by Jim Rose in discrimination, economic history, politics - USA

The heat maps showing the density of the listings, first in 1947 and then in 1956 in the Green Book.

Source: The forgotten way African Americans stayed safe in a racist America – The Washington Post.

According to the Washington Post article today:



in 1936, a postal worker named Victor Green began publishing a guide to help African American travellers find friendly restaurants, auto shops and accommodations in far-off places. Green dubbed the guide after himself – the “Green Book” – and published it for decades. Green says he was inspired by the Jewish press, which had long published information on restricted places…



The Green Book included listings for hotels, restaurants, gas stations, bars and beauty salons across the U.S., as well as travel articles, paid advertisements, and stories about local attractions.



The rise of car ownership among the black middle class made it more and more costly for businesses to turn away their trade despite threats of local lawlessness sanctioned by the police and local and state governments.