The Henry R. Fenbert Challenging History Lecture Series presents: The Green Book: Guide to Freedom – An evening with filmmaker Yoruba Richen
Saturday, March 19, 5:30-9:30 PM
Members exclusive meet and greet with Yoruba Richen, 5:30-6:15 PM
Film screening and exhibition viewing, 6:30-9:30 PM
Seating is limited, RSVP today!
Welcome to a very special evening with acclaimed documentarian Yoruba Richen. See a screening of The Green Book: Guide to Freedom, written and directed by Richen for the Smithsonian Channel™. You’ll also be among the first to see the exhibition The Negro Motorist Green Book from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, opening March 19 at the Washington State History Museum.
Richen’s documentary film The Green Book: Guide to Freedom features historians, business owners, and individuals who experienced “traveling while Black” in pre-civil rights America, and offers a deeper look into Victor H. Green’s travel guide, The Negro Motorist Green Book. Published annually from 1936-1967, “The Green Book” allowed African Americans to safely tour the United States during a time of severe racism. Richen’s film explores the daily struggles, indignities, and dangers that African American people endured while on the road, as well as the opportunities, freedom, and triumphs along the way.
Event Schedule
5:30-6:15 Members Meet and Greet with Yoruba Richen. RSVP will be required for the Member Meet and Greet. To RSVP, email Director of Philanthropy Camille Perezselsky at Camille.Perezselsky@wshs.wa.gov or call 253-798-5899.
6:30-8:00 The Green Book: Guide to Freedom screening in the museum’s auditorium, followed by a conversation with writer, director, and actor Yoruba Richen.
8:00-9:30 Exhibition viewing – see The Negro Motorist Green Book on the fifth floor.
This event is free for members of the Washington State Historical Society and our program partners, the Black Heritage Society of Washington.
Seating is limited. Book your tickets today!
RSVP is required. To RSVP, email Director of Philanthropy Camille Perezselsky at Camille.Perezselsky@wshs.wa.gov or call 253-798-5899.
Proof COVID vaccination or negative COVID test required for attendance
For the health of all event participants, we require guests to provide proof of full COVID vaccination or of a negative COVID test within 72 hours (sourced by a professional test provider, not a self-administered test) to attend this indoor event. Masks must be worn indoors. Please bring your ID along with your vaccine card or photo/copy of your verified negative test results.
Yoruba Richen is an award-winning documentary filmmaker whose work has been featured on Netflix, MSNBC, FX, HULU, New York Times Op Doc, Frontline, The Atlantic, and Field of Vision. Her recent films are the Emmy nominated How it Feels to be Free. and the Peabody and Emmy nominated The Sit In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show. Her film The New York Times Presents: The Killing of Breonna Taylor won an NAACP Image Award and is streaming on Hulu. The Green Book: Guide to Freedom was broadcast on the Smithsonian Channel™ and nominated for an Emmy. Yoruba is a recipient of the Chicken & Egg Breakthrough Filmmaker Award, and Guggenheim and Fulbright fellowships. She is the founding director at the documentary program at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY.
This program is generously underwritten by the Henry R. Fenbert Challenging History Fund. The Negro Motorist Green Book exhibition was created by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with Candacy Taylor and made possible through the generous support of Exxon Mobil Corporation. Local support is provided by Columbia Bank, Humanities Washington, the Fenbert family, and KNKX Public Radio.
