“The Green Book: Guide to Freedom:” How African Americans Safely Navigated Jim Crow America

democracynow.org - The Academy Awards take place this weekend, and one of the top contenders is the movie “Green Book,” which has renewed interest in the history of “The Negro Motorist Green Book.” So today we look at a remarkable new documentary called “The Green Book: Guide to Freedom,” that offers a real look at the history of a travel guide that helped African Americans safely navigate Jim Crow America. The film premieres Monday on the Smithsonian Channel and details the violence, insults and discrimination black travelers faced on the road, as well as the pride and sense of community they felt in the safe spaces they created around the country, in the form of restaurants, hotels and vacation retreats. We feature excerpts and speak with writer and director Yoruba Richen, professor in the documentary program in the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.
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[@DetroitLives313]

We had to carry homemade food in the car with us whenever we traveled South to visit my grandparents. We were not allow to stop and eat at restaurants on the 700 plus mile trip!

[@mssage974]

I remember riding the Trailways bus and not being able to use the rest room at the stations the bus stopped at. I remember holding by bladder for so long that the water went back up, so I no longer needed to use the rest room and when I had to use the rest room again, the water would come out in trickles and it would take 15 minutes or longer to finish.

[@DetroitLives313]

@naomi everett Oh yeah, it was a terrible situation. I can remember my Grand Dad carried a roll of toilet paper in the glove compartment of his car. I was a kid when I asked him why. He didn't answer and just kept driving.........

[@krumbsbakery154]

@@mssage974 :(

[@DetroitLives313]

My parents use to go to Idlewild in Michigan and Hines Farm in Ohio. These were resort, entertainment spots for blacks.

[@grapeshot]

Yes it could be quite dangerous. If you were black and especially if you were from the North to travel through the Jim Crow South.

[@Wanderer25]

@Debra Charles Yea yea cry more you narcissistic troll.

[@matthewmckenzie7318]

@Debra Charles your day job must be exhausting to be this wound up

[@EANDM71]

Actually the Midwest was worse. That’s where most of the Sundown Towns were created.

[@grapeshot]

@Debra Charles Try harder troll. In the past decade 70% of right-wing terrorist attacks have been committed by white boys.

[@grapeshot]

@@EANDM71 Yes you are right I'm from Ohio and the midwest can be quite racist. You'll know what I'm talkin about if you ever go to Southern Ohio.

[@da9618]

You may still need that book, because there's still sun down towns out there

[@tbw9508]

I was a little girl in the late sixties. The green book was still needed as it took time for everyone to comply to the new laws. Quite embarrassing when I had to use the restroom on the side of the road.

[@CHAS1422]

A story that needed to be told, indeed. We are going to see the movie when we have a chance. Keep in mind, even today, that there are still neighborhoods where a person of the scorned race cannot enter safely.

[@eileenmc4746]

thanks mr. victor green and those honored to be listed in it.

[@KaikalaMoon]

Thank you Amy for this piece.

[@Qu33n]

I'm watching this amazing documentary now!! It's incredible how Black Americans banded together at such a treacherous time and created something so beautiful and necessary! Alberta Ellis, who was discussed in the documentary, was such a highlight!

[@MichaelScreamMachineEvans]

My Grandma father never carried bills bigger than 5.00 because in Georgia a Black Man couldn't have a 20.00 bill because you wouldn't get change

[@anthonyhay3063]

I saw the movie. It’s one to add to your classic library. It will put you there even though you weren’t in that era. It will also make you proud to be black and appreciate how awesome and talented we are. But some don’t see us that way. We are dealing with a very sick minded people. I can’t forget and forgive until they make a redress. Until this evil people do something to address what they did and are still doing to us, I can’t forgive them. The way they treated us and abused us? Hell no! I don’t want their love. I have the love of my people. Evil motherfuckers.

[@KMAllmond]

I've been told that blacks can't be racist. You are proof that's not the case.

[@given-namesurname5740]

Who are you referring to?

[@krumbsbakery154]

@@KMAllmond okay KAREN

[@galejones7598]

THANK YOU FOR SHARING, MANY PRAYERS/BLESSINGS!

[@jones1351]

Thank you.

[@TwinRiver100]

Hopefully the HBO show Lovecraft Country will also promote some positive awareness of the legacy of the Green Book whenever it comes out.

[@v.leewalker8640]

This is fascinating. Keep in mind that the LGBTQ community has a, Pride Travel Guide, for LGBTQ safe communities and travel. Must be the trickle down effect. It's a scary world.

[@kennethsecrease8417]

@J Wilson yes, please stop!

[@scj3188]

@J Wilson there are lgbt BLACK PEOPLE TOO MORON

[@KMAllmond]

@Bay Stream - Ignorant, religious moron.

[@kristoffbjorgman8721]

So many good things in the Bible, like helping the poor and needy and yet it's this sex-life obsessed crap is that you shove down everyone's throats! STHU you sanctimonious, fundie prick!!

[@KMAllmond]

@@kristoffbjorgman8721 - You won't hear religious nuts quoting the horrific things in the bible.

[@babycakes2077]

CUNY here, homies! Nyc, ❤️

[@cockatoomagnet583]

The Green Book is an awesome movie.

