Traveling in the 1950's-before the Civil Rights Act-African Americans would use a guide called The Green Book to direct them to businesses that would provide them services without discrimination. This would make travel with their families less humilitating and less likely to result in conflict. In 1936 Victor H. Green of NYC published the travel guide that would indicate "lodging and gas stations to tailor shops and doctors offices across the nation" where African Americans would be welcome.
The Negro Travelers Green Book was the official name. One of the places noted was Robbins, Illinois being "owned and operated by Negroes". A professor at Dickenson College-Cotton Seiler-refered to the book as a guide to "driving while black".
(Source: "Travel guide helped African Americans navigate tricky times" by Emma Lacey-Bordeaux and Wayne Drash. Article found on cnn.com/2011/US/02/24/green.black.history/index.html?hpt=C1 on 2/25/11)
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