{"id":64010,"date":"2025-12-18T16:34:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T21:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/?p=64010"},"modified":"2026-03-12T15:37:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T19:37:01","slug":"stovall-black-hoteliers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/stovall-black-hoteliers\/","title":{"rendered":"Why We Must Remember the History of Black Hoteliers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size\">My book <em>Hidden Hospitality<\/em> spotlights an era when segregation forced us to create our own networks for travel and lodging<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-cornell-red-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4f66d45612aaf80d2d77724f720f26a9\"><em>\u201cChime In\u201d comprises brief first-person essays by Cornellians. Do you have a topic in mind? Email us at <a href=\"m&#x61;&#x69;&#x6c;&#116;o&#58;&#99;&#111;rnel&#x6c;&#x69;a&#x6e;s&#64;&#x63;&#111;rn&#101;&#x6c;&#108;&#x2e;&#x65;&#x64;&#117;\">co&#114;&#x6e;&#x65;l&#108;&#x69;&#97;&#x6e;s&#64;&#x63;&#x6f;r&#x6e;e&#x6c;&#108;&#46;&#x65;&#x64;&#117;<\/a>! <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By <strong>Calvin Stovall Jr., MPS \u201993<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">The 2018 film <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt6966692\/\"><em>Green Book<\/em><\/a>, starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali, was inspired by the true story of a 1962 tour of the Deep South by African-American pianist Don Shirley and Italian-American bouncer (and later actor) Frank \u201cTony Lip\u201d Vallelonga, who served as Shirley\u2019s driver and bodyguard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, when the film came out, most Americans\u2014both Black and white\u2014were totally unfamiliar with the publication for which it was named:<em> The Negro Motorist Green Book<\/em>, a guide for Black travelers published by an African American, Victor Hugo Green, from 1936\u201366.<\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Calvin Stovall Jr.\" class=\"wp-image-64006 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A-1229x1536.jpg 1229w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A-632x790.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A-316x395.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A-280x350.jpg 280w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A-140x175.jpg 140w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A-70x87.jpg 70w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A-400x500.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A-200x250.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A-100x125.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/stovall-headshot-A.jpg 1260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The movie opened the eyes of many to a different side of hospitality and travel for African Americans: throughout the U.S.\u2019s history of segregation, Black travelers faced not just unwelcoming environments, but the challenge of finding safe places to rest and recharge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Jim Crow period was characterized by the key belief put forth by the historic 1896 Supreme Court case <em>Plessy v. Ferguson<\/em>, which was the idea of \u201cseparate but equal.\u201d However, as many of us know, this era in U.S. history embodied anything but equality in all aspects for Blacks, even when it came to travel and lodging throughout the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p> Throughout the U.S.\u2019s history of segregation, Black travelers faced not just unwelcoming environments, but the challenge of finding safe places to rest and recharge.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>These blatant acts of racism, intolerance, and segregation\u2014starting as early as 1874\u2014resulted in treatment and accommodations that were always inferior to those provided to white Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The atrocious conditions and subpar facilities fueled (or coerced) Black entrepreneurship across the nation. African-American hospitality pioneers dared to dream, and erected first-class hotels and resorts deserving of their race, despite the insurmountable odds they faced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"625\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Hidden-Hospitality-Book-Cover-A.jpg\" alt=\"The cover of &quot;Hidden Hospitality&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-64008 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Hidden-Hospitality-Book-Cover-A.jpg 500w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Hidden-Hospitality-Book-Cover-A-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Hidden-Hospitality-Book-Cover-A-316x395.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Hidden-Hospitality-Book-Cover-A-280x350.jpg 280w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Hidden-Hospitality-Book-Cover-A-140x175.jpg 140w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Hidden-Hospitality-Book-Cover-A-70x87.jpg 70w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Hidden-Hospitality-Book-Cover-A-400x500.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Hidden-Hospitality-Book-Cover-A-200x250.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Hidden-Hospitality-Book-Cover-A-100x125.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>African-American contributions to the world of hospitality are too little known, because they have been too little documented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I wrote <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.calvinstovall.com\/book\"><em>Hidden Hospitality<\/em><\/a><em>: Untold Stories of Black Hotel, Motel, and Resort Owners from the Pioneer Days to the Civil Rights Era<\/em> to introduce readers to the histories of Black entrepreneurs and hoteliers, and uncover yet another aspect of our history too often ignored or intentionally left out of American history narratives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My research began during my studies as an MPS student in the Hotel School.