Racialized Spaces on Route 66

As Route 66 arrives at its centenary in 2026, teachers have time to capture and build upon a place that is iconic throughout history and to use this landmark to foster critical thinking and curricula embedded in social justice. Route 66 has been remembered as a place for cruising, dancing the lindy, and finding vintage Coke bottles. Left out of this narrative is the history and culture of segregation that framed the experiences of others along Route 66. Flagstaff provides an opportunity to examine this wider narrative through the voices and histories of African American, Indigenous and Hispanic people.