The Green Book, originally titled The Negro Motorist Green Book, was created in 1936 by Victor Hugo Green, a Harlem-based postal worker and former U.S. Army veteran. Designed to help African American travelers navigate the dangers and humiliations of the Jim Crow segregation era, the guide listed safe, welcoming, Black-friendly businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and gas stations. What began as a New York–focused resource eventually expanded to include most of North America and was published annually from 1936 to 1967. With support from his wife, Alma Green, and contributions from fellow postal workers, the guide documented more than 9,500 locations at its peak. Widely regarded as the “bible of Black travel,” The Green Book played a crucial role in enabling safer mobility and preserving dignity for Black travelers during a deeply discriminatory period in American history.
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