Perry Memorial Library schedules programs on "The Green Book"

Sep. 16—HENDERSON — "The Green Book" was a guide used by African Americans during the Jim Crow era to find services that were available to them when they traveled.

At the time, state laws in the South and de facto segregation in the North excluded African Americans from many restaurants, hotels and other services. To help African American travelers, Victor Green, a mail carrier in Harlem, researched services that would accept African American customers and compiled them in "The Negro Motorist Green Book," now commonly known as "The Green Book."

The first edition came out in 1936 and covered services in New York City. But popular demand and contributions from other localities soon turned "The Green Book" into a national publication, continuing to chart services until 1966, when it discontinued publication.

It listed more than 300 North Carolina businesses including two in Henderson — Mrs. Betsch Tourist Home at 219 Rockspring St. and the Adams Tourist Home, operated by Mrs. Doris Adams at 526 Chestnut St.

On Sept. 26 and 27, Perry Memorial Library will present programs focusing on "The Green Book."

On Monday, Sept. 26, author Calvin Ramsey will be present at the library to discuss his children's book, "Ruth and the Green Book." At 4 p.m. he will present a program for all ages who want to attend. At 7 p.m., in a program for adults, he will discuss his book and how it relates to social justice.

No stranger to North Carolina, Ramsey was born in Baltimore but grew up in Roxboro.

On Tuesday, Sept. 27, author Candacy Taylor will be appearing virtually to discuss her book, "The Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America."

Taylor is a curator and content specialist with the Smithsonian Institution.

On a date to be set later, the library will host a viewing of the PBS documentary, "Driving While Black: Race, Space and Mobility in America," followed by a virtual discussion with Gretchen Sorin, author of "Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights."

These programs were made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Humanities Grants for Libraries is an initiative of the American Library Association, supported by funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.