WS Chronicle

From 1936 to 1966, the Negro Motorist Green Book served as a guide for Black motorists across the country. Gas stations, restaurants, hotels, night clubs, and even homes of individuals where Black motorists could grab a bite to eat or good night’s rest, were all listed in the pocket-sized travel-aid, including 18 right here in Forsyth County. 

The Green Book, which was the brainchild of Victor H. Green, was first published in 1936. Green, a native of Harlem, worked for the postal service and was a travel writer. For 30 years the annual guide helped thousands avoid unwarranted run-ins. In the beginning Green enlisted other postmen to contact Black entrepreneurs along their routes and invite them to list in the book, as well as sell the book to travelers for about 25 cents.

Last month the North Carolina African American Heritage Commission, Mount Tabor United Methodist Church, and the Winston-Salem Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, joined forces to give locals an opportunity to learn more about the Green Book with a very unique exhibit.  

The self-guided exhibit, “Navigating Jim Crow: Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina,” includes several different copies of the Green Book, eight different panels that include history about the book, and a brief video. When I had the opportunity to see the exhibit, everything in the exhibit was so interesting I could’ve stayed there for hours looking through the books. But what really caught my eye was a list of safe spaces that were right here in Winston-Salem. 

Many of the locations listed were well known, like the YMCA that was located on Church Street, or the Belmont Hotel on Patterson Avenue. But there were almost just as many “Tourist Homes,” private homes that were owned by generous people who were just willing to help, like Mrs. Williams on N. Ridge Street, or Mr. Jones on 14th Street, who welcomed travelers into his home for more than 20 years. 

Here’s the list of Green Book locations that were in Forsyth County: 

*Belmont Hotel – 601 1/2 N. Patterson Ave.  Years Listed: 1952-1954

*Charles H. Jones Tourist Home – 1611 E. 14th St.  Years Listed: 1940-1941, 1947-1957, 1959-1967

*Club 709 – 709 Patterson Ave.  Years Listed: 1939-1941, 1947-1949

*College Service Station – 336 S. Claremont Ave.  Years Listed: 1961

*Diamond Taxi – 301 N. Church St.  Years Listed: 1939-1941 

*Ideal Hotel – 11th St. & Woodland Ave.  Years Listed: 1938-1939

*Lincoln Hotel – 9 E. Third St.  Years Listed: 1938-1941, 1947-1949, 1954-1957, 1959-1960

*Model Pharmacy – 562 N. Patterson Ave.  Years Listed: 1961 

*Mrs. H.L. Christian – 302 E. 9th St.  Years Listed: 1938-1941, 1947-1955, 1957

*Mrs. J. Penn – 115 N. Ridge Ave.  Years Listed: 1938-1941

*Mrs. N. Jones – 859 Liberty St.  Years Listed: 1938-1941

*Mrs. R.B. Williams – 1225 N. Ridge Ave.  Years Listed: 1938-1941, 1947-1952

*Orchid Beauty Parlor – 619 E. 9th St.  Years Listed: 1938

*Realiable Taxi – 430 N. Church St.  Years Listed: 1939-1941

*Sam Harris Taxi – 6th St. & Patterson Ave.  Years Listed: 1939-1941

*Stevens Hotel – 526 E. 4th St.  Years Listed: 1955-1957, 1959-1961

*Stinson’s Service Station – 1012 E. 14th Street   Years Listed: 1961

*YMCA – 410 N. Church St.  Years Listed: 1941, 1947-1956

The exhibit, “Navigating Jim Crow: Green Book and Oasis Spaces in North Carolina,” will be on display at Mount Tabor United Methodist, 3543 Robinhood Road, on Sunday, Feb. 20, from 1-4 p.m. For more information about the exhibit, visit https://www.mttaborumc.org/green-book.