The Green Book
Maybe you’ve heard of or seen the award-winning movie Green Book starring Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali. Or maybe you heard the Green Book mentioned in the HBO series Lovecraft Country. But did you know that the Green Book (also called The Negro Motorist Green Book) was a very real savior for many Black folks wanting to travel within the United States? As part of the Invisible History seminar at CCBC, we will be exploring what the Green Book meant for so many Black people during a time that was often fraught with discrimination, racism, and violence and how it became a symbol of Black community and freedom.
The Green Book was started in 1936 by Harlem postman Victor Green. Over the course of three decades, the Green Book serves as an informative guide that helped African Americans travel the country safely, avoiding segregation as much as possible. At the time, many Black people were subjected to a discriminatory system of rules and regulations that left them open to harassment and oppression through Jim Crow laws, which stated that races had to be separate. These laws prevented Black people from having the same rights as white people, and if Black people didn’t follow them, violence would often follow.
For many Black people, traveling meant that true freedom was within reach. The means to discover other places and communities had never been accessible to them before, let alone even a possibility. This is why the Green Book came about, to protect and empower Black folks wanting to live their lives fully. Initially started in New York, the Green Book went on to include most of the United States and parts of Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
The book also served as a reference for up-and-coming Black-owned businesses and helped to promote the rising African American middle class. Referred to as The Black Bible, the Book included all types of businesses, including motels, cafes, and beauty salons that were safe havens for Black people. Black women entrepreneurs such as C.J. Walker were also mentioned in the book and became wildly successful, even becoming millionaires.
From August 29 to December 11, 2022, CCBC will be exploring all these aspects as well as sharing first-hand experiences as we take a look at how the Green Book impacted the lives of Black folk for almost half a century. We will also visit locations mentioned in the Green Book, virtually and in person, and research the discriminatory laws in place at the time. Students who participate will have the opportunity to present an oral history project on the lasting legacies of the Black middle class.
This series will be a fantastic opportunity for eligible CCBC students wanting to learn more about a hidden piece of Black history and how Black people, despite adversity, managed to build a successful system of support and connection that worked for them. Interested students can contact Amy Wilson at awilson@ccbcmd.edu for more information and to discuss the prerequisites needed to participate.