Opening the Road : Victor Hugo Green and His Green Book
What’s inside...
During the late 1930s when segregation was legal and Black Americans couldn't visit every establishment or travel everywhere they wanted to safely, a New Yorker named Victor Hugo Green decided to do something about it. Green wrote and published a guide that listed places where his fellow Black Americans could be safe in New York City. The guide quickly became popular, and customers soon requested a national version to help them travel and vacation safely across the nation. With the assistance of his mail carrier co-workers and the African American business community, Green expanded his guide, allowing millions of African Americans to travel safely and enjoy traveling across the nation. Keila Dawson and illustrator Alleanna Harris share the story of the man behind The Green Book and how this travel guide contributed to a safer, more equitable America in the first picture book about its creation and distribution.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How do you think Victor Hugo Green felt when he created the Green Book, and why do you think it was important?
What challenges do you think travelers faced during the time Victor Hugo Green wrote the Green Book?
How did the Green Book help people, and what does that teach us about helping others in our community?
If you had to create a guide like the Green Book today, what kind of information would you include and why?
How can we apply the lessons from the Green Book to promote understanding and respect among different people today?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start by explaining the historical context of the Green Book and why it was essential during that time. This helps set the stage for deeper understanding.
Encourage your child to express their feelings about the struggles characters in the book might have faced, fostering empathy and critical thinking.
Relate the story to current events or personal experiences to make the discussion more relevant and engaging for your child.
Use a globe or a map to show locations mentioned in the book, making the reading experience interactive and educational.
Praise your child's insights and thoughts during the conversation to boost their confidence and encourage more in-depth discussion.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Resilience and Innovation
Explanation: The story highlights Victor Hugo Green's determination and creativity in creating the Green Book, a guide that provided African American travelers with information on safe places to visit during segregation.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to apply creativity to overcome obstacles and use innovation to solve real-world problems.
Example Lesson: Importance of Equality and Inclusion
Explanation: The book showcases the significance of equality by demonstrating how Victor Hugo Green helped to provide more opportunities for African Americans during a time of widespread discrimination.
Real-World Application: Kids can be encouraged to treat everyone fairly, regardless of their background, and to stand up against discrimination.
Example Lesson: Persistence in the Face of Adversity
Explanation: Through Victor Hugo Green's repeated efforts to compile and expand the Green Book, the narrative teaches that persistence is crucial when facing societal challenges.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the value of persisting with their goals, even when difficulties arise, thereby developing resilience.
Example Lesson: Historical Awareness
Explanation: The book provides educational insights into the era of Jim Crow laws and the impact they had on daily life, giving children a historical perspective on racial issues.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to learn more about history and the reasons why equality and justice are important, promoting informed and empathetic future citizens.
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: By exposing readers to the trials faced by African Americans during segregation, the book fosters a sense of empathy.
Real-World Application: Children can use this understanding to empathize with others who might be different from them or facing their own challenges, fostering a more inclusive attitude.