Route 66, known as the Mother Road, marks its 100th anniversary this year, prompting reflection on its complex legacy as both a symbol of American mobility and a site of racial exclusion. In an article by LAist, the historic highway is examined not only as a pathway for westward migration, but also as a dangerous route for Black Americans fleeing Jim Crow-era oppression.

Built in 1926 and spanning more than 2,000 miles, Route 66 became a key corridor for migration, commerce and military movement. However, for Black travelers, the journey was fraught with segregated accommodations, sundown towns and the constant threat of violence.

Today, Route 66 is no longer part of the U.S. highway system, surpassed by the newer Interstate Highway System and the 10 Freeway. Professor of public policy and urban planning at UCLA Michael Stoll notes that rising housing costs and gentrification are continuing to reshape where Black families live in Southern California, with many moving to regions like the Inland Empire and Antelope Valley. His comments underscore how transportation systems—from Route 66 to modern freeways—have long played a role in shaping community formation, access and inequality.