A Word: Surviving “Driving While Black”

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Society & Culture, Business, News

3.9 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 10 February 2023

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For many Americans, the “Green Book” is an Oscar-winning film. But for generations of Black Americans, it served as a literal map for traveling through an often hostile and hateful country, finding safety and businesses that would serve us. On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by writer and financial educator Alvin Hall. He’s the author of Driving the Green Book: A Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance. Hall explains how the original Green Book began, discusses its evolution, and why he’s dedicated years to studying and sharing stories of its impact. Guest: Alvin Hall, author of Driving the Green Book: A Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance Podcast production by Kristie Taiwo-Makanjuola You can skip all the ads in A Word by joining Slate Plus. Sign up now at slate.com/awordplus for just $1 for your first month. Make an impact this Black History Month by helping Macy’s on their mission to fund UNCF scholarships for HBCU students. Go to macys.com/purpose to learn more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.9	This is a word, a podcast from Slate. I'm your host, Jason Johnson.
0:04.7	For many Americans, Green Book is the title of a feel-good movie about a racist turned white
0:09.8	savior which won the Oscar a few years ago. But in reality, the Green Book was a road map
0:15.6	to help African Americans travel through a hostile nation without getting killed.
0:20.5	It was a nationwide guide to help black travelers find places to receive welcoming services
0:29.5	as well as save harbors when they were on the roads of America.
0:34.4	The true story of the Green Book coming up on a word with me, Jason Johnson. Stay with us.
0:40.4	This is Jason Johnson. I want to thank you for listening to a word, especially our Slate Plus
0:46.1	subscribers who support, helps make a word possible. Slate Plus subscribers enjoy podcasts,
0:52.6	ad-free, bonus content, and access to all of Slate's great reporting on the site.
0:58.5	If you enjoy a word, sign up now at Slate.com slash a word plus. Thanks again.
1:09.6	Welcome to a word, a podcast about race and politics and everything else. I'm your host, Jason
1:14.2	Johnson. For many Americans, especially white folks, the Green Book is a movie that starred
1:20.0	Mahershala Ali and Figo Mortensen, which won the best picture Oscar in 2019.
1:25.2	My point is, we'll be gone for eight straight weeks. No breaks right up until Christmas.
1:30.9	You're quite sure you can leave your family for that long?
1:33.6	Depends where you're paying. $100 a week plus room and board.
1:38.3	But let me be crystal clear. I'm not just hiring a chauffeur.
1:43.4	I need someone who can handle my itinerary. Be a personal assistant. I need a valet.
1:48.7	I need someone who can wander my clothes and shine my shoes.
1:54.5	Good luck back. It was one of those movies where a gifted, genius-level black person
1:59.2	strikes up an unlikely friendship with an ignorant white bigot. But in real life, the Green Book,
	...

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