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Smithsonian Touring Exhibit visits Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library November Through March
For African Americans traveling during segregation in the United States, a flat tire or an empty gas tank could be fatal. Trips required careful planning and knowledge of welcoming places to sleep, eat, use a restroom and refuel. The Negro Motorist Green Book was an indispensable resource.
This November, the DC Public Library hosts "The Negro Motorist Green Book: Lighting the Way Where the Way is Dark," an exhibition created by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. Running through March 2025, it explores the experiences of Black travelers and the crucial role of the Green Book in navigating segregation from 1936 to 1967.
"The Green Book provided African Americans the means to navigate a dangerous and discriminatory world," said Richard Reyes-Gavilan, executive director of the DC Public Library. "This exhibition shows how a single publication could empower people to travel with dignity and find community across the nation. It also weaves the Green Book's story into the District's history, giving visitors a chance to gain a deeper understanding of how people have long used ingenuity, solidarity and information to face racism."
Through interactive displays, historical artifacts and firsthand accounts, the exhibition offers an in-depth look at this essential travel guide and its impact. "The Negro Motorist Green Book: Lighting the Way Where the Way is Dark" celebrates the resilience, creativity and sense of community that empowered African-Americans.
The District played a significant role in this history. As with many American cities of the era, the nation's capital was segregated. More than 130 local establishments—hotels, restaurants, beauty salons, and social clubs—were featured in The Green Book. The exhibition highlights local landmarks like the Whitelaw Hotel and U Street's Black Broadway, where businesses doubled as cultural havens and centers of resilience.
The exhibition opens with a weekend of programming. On Saturday, November 2, families can enjoy a Children's Sock Hop, a recreated 9th and G Diner, and live broadcasts by DJs Scooter Magruder (WPFW FM 89.3) and Poet Taylor (WPGC Radio) playing the music of historic Black Broadway. A pop-up Green Book Museum will feature community staples like the Royal Golf Club, the YMCA, the Cloud Club, and D.C.'s Old Cars of Washington.
The festivities continue Sunday, November 3, with a Vintage Car Show followed by a Teenarama Dance Party hosted by the African American Music Association. Food trucks from Rito Loco, Roaming Rooster, and Goodies will be on-site throughout the weekend.
"The Negro Motorist Green Book: Lighting the Way Where the Way is Dark" runs from November 2024 through March 2025 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW. For more information, visit https://www.dclibrary.org/negro-motorist-green-book
The Negro Motorist Green Book exhibit was created by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with Candacy Taylor and made possible through the generous support of Exxon Mobil Corporation.
The Local Exhibit was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and through the generous support of the DC Public Library Foundation.