Born near Niagara Falls, Canada West in May 1860, Green immigrated to the United States in 1884, and within a couple of years, he became a leader of the African-American community in Milwaukee.

The Chapter 223 bill, which Green drafted, ended up becoming the foundation of modern civil rights legislation in the state of Wisconsin on April 13, 1895.

The bill, entitled "An act to protect all citizens in their civil and legal rights", outlawed discrimination in saloons, restaurants, inns, barbershops, and most other public locations.

He was retained by the Afro-American League of Milwaukee to appear before the legislature against the Cady Bill, which sought to ban the marriage of negroes and whites.

While he was an acknowledged leader of black Republicans in Milwaukee, the state GOP never rewarded his loyalty with an endorsement for local elected offices such as district attorney or justice of the peace.