About the book
Rediscover Black-Owned Hotels, Motels, and Resorts—and the History Behind Them
Throughout America’s history of slavery and segregation, Black travelers faced not just unwelcoming environments but the challenge of finding safe places to rest and recharge. In response to this basic human need, courageous Black entrepreneurs carved out spaces within the dominant culture, creating a network of Black-owned hotels, motels, and resorts that offered comfort and safety for Black travelers.
Calvin Stovall, a seasoned hospitality professional with nearly thirty years of experience, brings this overlooked history to light. In Hidden Hospitality: Untold Stories of Black Hotels, Motels, and Resorts from the Pioneer Days to the Civil Rights Era, Stovall shares the inspiring stories of these pioneers. He highlights the immense challenges they faced and the enduring impact of their establishments, showing how these spaces became vibrant hubs of Black culture, where people could gather, find joy, and be their true selves.
Through vivid stories and photographs, Stovall covers the entire chronology of Black hospitality, from the Royal Navy Hotel, an eighteenth-century establishment managed by a free woman of color, to significant fixtures during the Green Book era, such as the Majestic Hotel—a city unto itself—as well as the Hotel Theresa, where historical figures were known to unpack their bags. All along, Stovall captures how Black hoteliers not only built businesses but also created dynamic spaces for culture and community. They were more than places to stay—they were lively centers of Black art, music, and social life, influencing the broader society around them.
Stovall helps us better understand the Black experience by highlighting stories long forgotten or never told. The history of Black hospitality, rich with creativity, resilience, and legacy, continues to unfold, reminding us that the story is far from over.
PREORDERS
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PRaise
"Calvin Stovall’s Hidden Hospitality is a revelatory tribute to the resilience, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial spirit of African American hotel, motel, and resort owners. Through stunning visuals and untold narratives, Stovall brings to light a vital yet overlooked chapter of Black history—one where hospitality served as both refuge and resistance. This book is more than a history lesson; it is a celebration of legacy, community, and an unyielding pursuit of opportunity in the face of adversity. A must-read for anyone who values stories of triumph woven into the fabric of America’s past."
Ronald J. Stephens, author of Idlewild: The Rise, Decline, and Rebirth of a Unique African American Resort Town
“Calvin Stovall has brought us a fascinating and important book that brings near-forgotten personalities back to life, resurfaces significant advancements in hospitality, and gives Black hospitality pioneers their due, at last.”
—Arnie Weissmann, Editor in Chief | Travel Weekly
“Great books humble us, inspire us, change us, and make us want to make the world better. Calvin Stovall’s book is such a book.
One of my favorite books of the year, Hidden Hospitality captures the struggles and triumphs of the men and women who pioneered Black hospitality in America.
Calvin’s passion, meticulous research, and gimlet eye for details shine through the work.
This is not a hagiography but a nuanced biography of ordinary people reaching for the extraordinary.
How can a person maintain a smile when they are hurting inside? How can a person practice hospitality when they live in inhospitable times? How can a person retain their humanity when faced with inhumane situations? How can a person persevere when they have every reason to give up?
The lessons in this book are profound.
You will be moved. You will be inspired. You will shout.
You will be entertained, educated, and elevated.
This book is about the human experience, not just the Black experience.
You owe it to yourself to read this book. This is one of the best books you will read this year.”
—Dr. Jeffrey O, President & CEO, International Hospitality Institute
"This isn't just hospitality history, it's American history. Calvin Stovall has unearthed the extraordinary stories of Black hoteliers with reverence and clarity, ensuring their contributions are no longer overlooked, and they are getting the recognition they have long deserved."
—Anna Blue, CEO, Blue Moss Group
“No longer hidden. Thanks to Calvin, a more complete history of American hospitality is in full display.”
—Ted Teng, Former President, CEO, The Leading Hotels of the World
“Calvin Stovall’s beautiful homage to Black hoteliers is an incredible work of passion, love, and commitment in sharing the important untold stories and history of Black hospitality leaders, their hotels, and their guests. The vital role Black hospitality leaders played in the industry and in American history and society broadly has remained hidden for far too long. Thanks to Calvin, they are hidden no more!”
—Stuart W. Greif, Chief Strategy, Innovation & Operating Officer, Forbes Travel Guide
“The celebrated novelist, Ralph Ellison wrote, “I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.” Calvin Stovall’s Hidden Hospitality makes available to us a long and neglected chapter of American history of resorts, hotels, and sanctuaries for weary travelers and tired souls who navigated through a treacherous period entrenched in de jure and de facto segregation. With scholarly acumen and masterful storytelling, he unearths for the reader an understory of African American entrepreneurship filled with resistance, dignity, and ingenuity. The legacy of African Americans in the hospitality industry that Stovall bequeaths to us and to future generations of all Americans will be the re-mapping of untold stories of courageous men and women who dared to create democratic spaces of beauty, equity and belonging from Chicken Bone Beach to Black Wall Street, from the Hampton House to the Chitlin’ Circuit. This book is a powerful testimony to the truth that even in the most inhospitable of times, Black hospitality thrived—not merely as business, but as radical care.”
