Candacy Taylor, who for years has researched properties listed in a long-defunct annual publication called the Negro Motorist Green Book, announced over the weekend three books about it will be published by Abrams Books.
The central book in the deal is titled “Overground Railroad: The Green Book and Roots of Mobility in Black America.” It will be in stores in 2019.
Taylor said in a news release Abrams will publish three works by her:
- An adult trade book — 80,000 words with 150 photographs of Green Book sites and historical ephemera relating to 20th Century black travel
- A middle-grade children’s book for ages 9-12 based upon the adult book content
- A photo book of Green Book sites that will complement my Green Book mobile app and walking tours
Taylor’s agent, Chris Tomasino, posted this description of “Overground Railroad”:
From 1936-1966 Victor H. Green, a black postal worker from Harlem, published a guide to help blacks travel the country with dignity. He called it, “The Negro Motorist Green Book” and featured Mark Twain’s quote, “Travel is fatal to prejudice” on every cover. Advertisements inside affirmed: “Just What You Have Been Looking For!! NOW WE CAN TRAVEL WITHOUT EMBARRASSMENT.” The Green Book was a resourceful and innovative solution to a horrific problem, published during a time when automobile travel symbolized freedom in America. But even Blacks who traveled north to escape Jim Crow segregation quickly learned that Jim Crow had no borders. Segregation was in full force throughout the country and black travelers couldn’t eat, sleep, or even get gas in most white-owned businesses. Moreover, they had to navigate a country with nearly 10,000 “sundown towns,” all-white communities which banned blacks from their city limits after dark. Considering the violence and terror blacks encountered on the road, The Green Book provided critical, life-saving information and offered shelter in an unsafe world during a shameful chapter in American history. People called it the “Bible of Black Travel,” and an AAA guide for blacks, but it was much more than that. It was a powerful tool which helped blacks to persevere and literally move forward in the face of racism. The Green Book listed hotels, restaurants, beauty salons, department stores, barbershops, taverns, nightclubs, tailors, garages and real estate offices that opened their doors to black people. It even included recreation parks such as Disneyland, golf courses, and Murray’s Dude Ranch, billed as the “Only Negro Dude Ranch in the World”.
Taylor is creating a trans-media, multidisciplinary project that will consist of a book, a traveling exhibition, an interactive digitized map, a mobile app featuring the most compelling Green Book sites that are still standing, a board game, and a virtual reality platform.
Taylor posted other news about her Green Book project:
I am also happy to announce that I have received the following grant awards. The first is a grant from National Geographic for my mapping project – The Green Book: Mapping Black Mobility in America.
And the second grant I received is the Archie Green Fellowship from the American Folklife Center to interview Green Book business owners. This is a huge honor because these interviews will be forever archived at the Library of Congress!
I am so excited to have the support to uncover more stories related to Green Book sites. Since my last update, I have been working around the clock. I have built a database of over 9,500 Green Book listings, driven over 28,000 miles, scouted nearly 3,200 Green Book properties, and photographed 165 Green Book sites.
A full list of Route 66 properties listed in the Green Book are here; most have been demolished over the years.
Notable properties along Route 66 listed in the Green Book that largely remain unchanged are El Rey Court in Santa Fe, New Mexico; La Posada in Winslow, Arizona; Du Beau’s Motel Inn in Flagstaff, Arizona; and Clifton’s Cafeteria in downtown Los Angeles.
De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque is closed but eventually will reopen after remodeling.
All editions of the Negro Motorist Green Book are digitized and may be perused here.
(Image of the cover of the 1949 Negro Motorist Green Book)
I feel this is great. I recall when my mother and stepfather drove the car on route 66 and how important it was. We were travelling from Pa to Mississippi. Daddy said “”We’re on Route 66!” which was a big thing. Being a youngster at the time i didn’t realize the importance of connecting highways but learned much more later.
My early memories are of traveling down south to meet my stepfather’s family in Mississippi.
I hope that others, like myself will remember the travelling that was achieved by many Blacks moving from the cotton picking times to working in factories “up North”. Crucible Steele in Pittsburgh, Pa was welcoming young men (regardless of color) to build this country. It’s kind of funny when you look back at it–people were working in the steel and rubber factories in the USA but when the upper crust got greedy….oh well…