Summary

The novel takes place in the year 1954. Atticus Turner, a 22 year-old black man is driving north from Jacksonville, Florida to Chicago, Illinois. One of his car’s tires goes flat. The nearby garage refuses to serve Atticus because he is black. It does not matter that the mechanic is a veteran and Atticus served in the Korean War. Atticus uses his edition of The Safe Negro Travel Guide, published by his father, to find a nearby black-owned garage. The owner there is friendly to Atticus. He even shares Atticus’ love of science fiction. Atticus continues driving, but he is eventually pulled over and harassed by a white police officer. Fortunately, the officer lets Atticus go. Atticus arrives on the south side of Chicago at the office of Safe Negro Travel Agency. The business is operated by Atticus’ father Montrose Turner and Atticus' uncle, George...