The guide featured upscale Black resorts like Idlewild, Michigan and Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, proving that even under segregation, a vibrant Black leisure class existed.
The guide allowed families to plan vacations "free of tensions and problems," identifying safe havens where they wouldn't be "embarrassed, insulted, or worse". The Green Book: Guide to Freedom
The Green Book didn't just highlight where to sleep; it showcased a thriving world of Black entrepreneurship and leisure that was largely invisible to white society. The guide featured upscale Black resorts like Idlewild,
Interestingly, the Standard Oil Company (Esso) was one of the few major corporations to support the guide, distributing it through its network of service stations to help Black motorists travel more safely. Building a "Parallel Universe" Michigan and Oak Bluffs