Victor Hugo Green facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Victor Hugo Green
Green in 1956
Born	November 9, 1892 Manhattan, New York, United States
Died	16 October 1960(1960-10-16) (aged 67) Manhattan, New York, United States
Resting place	Hackensack Cemetery, New Jersey
Occupation	Travel writer
Spouse(s)	Alma S. Duke ​ (m. 1918)​

Victor Hugo Green (born November 9, 1892 – died October 16, 1960) was an American postal worker and writer. He is famous for creating The Green Book. This was a special travel guide for African Americans in the United States.

During the time The Green Book was published, many places had unfair rules. These rules, called Jim Crow laws, meant black people could not stay in certain hotels or eat in some restaurants. Even gas stations could refuse service. The Green Book helped African Americans find safe places to go.

It was first called The Negro Motorist Green Book. Later, its name changed to The Negro Travelers' Green Book. These books were printed every year from 1936 to 1966. Green listed hotels, restaurants, and other businesses that welcomed black travelers. He printed 15,000 copies each year.

Green started his work in the 1930s. He gathered information about places in New York City that welcomed black travelers. His first guide came out in 1936. It was so popular that he quickly added more places across the U.S. Even after he retired from the Postal Service, Green kept updating The Green Book. He also ran a travel agency he started in 1947.

Victor Green's Early Life

Victor Hugo Green was born on November 9, 1892, in Manhattan, New York City. He was named after a famous French writer. Victor was the oldest of three children. His family later moved to Hackensack, New Jersey, where he grew up. In 1913, he started working as a postal carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.

On September 8, 1917, Victor married Alma S. Duke in Brooklyn, New York. Alma had moved to New York from the South. This was part of the Great Migration. Many black people moved north for better opportunities. After they married, Victor and Alma moved to Harlem, New York. Harlem was a lively center for black arts and culture during the Harlem Renaissance.

Green was a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service. He also served in the United States Army during World War I. He went to France with his unit in 1918 and returned to the U.S. in 1919.

How The Green Book Helped Travelers

The Green Book was published from 1936 to 1966. Its main goal was to help African American travelers stay safe on road trips. The guide listed thousands of businesses. These were either owned by black people or welcomed black customers during the Jim Crow era.

The guide helped black travelers avoid unfair treatment and danger. It showed them where they could stop safely. This made The Green Book a powerful tool against unfair rules. It mapped out places where black people could travel freely. Many of these places were not known to white people.

As more African Americans bought cars, they faced travel problems. Laws in the South forced separate facilities for black people. Many hotels and restaurants in northern states also turned them away. It was hard for black travelers to find welcoming places to stay.

In 1936, Green decided to help. He wanted to list all the good hotels across the U.S. that welcomed black people. He gathered information on hotels, restaurants, and gas stations that served African Americans. His first guide covered only the New York area.

Some towns did not have any hotels that accepted black guests. So, Green also listed "tourist homes." These were private homes where owners rented rooms to travelers. In his first book, Green wrote a hopeful message:

There will be a day sometime in the near future when this guide will not have to be published. That is when we as a race will have equal rights and privileges in the United States.

Green set up a publishing office in Harlem for his guide. In 1947, he started a travel agency. It helped people book rooms at black-owned businesses. By 1949, the guide even included places in Bermuda and Mexico. It listed spots for food, lodging, and gas. In 1952, Green changed the name to The Negro Travelers' Green Book.

The Green Book was printed by Gibraltar Printing and Publishing Co. Victor Hugo Green printed 15,000 copies each year. He sold them to both black and white-owned businesses. This showed that African Americans were traveling more. At that time, Esso gas stations were open to black owners. Many Esso stations became popular places to buy The Green Book.

During the Jim Crow era, the book became very popular. Many African Americans would say, "carry your Green Book with you" when traveling. It showed them places where they would be treated fairly. The Green Book was a big help during the Civil Rights Movement. It was seen as an important book that supported equal rights.

Victor Green's Family Life

Victor married Alma Duke Green in 1918. Alma was a big part of creating The Green Book. She was the book's editor for many years and helped a lot. Alma died in March 1978.

A film called The Green Book Chronicles (2020) noted that Alma was involved from the start. She even took over as editor when Victor stepped back.

Victor Green died on October 16, 1960, in Manhattan, New York City. He was 67 years old. After his death, his wife Alma continued publishing The Green Book until 1966. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made segregation illegal. This meant public places had to treat everyone equally. Because of this, The Green Book was no longer needed. This was exactly what Victor Green had hoped for.

The Green Book in Movies and Shows

• The Green Book Chronicles is a play by Calvin Alexander Ramsey. It first showed in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2011.
• The Dresser Trunk Project (2007) was a traveling exhibit. It showed what it was like for black people to travel during segregation.
• Green Book (2018) is a movie directed by Peter Farrelly. It tells the story of an African American pianist, Don Shirley, and his driver, Frank Vallelonga. They traveled through the South in 1962. The movie won an Oscar for best picture in 2018.