Driving While Black demonstrates that the car--the ultimate symbol of independence and possibility--has always held particular importance for African Americans, allowing black families to evade the dangers presented by an entrenched racist society and to enjoy, in some measure, the freedom of the open road. Melding new archival research with her family's story, Gretchen Sorin recovers a lost history, demonstrating how, when combined with black travel guides--including the famous Green Book--the automobile encouraged a new way of resisting oppression.

BIO

Gretchen Sorin is distinguished professor and director of the Cooperstown Graduate Program of the State University of New York. She has curated innumerable exhibits--including with the Smithsonian, the Jewish Museum and the New York State Historical Association--and lives in upstate New York.

REVIEWS

"A riveting story on how the automobile opened up opportunities for blacks in the U.S.... In Sorin's work, her prose and talent for turning examples into captivating stories prevent the book from being a mere sociological study of how black travel changed the nation. Instead, she blends her own family's history, and those who experienced the black travel revolution, to make the book enjoyable and noteworthy since it shows how the changes ushered in civil rights." --Russell Contreras, Associated Press

"Driving While Black is painful, poignant, and powerful. White America cannot imagine being unwelcomed and unwanted in stopping for a meal or a motel room on a long trip. But the fact is that this was for decades the harsh reality for millions of our fellow citizens. Through compelling and extensive interviews, illustrations, and evidence, Gretchen Sorin has meticulously documented yet another disturbing aspect of racism in our national life." --Kenneth T. Jackson, Barzun Professor of History, Columbia University

[H] Liveright Publishing Corporation / February 11, 2020

1.4" H x 9.1" L x 5.9" W (1.3 lbs) 352 pages

[P] Liveright Publishing Corporation / December 29, 2020

0.8" H x 8.3" L x 5.5" W (0.6 lbs) 352 pages