The Guide That Helped Black Motorists Drive Around Jim Crow

For nearly three decades, black Americans had one source of reliable information about roadside businesses open to them, dubbed "The Green Book." In 1949, publisher Victor Green wrote about how he hoped his guide would become unnecessary one day.

On Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, it's worth remembering how driving was once an ordeal for a large number of Americans. Just as Jewish travelers once had guides to hotels and restaurants that would serve them when they traveled far from home, "The Negro Motorist's Green Book" offered to do the same for a growing numbers of African-Americans from the Great Depression onward whom could afford cars and wanted to escape the Jim Crow rules prevalent in mass transit.

Launched in 1936 as an annual booklet for the New York area, by 1949 the guide was the only national publication of its kind. In addition to the 50-state listings, it covered Mexico and the Bahamas, included listings for tailors and beauty parlors and even provided encouragement from Mark Twain: "Travel is fatal to prejudice." Supported in part by advertising from the businesses it highlighted, only two large corporations put their name in the '49 edition: Esso Oil and Ford.

Looking back, Green's book offers a reminder of how race warped the freedom that driving made possible. Black motorists in those eras frequently kept extra fuel, food and portable toilets on hand to avoid stopping in unfriendly locations. Even outside the South, roadside motels and diners often wouldn't serve black customers. As for the Deep South itself, the Green Book spoke warnings by omission; the '49 edition lists no restaurants available in all of Alabama.

In his introductions, Green offered his reasons for publishing the guide, and his hopes for closing the business:

There will be a day sometime in the near future when this guide will not have to be published. That is when we as a race will have equal opportunities and privileges in the United States. It will be a great day for us to suspend this publication for then we can go wherever we please, and without embarrassment. But until that time comes we shall continue to publish this information for your convenience each year.

With the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the struggle led by King, Green stopped publishing his guide. You can see a PDF of the entire 1949 guide courtesy of The Henry Ford museum here.

How To Boost Your Sex Appeal

There’s a mysterious je ne sais quoi that certain people possess. It’s a hidden attribute that isn’t quantifiable in a traditional sense, but people gauge and talk about it constantly anyway — sex appeal. It makes the world go round. Advertisers spend millions of dollars centering ad campaigns around it, stylists try to capture it aesthetically. And a lot of people lament the fact that they have no sex appeal.

But that’s changeable. Entirely. And more people are realizing it. Here are some tips to help you bring your sexy back.

Realize That It’s Not A Fixed Attribute

A lot of people sit in their basements, firing off angry screeds in their diaries about how nobody finds them sexy. You can learn sexy. But there’s no dojo that’ll coach you in the ways of the sexy leg sweep and it might take months or years of retraining yourself and breaking down walls of social programming to get there — but even the people who view themselves as the most hopeless cases need to realize you’re never hopeless; provided you’re willing to learn and change.

Dedicating more of your time to self-improvement, physically and mentally, is the only way to improve. And thankfully this isn’t an area that your entire life needs to be dedicated towards, like your job. Often times even the smallest effort, such as getting a new dress sense, can make the biggest changes.

Start Taking Better Care of Yourself

Where a lot of people advocate the old maxim that it doesn’t matter what you look like, you can still be sexy – it doesn’t hurt. Joining a gym and gaining 15 pounds of lean muscle won’t ever hurt your chances of being thought of as a sex object by the opposite sex. There are no posters being sold of sedentary men with donuts, unless it’s Homer Simpson, but there are ones sold of athletes and attractive public figures. In addition, monitoring what you eat and exercising will have a positive impact on increasing your longevity in other areas, such as your abilities in the sack. There’s no downside to taking care of yourself – other than the fact that it may change your routine slightly. We could all use a little change.

Be Unpredictable

Teasing, breaking rapport, making jokes and the like signifies one important aspect of self – that you have a solid foundation of comfort that you’ve built off of and you don’t really need or want other people’s approval. In addition, in certain social situations, breaking rapport will introduce an element of attraction that wasn’t there prior – because you’re now actively piquing their interest and becoming a challenge. Be confident and socially intelligent to come off as unpredictable, but not destructive. Women and people in general like the element of perceived danger that comes with being unpredictable — they don’t necessarily like destructive behavior.

