“The Green Book: How Black America Used to Travel”

The presenters, historian-educators Dr. Dorothy King and Calobe Jackson, are leading authorities local and regional African-American history. They will discuss the evolution of “The Negro Motorist’s Green Book” which was authored by Victor Hugo Green and continuously published from 1936 to 1967 as a guide for African-American travel during a prohibitively discriminatory era. It listed lodging and dining establishments, many of them black owned and operated, that welcomed black travelers.

Several establishments in Harrisburg were listed in the Green Book over the years, the most notable of which was the Jackson House at 1006 N. Sixth Street. It was operated by German Jackson, the longtime head doorman at Harrisburg’s grand downtown Penn Harris Hotel, who was host to such prominent celebrities as Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Joe Louis. At the entrance of the Penn Harris, Mr. Jackson could spare black travelers the humiliation of a front-desk refusal by discretely redirecting them to his location just a few blocks away. Today, the Jackson House sports a mural commemorating its celebrated history that was commissioned in 2017 by Sprocket Mural Works. Listed for several years on Historic Harrisburg Association’s “Preservation Priorities” list, the long-vacant Jackson House recently was acquired by investors who have begun its restoration.

This is a FREE event but we would appreciate registration on Eventbrite so that we can provide plenty of food and drinks for our guests!

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