
Why Esso Backed Black Travelers During Jim Crow
From One Mic Black History by Michael Motley jr
October 12, 2025 · 8 min · Season 9
About this episode
The episode discusses how Esso supported Black travelers during the Jim Crow era by providing resources like maps and credit.
On Jim Crow roads, the lifeline wasn’t a law, it was a gas station. Esso used maps, credit, and a nationwide dealer network to turn the Green Book into safe miles.Audio Onemichistory.comFollow me on Instagram: @onemic_historyFollow me on Substack: https://onemicblackhistorypodcast.substack.com/Follow me on Threads: https://www.threads.net/@onemic_historyPlease support our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=25697914Buy me a Coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Countryboi2m
People in this episode
Host: Michael Motley jr
Topics covered
- Jim Crow
- Black travelers
- Esso
- Green Book
- gas stations
- historical support
Keywords
- Esso
- Jim Crow
- Black travelers
- Green Book
- gas stations
- historical support
- travel safety
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Esso
Books & works: Green Book
Places: Jim Crow
More episodes of One Mic Black History
- How Black Women Smuggled Fufu into the South · June 1, 2026 · 12 min
- How Harlem Musicians Outsmarted Segregated Clubs · May 5, 2026 · 13 min
- How Black Cooks Humiliated Enslavers With Oxtail · April 6, 2026 · 11 min
- The Black Man Who Bought Memphis · March 9, 2026 · 8 min
- How They Got Rich on a $0 Salary · February 9, 2026 · 9 min
- How a Barber Stole the Blueprint from Millionaires · January 19, 2026 · 10 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the One Mic Black History podcast page.