[@EANDM71]

Cockatoo Magnet But it is inaccurate. Watch the documentary as well.

[@scj3188]

it's whitewashed nonsense

[@NellieKAdaba]

I did not watch the movie or never read the book. I have seen previews of the movie.

[@gamingpostman1552]

This channel is very different from my own channel but it's nice.

[@jasneskis]

Travel books have always been used and still are to lead travelers to places of interest and safety dealing with their interest. A lot of travelers carried their own food with them. The reason is also economics. It cost more to ear out.

[@ajohnson7735]

👍

[@Bazompora]

*So ... the movie is just one more cinematic mockery of the book ... and real history; that too.*

[@raushaunrigsby1181]

Who would have thought that the Rockefeller's were champions of African Americans, wow; you really learn something new every day.

[@buckeyewill2166]

Raushaun Rigsby ...Nelson Rockefeller was booed by the Goldwater Right in the ‘64 GOP Convention in San Francisco.

[@KMAllmond]

The Rockefellers were also champions for women's rights. Why? Because women were half of the population that wasn't being taxed. So, let them work.

[@aaronhumphrey2009]

Unusual, but perhaps cynical. Blacks were buying cars and gas, standard oil wanted THIER money. Selling gas and tires wasn't as controversial as social interaction.

[@raushaunrigsby1181]

@@aaronhumphrey2009 What are you talking about? They were engaged in social interaction and were promoting Black people throughout their organization to be "heads" of important positions. Did you even listen to the podcast?

[@greggasiorowski4025]

Let the plebs eat cake & have safe vacations lest they revolt against their corperate overlords... 🙄

[@Qu33n]

That film is a disgrace. And to use the name Green Book to associate to it is an affront to its legacy. Desecrating history. That film is undeserving for any type of attention yet alone awards -- and it won regardless of it being a total Mockery. The audacity.

[@krumbsbakery154]

as spike lee said "it wasn't my cup of tea!" if nothing else they are an 'audacious' bunch!

[@krumbsbakery154]

ALWAYS in competition

[@suziegreer7975]

this is something i feel strongly about a really emotive invitation to what seems like a brilliant film i dont hold any grudges against our queen except for the fact she wears a black crown and if we dare i say had a king he would wear a black crown thats wrong wrong the reason i dont hold any grudges against our queen is i wasn't around at the time but i heard plenty of references to it an i believe them all emphatically and this enfuriouriates me sorry im dyslexic so my writing isn't brilliant but this is the very reason i think that Donald Trump should be empeached i invite you to ask me why

[@dmoriarty1976]

I got lost in Camden NJ once ..I know how you feel

[@vmelecio1789]

I live in NJ and Camden is not white you fool it's a very impoverished city.Full of blacks and Spanish living poor as fuck.

[@lifestraight]

@@vmelecio1789 That was his racist ass point. He was trying to say he feeka scared going through the black part of town.

[@eileenmc4746]

@@lifestraight ..lol appropriated humor there or sly racist jab was his point

[@sk8corpuz]

@killermike

[@tanyawilliams1887]

Does anyone notice the only black films DN will discuss have slavery/jim crow themes?? It is 2-0-1-9...Lebron James runs the NBA! STOP the madness!!

[@IsraeliteBrotherhood]

The REAL Israelite's ran into Africa during the Babylonian wars,2 Kings 25:26And all the people, both small and great, and the captains of the armies, arose, and came to Egypt: for they were afraid of the Chaldees. Those Hebrews Never ever return from Africa, Egypt is the Sahara, when the Exiles the 1% came home from Babylon in 538BC Ezra Nehemiah Haggai Zechariah Malachi 430BC, the Hebrews ran into Africa during the Babylonian wars Never ever came home out of Africa to be reunited with the ones freed by the Persians,, The 99% the whole Hebrew nation say they was going into Africa to live,an they We Hebrews was abandoning the Covenant for Egyptian religion where we was enslaved from Africa , Jeremiah 44:15Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying,Jeremiah 44:16As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee. Jeremiah 44:17But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.Jeremiah 44:18But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.WHOLE LAND was empty Jeremiah 44:2Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Ye have seen all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon all the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a desolation, and no man dwelleth therein,Those Israelites ran into Africa an was enslaved during the Trans A Slavery Trade , we fulfilled the Curses kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWOcqmZniqd8l80

[@KMAllmond]

*When will you people realize you're not The Real Israelites? And black women calling themselves queens? Give me a break.*

[@IsraeliteBrotherhood]

My site full of the history i challenge anyone to try disprove what i show, your no Jewish Rabbi you dont stand a chance, i really like to debate Jewish Rabbi, because then what i show is more effective , you non historical simpletons are a waste of time, you dont know what you believe , you only believe what you been taught, which more then likly has been those Jewish myths, This Israel Ben Israel, founder of the Israelitebrotherhood, im on facebook also Israelitebrotherhood

[@IsraeliteBrotherhood]

Here you go kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJCmmoJve92po7M

[@IsraeliteBrotherhood]

All Vid done by ME for the Israelitebrotherhood

[@KMAllmond]

@@IsraeliteBrotherhood - Blacks are always bitching about cultural appropriation. You have no culture to speak of so you hijack the Hebrews history.