ThepicturebookinspirationfortheAcademyAward-winningfilmTheGreenBookRuthwassoexcitedtotakeatripinherfamily’snewcar!Intheearly1950s,fewAfricanAmericanscouldaffordtobuycars,sothiswouldbeanadventure.Butshesoonfoundoutthatblacktravelersweren’ttreatedverywellinsometowns.Manyhotelsandgasstationsrefusedservicetoblackpeople.DaddywasupsetaboutsomethingcalledJimCrowlaws...Finally,afriendlyattendantatagasstationshowedRuth’sfamilyTheGreenBook.Itlistedalloftheplacesthatwouldwelcomeblacktravelers.Withthisguidebook--andthekindnessofstrangers--RuthcouldfinallymakeasafejourneyfromChicagotohergrandma’shouseinAlabama.Ruth’sstoryisfiction,butTheGreenBookanditsroleinhelpingagenerationofAfricanAmericantravelersavoidsomeoftheindignitiesofJimCrowarehistoricalfact.