—Walter Earl Fluker, Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor Emeritus, Boston University
“By brilliantly documenting and bringing to life the remarkable, little-known history of African Americans in lodging and hospitality, Calvin Stovall not only sheds light on a legacy of innovative entrepreneurship, but further inspires the continued development of ownership and leadership in this industry.”
—Gloria & Solomon Herbert, Publishers, Black Meetings & Tourism
“Calvin brilliantly unearths the overlooked narratives of Black entrepreneurs who defied systemic barriers to establish vital havens for travelers and communities during segregation. It's a powerful and meticulously researched testament to resilience, business acumen, and the enduring spirit of hospitality. A truly illuminating & iconic contribution to American history that reshapes our understanding of the past.”
—Jelani Millard, Founder of The Wapechi Collection
“Hidden Hospitality: Untold Stories of Black Hotel, Motel and Resort Owners from the Pioneer Days to the Civil Rights Era sheds light on the rich and often overlooked narrative of Black hotel ownership, weaving together the stories of pioneers and trailblazers who boldly carved a path in a challenging industry during tumultuous times of resistance and civil rights upheaval. This coffee table book is not just a collection of photos and chronologizing of the journey of Black hotel owners; it is a testament to resilience, passion, and the enduring spirit of the Black community in the face of adversity.”
—Berkita S. Bradford, PhD, Associate Professor & Department Chair, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Administration - School of Business, North Carolina Central University
"Hidden Hospitality is a compelling read - offering historical insights and unveiling the resilience, dignity, and entrepreneurial spirit of black-owned lodging establishments during the Jim Crow era. It offers a profound and enlightening exploration of the triumphs and struggles of these pioneering entrepreneurs, creating a captivating and essential read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the complexities of American society during the segregation era."
—Ron McCoy, Grandson of Tookes Hotel founder, Dorothy Tookes, Tallahassee, FL
“I am delighted to endorse your book about the history of Black hotel owners over the past century. This is a profoundly important story that deserves to be told, highlighting the resilience, innovation, and significant contributions of Black entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry against the backdrop of historical moments.
I am honored to provide this endorsement that reflects the significance of this narrative that you have so beautifully covered.
What will be so interesting for readers are the personal journeys, obstacles they’ve overcome, and lasting legacies of these pioneering individuals and families, some with accompanying images.
Understanding their experiences will provide invaluable insights into American history, the evolution of the broader hospitality sector, and the enduring spirit of Black entrepreneurship.
Congratulations on the completion of this amazing story!”
—Frances Kiradjian, Founder & CEO, BLLA | StayBoutique & Boutique Money Group, Los Angeles
“Hospitality is often misunderstood as merely an industry of amenities, but its most enduring value lies in the operators who create safe harbors for people, capital, and culture. Hidden Hospitality reclaims and elevates stories of resilience, ingenuity, and vision—reminding us that the purpose of hospitality is deeper than design or returns. Calvin’s work is more than a book—it’s a call to invest in enduring principles. In chronicling the untold stories of hospitality’s unsung pioneers, Calvin reveals a powerful truth: resilient operators driven by purpose shape markets and inspire legacies. For any investor looking to understand leadership beyond the balance sheet, this is essential reading.
Congratulations again on Hidden Hospitality. Your work is not only timely but essential. I believe history is a powerful investment in perspective, and Hidden Hospitality offers an invaluable record of the vision, resilience, and leadership that African American hotel owners have brought to our industry over centuries.
I hope your work can help restore the rightful place of these pioneers in the hospitality space and broadens the lens through which everyone understands the sector’s cultural and financial contributions.
Hidden Hospitality is a long-overdue tribute to the Black pioneers whose legacy continues to shape hospitality today. Calvin’s work is both history and blueprint—preserving stories that inspire the future of inclusive ownership and institutional capital in our space.”
—William Hutson, General Partner, Bay Street Hospitality
“Hidden Hospitality is a major contribution to Black history, American history, and the Hospitality Industry as a whole. Calvin Stovall’s passion, leadership, and deep dedication to this project is unmatched and will result in a historical publication that will inspire and inform many for generations to come. Hidden Hospitality should be featured in every hotel, resort, hospitality school, and university across the country and beyond."
—Evan S. Frazier, President & CEO, The Advanced Leadership Institute, Founding Chair, Mosaic Hospitality Association
© Copyright Calvin Stovall 2025
Background image: Charles H. Douglass Hotel and Theatre. From the Georgia Archives’ Vanishing Georgia Collection.