The development of what would become Route 66 began in the late 1920s, culminating in its official designation as U.S. Route 66 on November 11, 1926. For many, Route 66 was known as “The Road of Dreams” because it was meant to bring more job opportunities and promote commerce, tourism, and travel across the United States. However, at the same time white Americans in the west were prospering since the great depression and dust bowl, a much different story was unfolding among the African American and other ethnic communities.
Though emancipation had been decades prior, hate crimes and lynchings reflected the abominations and evils represented by slavery. A new kind of slavery and oppression was emerging from the south and was spreading all over, it was known as Jim Crow laws. Jim Crow laws dictated where black people and people of color could eat, worship, go to school, and use the restroom. By the time route 66 was making her way across the west, the black community were being discouraged from traveling and enjoying public spaces. Furthermore, most of the cities along the 2,448 mile stretch were sundown cities, meaning black peoples’ lives were at risk if they were outside past sunset. This caused a surge in travel guides dedicated to black travelers so they could feel safe with their families while on vacation. These guides pinpointed salons, gas stations, and restaurants that welcomed the black community and people of color. Although it has been decades since Jim Crow laws and segregation, Route 66 still harbors a painful past. In this article we aim to highlight people and businesses along the historic highway that defied the divide and who paved a path of progression and diversity.
Quinn Chapel:
Quinn Chapel, officially known as Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, is located in Chicago, Illinois. It holds a special place in the history of the city and the African American community, as it is one of the oldest Black churches in Chicago and played a significant role in the city’s abolitionist and civil rights movements. Quinn Chapel was founded in 1844 by a group of Black Methodists who wanted to worship freely and practice their faith without the racial segregation that was prevalent in many churches at the time. The church was known for its involvement in the Underground Railroad and has a long history of community outreach and service, including programs aimed at addressing social and economic issues affecting the Black community in Chicago. Quinn Chapel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized as an important historic landmark due to its contributions to African American history and the civil rights movement. It remains a treasured landmark for both the city of Chicago and Route 66.
Milta Café
Milta Café was opened in San Bernardino by Lucia Rodriguez in 1937. It quickly became a safe haven for Mexican families, local businessman, church and civic leaders, and most notably Caesar Chavez who was a regular. The restaurant served as a meet up point for powerful groups to get together and share ideas. One of these ideas being to sue the city in order to gain access to the public pool. They were successful and left the door open for future cases. The case that desegregated California public schools followed after in 1946. Milta cafe still remains in business attracting thousands on and off the route trail.
The Ranch Kitchen
Mary Toki Mochimura Montoya was a Japanese Mexican woman who defied all odds. During the time when Japanese Americans were being put in internment camps, Mary received her first job at El Navajo restaurant in Gallup, New Mexico. She later worked for Fred Harvey, who had a chain of restaurants and especially hired minorities from all background. From there she took her years of training and became the manager at Ranch Kitchen, but not long after the owners turned over the keys making Mary the CEO. Mary continued to run the restaurant for some 40 odd years up until she retired in her 70’s. Her story is an inspiring one that has left its mark on the Mexican, Japanese, and American culture, and the notorious highway, route 66.
Threatt Filling Station:
Another story of beating the odds comes from the Threatt family and their filling station. Unfortunately there was a lot of ways that route 66 was not obtainable to black travelers. One of the many ways was the lack of gas stations along the route. Allen Threatt III, built the filling station in Luther Oklahoma in 1915 to combat segregation . But it was much more than a place to fill up your tank. It was a safe place to reset, refill, and feel dignity, after constantly being turned away and threatened. Allen, determined to leave a legacy for his family, did just that. He expanded the gas station to include, a service station, market and a restaurant and bar. The businesses sat on his 600 acre property and was the residence of generations to come. The Threatt Station is still owned by the family to this day, but is now being preserved by the National Register of Historic places since 1995. The family is also trying to turn it into a museum so that it can be a permanent facet in the community and the route 66 trail.
Route 66 became an iconic symbol of American mobility, and it played a significant role in shaping the culture and economy of the areas it passed through. While it has been largely replaced by modern interstate highways, portions of the historic Route 66 have been preserved, and it remains a popular route for travelers interested in its historical and cultural significance. It is important that these historical jems that celebrate the lives of the marginalized are equally remembered and preserved as national treasures.
References:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mitla-cafe
https://threattfillingstation.org/about