Have More Women In Your Life

Here’s a shocker — a lot of people who are described as sexy actually aren’t. They run in social circles and maintain lifestyles that are sexy. You wonder why billionaires are able to hang out with Victoria’s Secret models? Chances are they already know a few based off their social status. Corporations, record companies and Hollywood know about preselection – if you have some women chase you, you’re going to have other women chasing you. So have women in your life. Go out with friends who are girls and they will introduce you to more women… Who will realize you know other women. It’s a win-win cycle.

Get More Informed About Sex

If you’re a person who’s not having a lot of sex, it may be difficult to learn more about it. It’s an elusive subject. But one thing you can do is read about different sexual techniques, erogenous zones in the human body and what people generally like. People who are knowledgeable in a subject feel comfortable when they’re in a situation relating to that subject. You don’t need to be an expert in the tantric sex – but familiarize yourself with the basics. So when you do get a girl alone, you won’t put a paper bag over your head and start hyperventilating. You’ll be prepared.

How To Survive Holiday Shopping

Good news, folks. Holiday shopping has surged to levels comparable to 2007′s. Retail stocks are on the rise. Looks like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Free Shipping Day worked their magic as consumers are consuming and contributing to an economy that’s been hurting for close to three years now. With more shoppers in the mix, things can get tense and hectic. Luckily, we’ve got handy dandy tips to survive the chaos of discounts, deals, and steals during the final few days before Christmas.

Make Sure To Eat Enough Food

I don’t know about you but when I get hungry, I get cranky and that leads to bad decisions. Your diet affects more than just your weight but your emotions as well. Some foods to consider before venturing out the store include whole wheat or multi-grain bagel with cheese, cereal, fruit, yogurt, whole wheat or multi-grain toast with peanut butter, hard-boiled egg sliced into a whole-wheat pita, and oatmeal with raisins. Whichever meal you choose, make sure it’s loaded with complex carbohydrates to fight fatigue.

Hydrate!

Drinking plenty of water is generally a good overall tip for just about everything you do in life. Don’t deprive your body of the most essential part of its health. You’d be surprised how much more positive you’ll be; that will result in positive choices at the store. You’ll also feel less regretful when you return home with that hideous sweater.

Seriously? It lights up and makes noises. Yikes.

Go Easy On The Coffee

Look, we all need that extra boost in the mornings to get us through the day but shooting yourself up with that double espresso from Starbucks is going to land you on the moon. When you get wired and jittery, you tend to lose your filter then you lose your mind. Not good if you’re trying to limit your impulse buys. Some would suggest tea is a suitable replacement or maybe even Red Bull. We believe 5 Hour Energy will get the job done. Whatever you do, if people are giving you worried looks, cut your losses and hit the internet before you end up in handcuffs.

Stretch

At this point, you must be thinking, This is getting ridiculous. I’m going shopping, not returning a punt! Easy, DeSean, we understand your lazy butt hates all kinds of physical activity, but it’s important to be limber when bobbing and weaving your way through the masses. You’re bound to encounter herds of small children running wild or the couple breaking up. You want to get trampled? Trust us, spending the holiday in the ER isn’t as merry as it sounds. Those nurses want to get their egg nog on. Pulled muscles are the absolute worst, so why risk injury? Plus, stretching makes you feel good. Again, positive energy leads to positive decisions.

Mind Your Manners

You might’ve noticed a lot of these tips could be applied to more than just holiday shopping. This one’s all about karma. You cut someone off to snag that last video game for your cousin and it’ll come back to haunt you. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but some day. The cashier gives you too much change back and you bring this to their attention? You might just get to keep it or she’ll be nice enough to throw a gift card your way. Pay it forward and you won’t have to worry about a black eye. People are a little more stressed around the holidays so why contribute to it? Do you part in easing that tension and it’ll go viral. Sounds cheesy, but Christmas cheer and the holiday spirit can be infectious when it’s done right.

Take Deep Breaths

True, you’re not having a baby (though the test says otherwise), but increasing your oxygen intake is right up there with drinking water and not over-caffeinating. It regulates your heartbeat and puts your mind at ease. Anger management isn’t just a mediocre Adam Sandler flick, it’s the key to a pleasant holiday shopping experience. Just make sure you do this before you enter the store or in a private area. A lot of these retail employees get trigger happy when calling security during this frenzied time of year.

