—Alaska only had a lone entry in the 1960 guide—but even in cities with no black-friendly hotels, the book often listed the addresses of home owners who were willing to rent rooms. The Green-Book wasn’t the only handbook for black travelers, but it was by far the most popular. Thanks to a sponsorship deal with Standard Oil, the Green-Book was available for purchase at Esso gas stations across the country. Though largely unknown to whites, it eventually sold upwards of 15,000 copies per year and was widely used by black business travelers and vacationers alike. Answer the questions below based on the information in the video. #1. Less than 8 motels in Albuquerque, NM would allow black guests.#2. During the 1950s 1960s, the highway was the most common way for American families to travel.#3. Sundown Towns did not allow Blacks to stay after dark.#4. The US Postal Service was the largest employer of African Americans during the 1950s 1960s. The Negro Motorist Green-Book (1949 edition) 3-2-1 Reflection Using the images above from the Virginia section of the 1949 Green-Book, please complete the chart below. Type your answers in this column. List 3 things that you notice when you look at the entries for Virginia. *** *** What 2 words would you use to describe how the Green-Book makes you feel? *** What 1 question would you like to ask someone who used the Green-Book during the 1950s 1960s?