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It unveiled a world that is virtually unknown to most people, even those in the hospitality industry\u2014with the primary purpose of sharing inspirational stories of these Black hospitality pioneers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In essence, I wanted to pull back the curtain and share insights into a vibrant era of Black culture, community, and hospitality\u2014spotlighting some of the acclaimed hotel, motel, and resort pioneers of the 19th and 20th centuries, who hosted some of the period\u2019s most famous Black celebrities, luminaries, performers, and political figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p> I wanted to pull back the curtain and share insights into a vibrant era of Black culture, community, and hospitality.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>In response to the basic human need for shelter and sustenance, these courageous entrepreneurs carved out spaces within the dominant culture, creating a network of Black-owned hotels, motels, and resorts that offered comfort and safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For me, a full-circle moment happened at the Times Center in NYC in November 2024, when I inducted the late <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thehistorymakers.org\/biography\/james-bud-ward\">James \u201cBud\u201d Ward \u201952<\/a>\u2014the first African American to graduate from the Hotel School\u2014into the Hotelie Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"James Bud Ward greeting visitor from behind the front desk at Hampton House\" class=\"wp-image-64009\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-608x342.jpg 608w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-304x171.jpg 304w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-152x85.jpg 152w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-1184x666.jpg 1184w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-592x333.jpg 592w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-296x166.jpg 296w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-1264x711.jpg 1264w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-632x356.jpg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-316x178.jpg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-200x113.jpg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/Image-of-James-Bud-Ward-at-Hampton-House-A.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">James &#8220;Bud&#8221; Ward \u201952 behind the front desk at the Hampton House hotel.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ward\u2019s story is one of grit and determination in overcoming obstacles during an era of extreme discrimination across the U.S. He was a trailblazer who broke down barriers and refused to accept anything \u201cless-than\u201d based on the color of his skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Early in his career, he served as manager of the Booker Terrace Motel (later renamed the Hampton House), among other properties in the Miami area. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unbeknownst to most, Ward paved the way for Blacks in the hospitality industry and eventually became the first African-American senior vice president of a major hotel chain\u2014Marriott\u2014in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"599\" src=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/CHS-Hall-of-Fame-Induction-Ceremony-A.jpeg\" alt=\"Calvin Stovall Jr. stands at a podium\" class=\"wp-image-64027 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/CHS-Hall-of-Fame-Induction-Ceremony-A.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/CHS-Hall-of-Fame-Induction-Ceremony-A-300x281.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/CHS-Hall-of-Fame-Induction-Ceremony-A-632x592.jpeg 632w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/CHS-Hall-of-Fame-Induction-Ceremony-A-316x296.jpeg 316w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/CHS-Hall-of-Fame-Induction-Ceremony-A-400x374.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/CHS-Hall-of-Fame-Induction-Ceremony-A-200x187.jpeg 200w, https:\/\/alumni.cornell.edu\/cornellians\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/12\/CHS-Hall-of-Fame-Induction-Ceremony-A-100x94.jpeg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption>Inducting Ward into the Hotelie Hall of Fame.<\/figcaption><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>(Today, that company still ranks among the leaders in their non-discriminatory policies and practices in hiring and promotions.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ward will be best remembered for opening up management opportunities for people of color and women during a challenging time for Blacks in America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He was another pioneer who worked feverishly behind the scenes to ensure African Americans were treated fairly and with dignity.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He made an indelible contribution to the hospitality industry\u2014but more importantly, he will be remembered for his bravery, sacrifice, and selflessness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I hope that readers of <em>Hidden Hospitality<\/em> find these Black hospitality pioneers and their stories equally inspiring and eye-opening, and that it spurs innovation and entrepreneurship among hospitality professionals\u2014regardless of race\u2014and reminds them that honoring their legacy is part of building the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.calvinstovall.com\/\"><strong><em>Calvin Stovall Jr., MPS \u201993<\/em><\/strong><\/a><em>, has had a three-decade career in hospitality and nonprofits, including serving as vice president of brand marketing for Hilton Worldwide. Based in North Carolina, he also runs <\/em><a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/iconicpresentations.net\/\"><em>Iconic Presentations<\/em><\/a><em>, which offers workshops and motivational talks.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(All images provided.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Published December 18, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><em>Hidden Hospitality<\/em> spotlights an era when segregation forced us to create our own networks for travel and lodging<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":68,"featured_media":64005,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"alumni_hub_syml_posts":[14135,30737,62793],"footnotes":""},"categories":[639],"tags":[],"cornell_year_post":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-64010","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-perspectives"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - 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