Hide Your Credit Card

Young college kids don’t fully grasp how much debt sucks. Some of us are STILL paying off our student loans 10, 15, and 20 years after we walked across the stage and accepted our diplomas. If you can’t afford it now, you’ll pay for it big time later. Credit cards are meant for emergencies only. Those Air Jordans are NOT an emergency. Distinguishing “want” from “need” is crucial to your fiscal health. When you see something out of your budget, ask yourself if the 20% interest rate is worth it. As much as bail outs are en vogue right now, not everyone can be saved. Think about the feeling you get when you find a bargain and save money versus the dread and anxiety that come with opening your credit card statement.

Don’t Believe The Hype

Not only is this a great song by Public Enemy, but it’s a theory that is frequently overlooked and undervalued in contemporary American society. It seems America’s been built on hype and there’s no greater hyped season than the holidays. You might realize these guidelines are the fundamental ingredients for making a sound decision and keeping a level head when everyone has temporarily gone insane. Do your due diligence and research the items on your to-get list and reap the benefits. Marketers and advertisers have a nasty habit of big promises and to good to be true selling points. Don’t be a sucker. By the way, gullible isn’t a word in the dictionary. If you end up with an iRenew then we’ve done a poor choice of guiding you.

Filter Word-of-Mouth Buzz

Who do you trust? That’s what this tip boils down to. If your best friend also happens to be a pathlogical liar or if you’ve been burned by the words of your girlfriend, you know the feeling. Everyone has an opinion and some people treasure theirs more so than others. Those who champion their own personal beliefs on a pedestal with a megaphone need to be muted sometimes. When someone’s so dead set in their ways or so vehemently defend their choices, you have to be a bit skeptical about why they’re so zealous. Never hurts to take what people say with a grain of salt. If you can somehow remain objective during this whole process, kudos! It’s easy to get wrapped up in the hysteria.

Stick To Your Budget

It’s one of the most basic money monitoring skills yet not everyone does it. Create a budget and stick to it. It takes maybe an hour out of your day, but it’s an hour spent wisely (versus that hour you spent stalking your ex on Facebook – give it up, bro, she’s moved on). This also gives you a chance to think about the people most important to you. What would make them happy? A watch, a purse, a pair of shoes? That look of surprise and joy on their face is priceless. The story you tell after they ask you how you afforded it will be one of pride. Hope you have your umbrella because you’re about to get showered with admiration!

What’s hot this week in men’s fashion, gadgets, and gear

Playboy Cover to Cover Portable Hard Drive Now – deep breath – you can own and easily search through every single issue of the iconic magazine right on your computer. The Playboy Cover to Cover Portable Hard Drive is 250GB of heaven.

Nostalgic Links Cufflinks Rep Team Awesome, Lego or anything else that’s cool, vintage or antique. Each pair is hand crafted and sold in limited quantities.

How to Beat Up Anybody by Judah Friedlander Judah Friedlander – the actor, comedian, and self-proclaimed “World Champion” – penned this book to help train you to beat up anybody, assuming you can stop laughing and pay attention.

Flowchart: Should You Friend Your Parents on Facebook Everyone loves a flowchart. Refer to this one to find out if you should accept mom and dad’s friend request.

Fossil Decker Chronograph Watch The updated version of the Fossil Decker Chronograph has everything you need in one place – for less than a benjamin.

Kung Fu Sutra Condom Pack Anything that involves both kung fu and your junk would normally sound like an awful combination, but if you’re going to be breaking a few bed-boards tonight this pack of Kung Fu Sutra Condoms would be a wise investment.

Herbert Schier “Velskoen” Handmade Shoes The eight Damara gentlemen that work in the Herbert Schier factory assemble these “Velskoen” handmade shoes using vegetable-dyed Kudu leather.

To A Tee: Violent Elegance Violent Elegance is a Berlin based street fashion brand with a passion for simplicity. Neither violent nor elegant, their plain white American Apparel tees feature a simple screen-printed graphic, using minimal color, while still managing to maximize their style impact.