When Loudmouth Books opened in September 2023, it continued a nearly century-old legacy of protection on the 200 block of East 16th Street.

Why it matters: The bookstore sits in a single-story brick building in Herron-Morton Place that was once listed in the "Negro Motorist Green-Book" — guides printed between 1936 and 1967 that highlighted safe businesses for Black travelers during the Jim Crow, an era of legalized segregation and racial violence.

The big picture: Fewer than 20% of the sites listed in The Green Book nationwide remain today — a fading link to the past, largely left unpreserved despite their significance in the fight for Black mobility and safety.

Flashback: Author and Indianapolis native Leah Johnson opened Loudmouth Books in response to book-banning attacks targeting the work of Black, LGBTQ+ and other marginalized authors.

• As a Green Book mainstay, the business at 212-214 E. 16th St. operated as the Jacobs Cleaners Building under owner Meyer O. Jacobs.

State of play: Last spring, the National Park Service awarded the Indiana DNR $75,000 to protect and highlight the state's Green Book site history.

• State officials are also working to create an interactive story map, allowing users to easily explore Indiana's Green Book sites alongside detailed historical context.

Zoom in: Holly Tate, an architectural historian with Indiana DNR, told Axios nearly 200 Indiana businesses were listed in the Green Book at least once, but only about 25 of them are still standing.

• "There were approximately 115 (businesses) in Indianapolis alone, and so far we've only found about 14 or 15," Tate said, noting Loudmouth Books building is among those counted.

What's next

As the Omni Severin Hotel underwent a $24 million renovation in 2024, its history as a safe space for Black travelers was not overlooked.

Why it matters: Traveling while Black presented real challenges in America. Green Books helped Black travelers navigate those obstacles — even in northern states, where segregation was less visible but still enforced.

What they're saying: "We're honored to represent those businesses who chose to make a significant commitment to inclusivity and offer a safe place to Black travelers as they stay for business or pleasure, or as a waypoint to other destinations," Steve Quackenbush, general manager for Omni Severin Hotel, told Axios.

• "That is a very important part of our history as a country, and it's nice to be cemented in that with other local places that have that history of inclusion tied to them as well, like the Slippery Noodle, which is also really close to us."

Driving the news: Quackenbush said the Omni renovation blended Indy's Civil Rights history with modern amenities.

• The renovation included a reimagined hotel lobby and revamped dining options that draw inspiration from the days of train travel in a nod to the hotel's proximity to Union Station.
• "We really wanted to lean into that because history gives you a sense of place and authenticity," he said. "It's very rare to find a place that has done its due diligence and really designs things that make sense for the place that they're at."

Go deeper

⛸️ Carmel Christkindlmarkt has unveiled the design of its 2025 mug, an ice skating-inspired look designed by 12-year-old Anika Rupp. (X)

⚖️ Two families are suing Perry Township Schools over what their attorneys call "pervasive violence and bullying" within the school district. (WISH)

🍝 Salt is opening a third location this June inside the former Matt the Miller's Tavern at Carmel City Center. (IndyStar)

🎸 Live Nation has announced that it will not offer its Lawn Pass program for the summer 2025 season at Ruoff Music Center. (WRTV)

🏀 Pacers legend Reggie Miller will take over as NBC Sports' lead game analyst next NBA season. (NBA)

The worst flu season in 15 years has left hundreds of thousands of Americans hospitalized while straining physicians' offices and emergency departments.

Why it matters: Two predominant strains of the virus are circulating right now and causing more severe complications, especially in high-risk populations.

Zoom in: Flu activity in Indiana was "very high" in the week ending Feb. 8, the latest data was available, according to the state health department.

By the numbers: Cases are rising in Indiana across all age groups, but impacting kids 2 and under the most.

• We saw 17 flu-related deaths last week and 97 so far this season.
• Of those, one was a child under 2. About two-thirds have been senior citizens.

The big picture: This flu season is classified as a "high-severity" season, with estimates of at least 29 million cases nationally, the most since the 2009-10 season, according to the latest CDC data.

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