By Leroy Adams

Community members gather for a Visioning Session with SAAACAM sharing their dreams and hopes for the new home of SAAACAM in the Kress-Grant Building, downtown on East Houston Street.

The second most radical act of defiance is giving Black people the freedom of choice and the power of self-determination.

The San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum is empowering its community with the freedom of choice through untold stories. This act of defiance sparks a reclamation of the community’s rightful place in San Antonio’s history, reclaiming their legacy and shaping their future.

Two months ago, I received a text from Heather Williams, Program Director of the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum (SAAACAM). SAAACAM was preparing to host film director Yoruba Richen to screen and discuss her award-winning documentary, The Green Book: A Guide to Freedom, and they wanted me to moderate the discussion. With fresh memories of my own Green Book experience in Richmond, Virginia, still vivid in my mind, I quickly texted back, “Yes, I’d be honored.” After hitting send, I immediately thought of the BLK RVA.

Talking to vendors at BLK RVA's Richmond Night Market
Photo Credit: Joshua Maclin

Two months before Heather’s text, Visit Richmond - the organization responsible for promoting Richmond’s unique culture, history, and attractions, while driving economic prosperity through tourism - hosted our writers for a one-week media trip to explore Black culture and history in the city that birthed influential figures like Booker T. Washington, Henrietta Lacks, Ella Fitzgerald, Pharrell, Gabby Douglas, Missy Elliott, and Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. On the first day, we learned about the community’s year-long efforts pressuring city leaders to recognize the lasting impact of slavery, repair those harms, and provide restitution to Black communities and businesses. These efforts resulted in community-led initiatives like BLK RVA—a true celebration of Black culture in the Richmond Region—giving residents the power to lead economic development, create tourism products, and own their narrative. Such intention has enabled Richmond to attract Black travelers, tapping into a multi-billion-dollar market.

Against the backdrop of the "Harlem of the South," traditionally known as Jackson Ward, a neighborhood once dubbed "Black Wall Street," home to free Blacks and a former plantation, we were learning about the legacy of Victor Hugo Green. Led by beloved community historian Gary Flowers, their "Walking The Ward Tour" blessed our writing pads with ideas and inspiration. Vibrantly colored murals telling the stories and history of the Jackson Ward guided our walk.

A bright yellow wall caught my attention. The mural felt almost endless, as if it stretched toward infinity, symbolizing the enduring legacies of its inhabitants—Marcus Garvey and Bob Marley. Standing in front of a Lyft Headquarters, I started reading the green plaque in front of the building. At the top, in big bold letters, it said: "Virginia Green Book Location", 1938-1967. Beneath that was this description:

The Negro Motorist Green Book, a guidebook for African American travelers, was published by New York City mail carrier Victor Hugo Green in response to the pervasive and widespread racial discrimination during the pre-Civil Rights era. Green's guide featured hotels, restaurants, service stations, and other places where African Americans could count on being served.

A Green Book location in Jackson Ward, Richmond.

Gary shared how community members, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the Virginia Tourism Corporation, worked to preserve the impact and legacy of the Green Book by identifying over one hundred Virginia-based businesses featured in the guide. They also encouraged local businesses and organizations to sponsor historical markers or plaques to commemorate these significant locations.

SAAACAM THE FEARLESS

With the impatience of a child the night before Christmas, I couldn’t wait to get back to San Antonio and share this idea with SAAACAM. Leave it to Deborah to make you feel the old “Ah, that’s cute, you thought you had something” because the museum was well underway with its own Green Book project, having already identified eighty-two locations across San Antonio. I should have known, this is what SAAACAM does.

San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum

To spark a reclaiming, one strong enough to ignite a community drained by systemic failures - there must be a catalyst—a person, group, or entity willing to ignite the change and survive the incoming “remember your place” type energy. It requires someone with the courage to "light the match," to initiate action that encourages the community to mobilize, rediscover its identity, and reclaim its narrative. SAAACAM does this because their leader is fearless in her quest to empower Black people with their history.

For months, a dedicated coalition of historians, scholars, and student volunteers from the University of Texas-San Antonio had been canvassing the city with the enthusiasm of Pokémon-Go chasers, uncovering Green Book sites across San Antonio.

In 2026, SAAACAM will open its doors to its new home, the historic Kress Building, becoming the third-largest African-American museum by exhibit space in the country.

Their work was more than just an academic exercise—it was a mission to preserve a history that still resonates deeply today.

