User:ReeseJ05/sandbox

The Negro Motorist Green Book (1936): His travel guides were made partly due to the era of Jim Crow laws when discrimination and violence against nonwhites were widespread.

The Green Book publications (1936-1966): In 1936 Green published the first iteration of The Negro Motorist Green Book (1936). These editions were published between 1936 and 1966 guidebook publications for African-American "roadtrippers" traveling around America. The guidebook featured thousands of businesses, either black owned or that catered to African Americans during the Jim Crow era. The Guide allowed African Americans travelers to safely venture through discriminatory and segregated areas of the United States--avoiding potential harassment and violence from racist business owners. Thereby, The Negro Motorist Green Book became a tool for African Americans to subvert white supremacy. The many editions of the Green Book establish a general roadmap that show distinct black geographies across America--those of which were generally unknown to white institutions.

I think an inclusion of some of his popular works would be a great addition to the page. I think the page lacks an apt description of Victor Hugo Green's accomplishments and early life.

He started his adult life delivering mail in Hackensack, New Jersey. He and his family eventually moved in Harlem, he maintained his career work with the New Jersey Postal service

Relationships and family
Alma Duke Green, pictured in the 1961 edition of “The Green Book”(NYPL) Following Victor's marriage with Alma Duke Green (June 9, 1889 – March 1978) in 1918, the two would go on to create the first editions of the Green Book. Though, as an official editor for only a few years, Alma contributed significantly to the creation and proliferation of the Green Book. Although most of the credit for the Green Book has gone to Victor, it is important to Alma's contributions, for the Green Book may never have been created without her.

Alma died in March 1978, following her accredited husband who passed away in 1960. Like Victor, she died in Harlem where she lived for most of her adult life. The Greens moved to New York around 1929 from New Jersey, where Victor worked as a postal carrier. During their lifetime, they were able to experience the waning years of the Harlem Renaissance, which may have been another factor in the conception of the book.

While the Greens had no children, the book--initially titled The Travelers' Green Book-- was conceived by the two in their Harlem apartment around 1932. According to the 1956 edition, "several friends and acquaintances complained of the difficulties encountered; oftentimes painful embarrassments suffered which ruined a vacation or business trip.”

The Green Book Chronicles (2020), a film by Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Becky Wible Searles, have noted that Alma “appears to have actively supported and been involved in this venture from the start, eventually taking over as editor when Victor stepped away from that role.”
 * Green Book (2018), dir. Peter Farrelly, a biographical drama influenced by African American pianist Don Shirley, and actor Frank Vallelonga, who traveled through the Deep South during 1962. Green Book premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival where it won People's Choice Award in 2018.

Suggested references:

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/highwayhistory/green.cfm

https://muse.jhu.edu/article/867258/summary

https://www.ferris.edu/HTMLS/news/jimcrow/question/2021/september.htm

This source discusses the Green Book's initial publication for African Americans In addition, it provides context of the work's creation--documenting his Green's thought- process for creating it. It also delineates how it was originally perceived by the the American public.

During the Jim Crow era the book garnered a large appeal within the African American culture--as many began to popularize the phrase "carry your Green Book with you" when traveling. It outlined prominent establishments in segregationist states like Alabama and Georgia as places where African American might face discrimination. Through its series of publications, Green's The Negro Motorist Green Book appealed to a large majority of the African American population, as such, during the Civil Rights movement it was credited as one of the forerunners in American literature that championed the cause.