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Baitball Blogger

(52,298 posts) Fri Jul 1, 2016, 10:19 AM Jul 2016

Route 66 - what are the connotations associated with this term? [View all]

I know what it is, but I'm trying to find out its historical meaning as well as why youngsters would be aware of it today.

For example, I did a search and realized that Route 66 did have a racist past. A book was available for black Americans to let them know about the sundown towns-or, the all white towns-that would not be friendly to PoC in their travels.

Someone over seventy might be aware of this history, but I'm not sure that it's the contemporary reason that a kid under ten might make reference to it today.

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/feb/27/green-book-south-west-usa-route-66-civil-rights

97 replies

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Route 66 - what are the connotations associated with this term? [View all] Baitball Blogger Jul 2016 OP

First I ever heard of it was from a TV show in the early 60's. tonyt53 Jul 2016 #1

Exactly. Baitball Blogger Jul 2016 #3

same here. Buzz and Todd still_one Jul 2016 #12

. jberryhill Jul 2016 #2

That's where I remember hearing it from as a kid. Stellar Jul 2016 #17

Route 66 did not have a racist past that was any different from the SheilaT Jul 2016 #4

The link was the first I heard of it. Baitball Blogger Jul 2016 #8

It is my understanding that the African American community SheilaT Jul 2016 #18

Before the interstate highways, Route 66 was a (if not the) main e-w route. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2016 #22

"It runs from Chicago to LA" Retrograde Jul 2016 #63

Route 66 is 2451 miles. It's only 789 miles from NYC to Chicago. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2016 #67

The Green Book included Rt 66 but did not originate there and did not "create a reason" for someone Tanuki Jul 2016 #46

Pheomenal! Baitball Blogger Jul 2016 #51

Exactly! MatthewStLouis Jul 2016 #33

Neon alittlelark Jul 2016 #5

Great photo! DawgHouse Jul 2016 #23

Looks like Central Avenue, Albuquerque, NM Frank Cannon Jul 2016 #54

Flagstaff -- one of the best cities in the Southwest. aikoaiko Jul 2016 #92

Sundown books weren't solely about traveling route 66 or through sufrommich Jul 2016 #6

Get your kicks on Route 66! In_The_Wind Jul 2016 #7

Thanks for posting the lyrics! Baitball Blogger Jul 2016 #9

That's usually my first though when anyone mentions Route 66. In_The_Wind Jul 2016 #10

Written by Bobby Troup melm00se Jul 2016 #16

He also had the best line in the movie M*A*S*H. Iggo Jul 2016 #27

Yup! Bobby Troup! longship Jul 2016 #39

and another shout out for Julie London chknltl Jul 2016 #57

Something Cool, was my favorite. n/t jaysunb Jul 2016 #95

Juxtaposition, Woody Guthrie's song, Do Re Mi, painted a different picture from a different time Brother Buzz Jul 2016 #25

Most of the footage in "Grapes of Wrath" was indeed shot along Rte 66 A HERETIC I AM Jul 2016 #73

Most all the rural I-40 Business loops in the Southwest are also marked 'historic' U.S. Route 66 Brother Buzz Jul 2016 #77

Yes. A HERETIC I AM Jul 2016 #82

Last time I drove I-40, a single ten mile stretch of genuine Route 66 remained (1983) Brother Buzz Jul 2016 #83

I was just mercuryblues Jul 2016 #43

Wow. That is an interesting way to interpret the list of towns along Route 66.. In_The_Wind Jul 2016 #45

+1 Baitball Blogger Jul 2016 #86

I'd say scansion and rhyme were more relevant Retrograde Jul 2016 #90

That was the only place I have ever heard it mentioned. smirkymonkey Jul 2016 #91

It was the road the Okies used... Wounded Bear Jul 2016 #11

Perhaps, the last great westward movement, Baitball Blogger Jul 2016 #14

Perhaps the idea of a frontier lingers... Wounded Bear Jul 2016 #20

My ancestors were "rougher and more unruly" and yep, that's how they ended up in the West. hunter Jul 2016 #88

Yes, there was plenty of hatred against Okies too JPZenger Jul 2016 #65

Yeah, I know about all that... Wounded Bear Jul 2016 #68

Oh, come on - a "racist" highway!! packman Jul 2016 #13

According to the link, your version of history was not Baitball Blogger Jul 2016 #15

