2-835-475 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Motel sign from Humboldt, Tennessee, named for Booker T. Washington (1856-1915), an African-American educator, author and orator. 'Colored' indicates that the motel was for African-Americans only. During the period of racial segregation in the US, many areas of life were separated along race lines, with facilities for white people usually being more comfortable and of a superior quality compared to those designated for Black people. A red and white painted metal motel sign inside a plain wooden frame. The sign reads: [Booker T. Motel COLORED Humboldt, Tenn.].