African Americans have made extraordinary contributions to the history and culture of the United States as part of the nation and apart from it. This month, Auction Finds presents “28 days (Plus 1)” of this collaborative history. The additional day is intended to break Black history out of the stricture of a month into its rightful place as an equal partner in the history of America. Each day, I will offer artifacts culled from the auction tables and my research, along with the stories they hold.
Feb. 19, 2022
First look at copy of Negro Motorist Green-Book
The Negro Motorist Green-Book was a lifeline for African Americans on the road. The book told them where they could find restaurants and cafes, hotels and private homes, taverns and nightclubs, garages and service stations that would welcome them.
Vincent H. Green’s “little guide” contained the names of places in cities in the United States, as well as Bermuda, Mexico and Canada (but those were few). Black travelers could order it from Green, or pick up the book and maps at gas stations owned by Esso Standard Oil Co., one of the supporters of the guide.
Most of the places were obviously run by African Americans but some were white-owned. Green’s travel guide was first published in 1936 and lasted until around 1964. Read the full story.
