Wasn’t surprised to find that something like this was published, but I previously had not known about them, never having been a ‘negro’, nor a motorist in that time frame. But I can see how this would have been a must-have, to know in advance where you had a better chance of being welcome.
This page/ has a number of the editions scanned in.
I’ve seen old copies on Ebay.
It was a valuable reference for black travelers during segregation. They had limited options for restaurants and hotels.
There were Sundown towns in parts of the South. It was understood that blacks could visit businesses during the day. But, couldn’t be there at night. The Klan enforced that rigorously. A lot of small town police had Klan members in the 1930’s.
I’d assume the travelors guide listed the Sundown towns and warned to avoid them when traveling through at night.
I don’t think gas stations were segregated? Pretty sure anyone could get a fill up.
My uncle and I used to visit a small black grocery store when I was a kid. It was close to his house and we never felt unwelcome. This was the late 1960’s. We’d often be the only white customers in the store. I never gave it a second thought. It was just a nice store.
I gained much of my understanding of what it was like for black travelers during the period of the Green Book from the well-researched and fascinating book The Warmth of Other Suns.
I highly recommend the book for its exploration of the Great Migration, a very significant but rarely discussed aspect of American history.
I also highly recommend the movie Green Book, which was my favorite movie of 2018.
Blacks could buy a fill up of gas, but they wouldn’t be allowed to use the restroom or drink from the water fountain.
What time frame were you a ‘negro’ and a motorist?
Pretty sure that the adjective phrase “in that time frame” only applies to the noun “motorist”. Especially since the noun, “negro” was qualified by the phrase, “never having been a”.
^^Yeah. . . kinda thought that strategically placed comma might have alleviated any confusion, but ya never know.
A lot of people don’t realize segregation extended far beyond the Southern States.
Sammy Davis used to tell the story about being banned from the Vegas casinos and restaurants. Sammy could perform on stage, if he came in the back door.
Frank Sinatra got fed up and used his clout to end that crap. Frank insisted that Sammy could go anywhere Frank went.
I doubt Vegas changed policy. They just made an exception for Sammy Davis jr.
vegas desegregated in the mid 60s rather peacefully due to not wanting widespread protests and public scrutiny of the casinos
of course when I watched something about it years ago t was implied that a bit of blackmail went on between the real owners of the casinos aka the mafia families and the naacp because people knew where bodies were buried and there were rumors of a numbers boycott in Harlem and Chicago……. and frank apparently was the go between ….
I randomly looked at the 1947 edition and was not at all surprised (but still saddened) by the Oregon section. ‘Safe’ places here were nearly non-existent.
Now, I wasn’t around then, so I may be talking out of my ass, but as I understand it, the situation was never that a white person felt unwelcome in a black establishment, but that a black person was very much unwelcome in a white one. (And other whites would think a white person weird or worse for doing something like drinking from a water fountain labeled for black people.)
There was reverse racism in the late 60’s. I ran into it a few times. Usually at school. There were a few students with chips on their shoulders.
I played sports and most of the team was black. I made a point to fit in the best I could. Made several life long friends and we still keep in touch.
I’ve never seen the term “tourist home” before looking at these books. They seem to be run by women - I guess they were like rooming houses?
StG
My guess is that they were probably somewhere between rooming houses (which, as I understand it, usually had longer-term tenants) and modern-day bed-and-breakfasts.
I’m thinking about buying a copy of the guide.
It would be interesting to see the locations in my city. I realize none of the businesses still exist but a few original buildings may still be there.
If you follow the link in the OP, you can see the books scanned in.
StG
I’ll look up my city and see what they list.
I looked up Connecticut in the 1947 directory and also found very few places listed. But the amount of travel through Connecticut was probably very little. And I think the guy who edited the directory concentrated on the Southern states, so perhaps he wasn’t as comprehensive about listings in the Northeast or Northwest?
Could it be that ‘safe’ was the norm in Oregon and the listed places were guaranteed? I picked the 1962 edition at random (thank you for the link, Earl) and there were only a handful of listings for Los Angeles; surely there were more places than that in such a large city. I’m wondering if places paid to be listed.
I first heard of The Negro Motorist Green Book a few months ago when it was the featured article of the day on Wikipedia. This might have been about the time the movie was released. I have not yet seen the movie but a theater chain here is presenting a Best Pictures Film Fest where seven of the eight Oscar nominees, including The Green Book, are being presented.