The Negro Motorist Green Book

[Courtesy Flush]

This is making the rounds on the web this week. It's a scan of a directory that African Americans carried in the 1930s and '40s to be able to find non-discriminatory business in the Land of the Free. Interesting glimpse at the times.



http://www.autolife.umd.umich.edu/Race/R_Casestudy/Negro_motorist_green_bk.htm

[frogmarch]

1. My best childhood friend was

an African American girl. This was in the 1950s. She and I clicked immediately after we met in the 3rd grade, and we became fast friends. When we were in middle school (we lived in western Nebraska) my mom would often drive my friends and me to various out-of-town ballgames. After the games, whenever we stopped someplace for food, Mom always went into the eating place before we did, to make sure African Americans were allowed. At the time, many business places had signs in their windows that said "NO INDIAN TRADE," so Mom was concerned that blacks would be included in this racist crap. The only eating establishment that said NO to my mom about my African American friend was one in Torrington, Wyoming.

I am proud of my multi-racial family. We like to say we represent various colors in the human rainbow...Indian from India, Native American, African American, Mexican, Japanese, and various European hues. :-) Though we're a family, we embrace our ethnic diversity.

[Tikki]

2. Los Angeles..some of the names I recognize...

"Now you can travel without embarrassment"!!!
WTF was wrong with this Country then...WTF is wrong with it still?

Tikki
p.s. I believe the Tourist Homes were often the
homes of families who let a room for the night.