“The discovery of over eighty sites through SAAACAM's Green Book Project, There's A Story Here, speaks to the vital and timely need to preserve these narratives. Each site holds a unique story of resilience and community, shedding light on a past that continues to shape our present. As we uncover these hidden histories, we not only honor the legacy of those who came before us but also provide a path for future generations to understand the significance of these spaces in San Antonio and in African American culture,” says Deborah Omowale Jarmon, CEO of SAAACAM.

Deborah Omowale Jarmon (far left), director and CEO of the San Antonio African American Community Archive & Museum (from left), Pamela Walker, a history professor at Texas A&M-San Antonio, and James Thomas chat with one another as SAAACAM hosts a tour for the unveiling of Green Book Historical Markers around San Antonio.
Photo Credit: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer

For African Americans during the Jim Crow era, traveling could be dangerous. The Green Book was more than just a travel guide—it was a lifeline. It gave Black travelers options. With the information it provided, they could choose where to go—hotels, restaurants, and even private homes willing to provide shelter—while avoiding the terror of places known for decorating their trees with Black bodies.

SAAACAM's campaign, "There's A Story Here," honors the historical significance of Victor Hugo Green's Green Book and underscores its relevance to today's Black travelers. According to MMGY Global's 2021 report, more than 70% of Black travelers from the U.S. and Canada consider safety extremely or very influential when choosing destinations.

Much like the original Green Book, the campaign connects travelers to these historic sites, serving as a reminder that Black travelers still have reasons to not feel safe. In response to this ongoing concern, a modern version of the Green Book has emerged as an app, bringing the legacy of choice into the digital age.

CARRYING THE LEGACY FORWARD

Sitting with my Richmond Green Book memories and the joy of SAAACAM's news, I called Heather and asked if the museum knew of Lawrence Phillips, the founder of the Green Book Global app—a modern version of The Green Book built on the legacy of Victor Hugo Green's work. Lawrence, who had faced safety questions after traveling to 30 countries and all seven continents in one year, created the app to help Black people travel safely in the U.S. and abroad. It reviews destinations—think Yelp, but for travel—and offers a platform for members to share their travel experiences - think Black Trip Advisor.

“As I was traveling around the world I noticed how difficult it was to determine what racism could be like or what my experience would be like in a destination as a Black traveler. Knowing that other Black travelers have this same concern, I created Green Book Global,” said Lawrence during SAAACAM’s Green Book event.

Lawrence with his wife and three-year-old daughter on vacation.

Here's how it works: members rate destinations on categories such as "Things to Do," "Safety While Traveling Black," "Affordability," and more, using a 5-point scoring system. The company recently added a road trip planner to help travelers identify unwelcoming cities and places, like sundown towns—yes, they still exist—when planning a road trip across the U.S. Cities are labeled Green, Yellow, or Red, signaling whether travelers are safe to visit, should proceed with caution, or stay away altogether. It's a much-needed tool for Black travelers navigating a world that still lynches Black people.

SAAACAM quickly jumped on board and agreed to invite Lawrence to join Yoruba for the Q&A, thrilled at the idea of an intergenerational conversation about the Green Book's past, present, and future.

PREPARE OUR YOUTH TO LEAD

Before the event, SAAACAM brought everyone together for an afternoon lunch at Southerleigh in the Pearl District. All around the table people were talking about the Green Book, passionately sharing their travel stories, and agreeing on the importance of community ownership over what they find. Among those at the table were Heather, Deborah, Pesha Mabrie, SAAACAM's Democratizing Racial Justice Program Director and Green Book Historian, Jeff May, Chief Administrative Officer of SAAACAM, Belinda Gavallos, Bexar County Historical Commission Chair, and Dr. Charles Gentry from UTSA's Black Studies Department and the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation.

Their mission is to collect, preserve, and share the history of The Green Book in the San Antonio region.

SAAACAM's Former Archive Assistant, Blake Marlowe, and Exhibit Space Supervisor, Taylor Foots

One story, in particular, played on my soft heart. Pesha talked about how they were engaging students at UTSA in this project, creating opportunities for Black and non-Black students to connect with their history while sharing what they learn with their peers. This is how stories and history live on. Griots—protectors of community stories—aren't created through fear and endless tolerance. Where true preservation stands, revisionist history fades. Pesha reminded us just how crucial it is to preserve these stories—not just for posterity, but to ensure our young people know their history in all its pain and triumph, allowing them to pass it to the next generation.

