Email A look inside the Green Book, which guided Black travelers through a segregated and hostile America The guide's creator knew the racist dangers Black motorists faced in the 1940s through the 1960s and hoped one day his Green Books wouldn't be needed George Petras and Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY Published 11:53 am UTC Feb. 21, 2021 For Black travelers driving across segregated America in the '40s, '50s and '60s, the Negro Motorist Green Book was more than a travel aid – it was a guide for keeping them safe. The Green Book – named after its creator, not the color of its covers – was pocket-sized, about 5 by 7 inches, and published nearly every year from 1937 to 1966.