Taylor assiduously retraces the Green Book’s history.

... [an] electrifying deep dive into the history of the Green Book.

... make[s] powerfully clear the magnitude of the injustices and harrowing encounters endured by African-Americans traveling by 'open' road, as well as of their quiet acts of rebellion and protest, which went far beyond having to find alternative places to eat, sleep and buy gas.

Her exhaustive exploration illuminates a lost network of vibrant hidden communities. It also highlighted the distances between some.

Taylor...focuses on the racism of white commerce and celebrates 'black travelers, armed with the Green Book,' who used their cars as 'a formidable tool that pushed the pendulum of equality forward.' At the same time, because it cannot ignore the current crisis of over-policing and mass incarceration, Overground Railroad wavers between commending and qualifying the efforts of black motorists and businesses. Left unexplained...is what happened after the midcentury struggle for equal access to public accommodations.

An enriching look at African American history through the lens of the black motorist, and as one of the few books on the subject, this is essential for most collections..