I'm able to witness young folks connect the dots on the power of the systems of oppression against Black folks. They are unpacking how the legacy of Black codes and Jim Crow are alive and well, but that Black folks still found ways to travel and experience joy, said Pesha to the table.

TONIGHT, WE HEARD OUR STORY

Yoruba stepped out of the Uber wearing a mint green dress adorned with colorful flowers. Yoruba is a graceful and firm hugger exuding the same warmth as Phylicia Rashad, whom I once hugged at a Black film festival in San Antonio. Like Phylicia, Yoruba's hugs relax your shoulders, and you immediately know you're in the presence of someone special.

After chatting outside, we joined Lawrence in the theater's front row. While reviewing the questions, Lawrence and Yoruba asked that we include questions about balancing the depiction of struggle and violence with progress and joy in their work. For them, the latter are too often left out of our stories despite being so prevalent throughout history. Our discussion came to an end at the sound of the audience filtering into the theater. That night, some people had come out of curiosity, perhaps to learn a history unfamiliar to them. Others, with gratitude, were eager to watch a Green Book film that centered their story, with the opportunity to thank the person responsible for their inclusion and celebrate the young man who was helping keep their children and grandchildren safe.

The 50-minute documentary is essential for anyone interested in understanding Black travel history. Yoruba's film provides a robust introduction to the pivotal role Victor Hugo Green's Green Book played in ensuring the safety of Black travelers during a time of widespread racial violence. Through archival footage, interviews, and expert commentary, the film illustrates how this guide became a lifeline for African Americans navigating the dangers of Jim Crow, showing which establishments were safe to visit and which routes were the safest to travel.

For those familiar with The Green Book, the documentary goes beyond its well-known role as a travel guide, exploring its significance as a tool for Black safety, political activism, and historic preservation. The film highlights how The Green Book provided accommodations and served as a form of resistance—helping Black communities mobilize and push back against segregation. It adds greater context to how the guidebook contributed to preserving Black history, safeguarding stories of survival, entrepreneurship, and empowerment in a time of intense oppression.

In the documentary, you come to truly understand that The Green Book's most radical impact was its ability to give Black people options, the power to choose —something that was rare and revolutionary during the Jim Crow era.

The film came to an end with the lights revealing the faces responsible for the applause. The audience was eager for the discussion. Questions began appearing on the large screen behind me, Lawrence, and Yoruba, who were now seated at the center of the stage. Using the number on their program, the audience texted questions that filled the screen before I even had a chance to introduce the panel. From audience to panel, questions bounced like popcorn as we explored the motivations behind the panelists' work, the balance of struggle and joy in our stories, and the state of Black travel today. The discussion reminded us how far we've come and how much work still lies ahead.

BE RADICAL, LIKE THE GREEN BOOK

In America, the second most radical thing you can do for Black people is give us the freedom of choice. For generations, pursuing self-determination has often felt like a dream deferred, with barriers placed at every turn. The Green Book was radical in breaking through those barriers, giving Black travelers the freedom to choose where they could safely go, to explore and experience the country on their terms. It wasn't just a travel guide but a tool for reclaiming agency and dignity in a world that sought to deny both.

Standing on business, SAAACAM carries this legacy forward in a city that proudly marches every January 15, yet where many Black residents often feel defined by the perceptions of others, with their history reduced to one figure: Martin Luther King Jr. Meanwhile, the unhoused who live at the Dr. King monument for 364 days of the year at New Braunfels Ave and Houston, frustrated by the influx of local tourists, call bullshit each January. As Bryan, my barber, often vents, "We have more history in San Antonio, but they only ever talk about us when it's time for the MLK march. What about the Buffalo Soldiers outdoor museum? What about Myra Hemmings?" By unearthing these untold histories, SAAACAM empowers Black people to reclaim their agency, guiding how their stories are leveraged to cement their collective legacy in the city and drive economic development in their communities. This reclamation of history ultimately grants them a profound sense of freedom, and that is the most radical act one can offer Black people in America.

By bringing these narratives to the surface—stories of resilience, creativity, and defiance—SAAACAM ensures that our history is preserved and celebrated. Just as The Green Book opened doors and created pathways for Black travelers, SAAACAM opens doors for our voices to be heard and our experiences to be acknowledged in a city uncommonly known for its Black history. The power of choice, whether in travel or storytelling, remains a profound, radical act of self-determination that continues to shape our future.