Ruth and the Green Book
- Identify the feelings and motivations of characters.
- Determine the fairness of segregation while traveling.
This story takes place in the 1960s during the heavy segregation in the United States. In this story (told from the perspective of Ruth), she and her family take a road trip from Chicago to Alabama in daddy’s new car. They are going to visit Ruth’s grandmother, and everyone is excited. Ruth's journey is a new experience, but she soon learns of unfair practices against African Americans throughout the country. Her family encounters racism and humiliating, scary experiences. But, along the way, the family encounters friendly African Americans who help, like Eddie and Alice, old friends of Ruth's dad. The family also received The Greenbook, a pamphlet filled with safe places for African Americans to eat, sleep and travel safely. The story talks about Ruth’s feelings and experiences while traveling as an African American child during a turbulent time in American history.