Why Black American Travelers Carried the Green Book?

A road map could lead a Black family into town. It could not tell them which hotel would rent them a room—or which restaurant would serve them. This historical documentary follows the Green Book, a travel guide that helped Black American travelers plan road trips around places that would receive them. Beginning in Harlem, Victor and Alma Green gathered addresses that personal recommendations could not always provide. We follow the guide’s growing network and visit a Columbia, South Carolina, tourist home where an ordinary family house offered travelers a bed and breakfast. The story also shows what a printed address could—and could not—guarantee, and how the Civil Rights Act of 1964 changed the legal rules for hotels and restaurants. What road-trip stops do you remember from your family’s travels? Share your story in the comments, and subscribe to How America Used to Live for more stories about everyday American life. #AmericanHistory #BlackHistory #GreenBook #CivilRightsHistory #RoadTripHistory #EverydayHistory