Smithsonian Explores History of Black Leisure Travel With New Documentary
Photo Credit: Carol Jenkins, the niece of A.G. Gaston, stands in front of the famous A.G. Gaston Motel, a major listing in the Green Book. Smithsonian Networks
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The Green Book helped black Americans move about safely during segregation, but it also sparked the growth of black leisure travel and fueled entrepreneurship in the community for years to come.
A new Smithsonian Channel documentary about the Green Book — which helped black Americans travel safely during segregation — goes deep into the early, successful entrepreneurship behind the business of black leisure travel.
In mainstream culture, The Negro Motorist Green Book is now enjoying a resurgence of interest, most visibly in the film Green Book, which is up for several Academy Awards, including best picture. The Smithsonian documentary set out to delve deeper into the factual history of the subject.
“Victor Green knew there were enough black people in the country who would not only use this guide for safety, but wanted this guide for pleasure,” said author Candacy Taylor in the film. “He knew his market. He was a businessman.”
The documentary, The Green Book: Guide to Freedom, written and directed by Yoruba Richen, premieres on February 25 at 8 p.m. EST on the Smithsonian Channel.
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