Lunchtime Lagniappe: Beyond the Green Book - Black Owned Businesses in Jim Crow Era Louisiana with Kevin Shannahan

During the 30 years of its publication, the Green Book served as a guide to Black travelers seeking places to eat or spend the night during the Jim Crow Era. The Green Book however, was an incomplete guide, there are many Louisiana communities such as Natchitoches that never has an entry in any edition of the Green Book. Likewise, there were thousands of Black owned businesses throughout the state that never appeared in the Green Book. These businesses, now mostly forgotten, left a lasting legacy to Louisiana. It is a part of our shared history that deserves to be explored. 

Kevin Shannahan has been a resident of Natchitoches since 1994. A former Air Force officer, he taught in Red River Parish with the Troops to Teachers program for four years and is a recently retired state employee. Kevin is also an amateur historian with an interest in Louisiana during the Reconstruction and Jim Crow eras that was sparked during his time teaching in Coushatta.

This event is free and open to the public. Visitors are welcome to bring their lunch and eat while they listen.

For more information, visit our FLASH Facebook page, or call 357-2492.