SUNCOAST EMMY® AWARD WINNER

EXPLORE LOUISIANA’S GREEN BOOK HISTORY

Winner of the prestigious Suncoast Emmy® Award for Best Long Form Historical/Cultural Program.

This LPB digital-first series and documentary explores the history of the Louisiana businesses and places found in "The Negro Travelers' Green Book" - a guide that offered services and safety to Black travelers during the Jim Crow era.

Shot and co-written by LPB’s Emma Reid and Kara St. Cyr, who also serves as our on-camera guide, and Executive Produced by Linda Midgett. St. Cyr learned a lot of Louisiana history working on the project and appreciates the perspective she gained about her own history, as well. “One of the most sobering aspects of this project is not that this happened at all, but that the existence of sundown towns is so recent. African Americans used The Green Book to navigate cities like Denham Springs while my parents were small children. This puts everything into perspective. I can appreciate my ancestors even more now that I understand the sacrifices they made just to live.”

The series is underwritten by ExxonMobil Baton Rouge. “There are so many Louisiana story-telling opportunities associated with the history of The Green Book,” says Stephanie Cargile, public and government affairs manager for ExxonMobil Baton Rouge. “ExxonMobil really wanted to focus on our state’s role and we knew LPB could help. It’s an important part in the history of race relations in our state.”

Discover other digital programs that explore Louisiana’s unique history, culture, and food with the LPB YouTube channel.