Victor sat in a dark coffee shop mulling over his plan. Water had flooded the floor making the tiles as slick and shiny as the varnished wooden table he shared with his postal worker friends.
The burst pipe had caused a distraction, and cacophonous chatter filled his ears, but he was not averted from his thoughts or the conversation. He wanted to hear what his friends thought of his idea.
He opened the prototype of his green book. It was only a few pages long but contained important information.
Each took their turn at saying, “Victor, you must do this!”
100 words
Though this 100 word story for Friday Fictioneers is a work of fiction, Victor was a real person.
Victor H. Green was a New York postal worker and publisher of The Negro Motorist Green Book, a travel guide that outlined hotels, restaurants and other facilities where people of colour were welcomed during the years before the civil rights act.
The book was published between 1936 and 1967 with a goal to keep African Americans safe on the road at a time in U.S. history when road travel was popular, and black people were not.
You may read more about Victor H. Green and the Green Book here The Green Book Are We There Yet – Girl in Niagara
Victor’s Green Book also initiated Green Book an Oscar winning movie.
Friday Fictioneers is a place for flash fiction brought to us by the lovely Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. Visit Rochelle’s site and use her Wednesday photo as a prompt to write a complete 100 word story.
This week’s Friday Fictioneer photo prompt from Anne Higa.
Feature Image from The New York Public Library, Digital Collection.
Life with Alegria 
I just watched “Green Book” on Netlfix, so this was beautifully-timed and exceptionally well-written.
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Thanks very much Hook. Yes, I too loved the movie.
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Wow, I’d only heard about like black books before. But a green book… Thankfully time changed.
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Yes, thankfully, to some degree.
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I love learning about things I don’t know. This was fascinating. Good job.
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Thanks very much for reading and commenting Linda. I’m glad I was able to share something that was new to you.
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Well done, Shelley. It is yet another sad part of American history…
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That it is Dale. May we never repeat it. Thank you very much for taking the time to read and comment.
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Wow. Very interesting! You can easily see your story happening in such sad but real times.
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Thank you very much for taking the time to read and comment. You are right, a reality for many in that time. Though there are also those who find ways to help.
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Dear Shelley,
It deeply saddens me that the Green Book was ever necessary. You wrote a wonderful historical fiction in any event. My kind of story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks very much Rochelle. I do very much enjoy historical fiction. I am fascinated especially of that era during and after the second world war. Do you know the Jewish also had similar publications, mostly in newspapers, because as you know, the Jewish were also not welcome.
Thank you again for reading and commenting.
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Very interesting. Thanks for adding to my day.
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Thank you for reading and commenting Oneta!
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Those days are happily behind us. Great read.
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Thank you Susan! They are for the most part, but the we as a human race still have our problems. Let’s hope we continue to evolve toward betterment. Thanks very much for reading and commenting.
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I’m not sure we haven’t already evolved too far. 😉
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You could have a point.
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I was excited for Victor’s invention… Till I read what the green book was. How awful that it was needed, but how wonderful that he made it. And thanks for sharing that story.
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Thanks very much for reading Jenne. Really was a necessary idea for the day, but how sad that it was needed. Thanks again! Shelley
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Victor did a great service for his fellow travellers but how sad it is to think that such a book was ever necessary
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I agree Sarah. Sad it was needed. Great for him for coming up with the idea that helped many I’m sure.
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A good thing he wrote this book. And a shameful part of history that it was needed.
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I agree. It was much needed at the time and well received. It is a pity it was needed, and I hope we learn something from our history as a human race and work to improve. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
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When I saw “The Green Book” and learned what it meant, my stomach lurched. I’m glad such a book kept people of color safe but the very idea they were prohibited from going anywhere they pleased is egregious and haunting to me. Thank you for sharing this information and showing the book pages close-up.
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Thanks for reading Ms Jadeli. I appreciate your thoughtful comment. Thank goodness such a book existed. Who knows how many lives were saved due to its contents.
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You’re very welcome.
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What an amazing book. What an amazing concept and what a shame it was needed in the first place. Mel
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Thanks for reading Mel. You’re right, an absolute shame it was needed, but thankfully it was a great idea that helped many many people I’m sure.
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