Imperfect Paradise: Route 66 has a 100-year legacy of American road trips and expansion, but the Main Street of America had its problems too

Route 66, while often romanticized as a symbol of American freedom and westward expansion, served as a treacherous path for Black Americans during the Jim Crow era. Many Black travelers faced systemic dangers, including the threat of sundown towns, which necessitated the use of the Green Book to locate safe accommodations and services. The construction of the interstate highway system in the 1950s eventually led to the route's decline, further marginalizing Black neighborhoods through displacement and urban renewal projects like the 10 freeway. Today, the legacy of this migration persists in the shifting demographics of Southern California, where gentrification and rising housing costs continue to impact Black representation and community stability. LA Explained reporter Cato Hernandez highlights these historical complexities, illustrating how infrastructure development often disproportionately burdens marginalized populations while shaping the modern landscape of Los Angeles.