Nor yours packman Jul 2016 #19

I don't doubt that for a minute. Baitball Blogger Jul 2016 #26

This is why the Green Book should be required reading Warpy Jul 2016 #32

Good points. Baitball Blogger Jul 2016 #42

It covered all the states mercuryblues Jul 2016 #44

I Live 2 Blocks South of the Old Rt 66 ProfessorGAC Jul 2016 #21

Saw a Japanese tourist - young man on a bike riding on the old ft 66. He has two flags that said Person 2713 Jul 2016 #34

Chicken Basket Is Still Doing Business ProfessorGAC Jul 2016 #37

And he really didn't speak English that well. I'll take CB over WFF., but I like the WFF hush pupps Person 2713 Jul 2016 #40

homewood, 4 blocks east of Dixie hwy, til I was16 Gabi Hayes Jul 2016 #62

South of That ProfessorGAC Jul 2016 #69

.. deaniac21 Jul 2016 #24

thank you for the information. Baitball Blogger Jul 2016 #28

Corvette Stingray convertibles leveymg Jul 2016 #29

no stingray til 63 Gabi Hayes Jul 2016 #72

My Dad ... Auggie Jul 2016 #30

Two guys in a 'vette, BarbaRosa Jul 2016 #31

from Steinbeck, "The Grapes of Wrath" edhopper Jul 2016 #35

I never got this GummyBearz Jul 2016 #48

Maybe not in bakersfield, but.... edhopper Jul 2016 #49

From that link it looks like Steinbeck was full of shit GummyBearz Jul 2016 #50

Yes edhopper Jul 2016 #53

The Okies would not go to Santa Monica. The route to Bakersfield was the notorious Grapevine Bluenorthwest Jul 2016 #64

It sounds like you're repeating what I just said GummyBearz Jul 2016 #80

Those were state inspectors, and they still have them Retrograde Jul 2016 #89

There is a Route 66 restraurant in Albuquerque NM on one of the main drags that riversedge Jul 2016 #60

There were plenty of sundown towns not within a 400 miles of Rt 66. hobbit709 Jul 2016 #36

In Texas, they had Sundown towns even for white Wheat Harvest crews Jim Beard Jul 2016 #59

The mother road Person 2713 Jul 2016 #38

Lots of playlists on Spotify teach1st Jul 2016 #41

For crying out loud. Igel Jul 2016 #47

That's helpful! Baitball Blogger Jul 2016 #52

I was going to post about 'Cars" Watched it with the kids lots of time. riversedge Jul 2016 #61

Don't Haul Bricks On 66 Ptah Jul 2016 #55

Restaurants of Route 66 trackfan Jul 2016 #56

It's not Route 66 that was racist, rather people living along Route 66 liberal N proud Jul 2016 #58

It wasn't a racist road. It was just a road in a racist country. Iggo Jul 2016 #66

Which Pretty Much, A Road Just Like All The Rest! ProfessorGAC Jul 2016 #71

+1 n/t jaysunb Jul 2016 #96

I think two reasons, 1st the highway of the Dust Bowl Diaspora and the Highway that took the middle Todays_Illusion Jul 2016 #70

Steinbeck and the Okies. ananda Jul 2016 #74

I remember getting my kicks on Rt. 66. Lady Freedom Returns Jul 2016 #75

I read the history because I heard about the network of African Americans who provided malaise Jul 2016 #76

That thing about Oklahoma City being oh so pretty Warren DeMontague Jul 2016 #78

The Big Texan! cherokeeprogressive Jul 2016 #79

This message was self-deleted by its author seabeyond Jul 2016 #81

I have many awesome Route 66 experiences. hunter Jul 2016 #84

The Rolling Stones is the first connotation. kwassa Jul 2016 #85

At 66, I associate freedom of the road with Route 66, because of the TV SHOW. WinkyDink Jul 2016 #87

Route 66 is known for it's funky roadside places womanofthehills Jul 2016 #93

Great picture! Baitball Blogger Jul 2016 #97

Steinbeck and Depeche Mode. SMC22307 Jul 2016 #94