Lansing Area African American Genealogical Society Newsletter

Fall 2011-2012 Newsletter

Volume 5, Issue 2

LAAAGS Home

Traveling in the U.S. from 1936-1964 for People of Color

Mrs. Modella M. Gray at 1216 St Joseph Street. Mrs. Busher at 1212 St Joseph Street. Mrs. Callie F. Lewis at 816 Butler Street. Mrs. Cook at 1220 St Joseph Street. Mrs. Katie Gains at 1406 Albert Street. All five of the businesses/homes were located on Lansing’s Westside. The Green Book faded away in 1964 when large chain hotels open their businesses to people of color. Jesse Lasorda

Jesse LaSorda, LAAAGS President

Traveling for people of color was a daunting task in the early to mid 1900s. Finding a place to stay for night, where to eat was made easier by a book titled “The Negro Motorist Green Book” or sometimes referred to as “The Green Book”. The authored of The Green Book (Victor H. Green) made the traveling experience much more hospitable when his first book came out in 1936. The book listed places throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico people of color could stay for the night and eat safely. Most of the business establishment listed in the books were owned and operated by people of color. Major League baseball scouts took advantage of these black owned establishments as well. The scouts were in hopes to find Negro League baseball players for the major leagues.    The city of Lansing, Michigan was not much different then most communities for people of color. In Green’s book in 1949 as an example lodging was made easier by five business owners who opened up their establishments to people of color.

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