Multiple Perspectives on Route 66

Lesson #2:

Examining the African American experience along Route 66

Photo credit: AP / Wikimedia / NYPL / Paul Spella / The Atlantic

Route 66 lesson #2: Examining the African American experience along Route 66

Learning outcomes:

· You will be able to describe the differences between a primary and secondary source.

· You will be able to analyze primary documents to examine the experiences of African Americans on Route 66.

· You will be able to compare and contrast varying experiences on the road.

PART ONE: This lesson will follow your work on designing a trip through your state. Now you will ask if ANYONE in 1955 could take this same trip.

Situation: The Andersons, an African American family from Chicago, wants to travel across Route 66. Who doesn't want that adventure! Using the trip you designed in Lesson 1, see if the Andersons can take that trip. The Andersons have a copy of the Green Book: A Negro Guide for Traveling in the United States. This book provides safe places to eat, sleep, and visit in the United States.

Step 1: Go to the Green Book site, which is a PRIMARY DOCUMENT housed at the New York Public library. Find your state in the 1955 edition. See Resources below.

Look for the places you identified to the tourist board. Are those places available for the Andersons? How can you redesign your trip for the Andersons?

Step 2: Share what you found this with your class and teachers.

PART TWO: Why did the Anderson's have to experience traveling differently? Let's learn more.

Do you know these words? Research them using the sites at the bottom of this page.

Green Book: When and why was this created? Look at your state at different years. What do you notice?
Jim Crow Era: What is this? How did it impact African Americans' lives? What were the years?
Segregation: What did this mean in your state? What was segregated? Go to your specific state site to learn more.
Sundown town: What is this? What impact did it have on People of Color such as African Americans and Mexicans? Look up your state.

Traveling down the Mother Road: View the Taylor Candacy film.

3. Compare and contrast African American and White experiences: You can use two picture books to compare experiences. OR you can analyze the photos below showing African Americans and Whites traveling.

Picture books: Molly's Route 66 Adventure and Ruth and the Green Book , See photos below

Ask yourself these questions and then represent them in a graphic organizer.
- What kind of emotions do you see or read in the books about traveling from each perspective?
- What kinds of situations did each group face when traveling?
- Did they experience their travels in similar ways? How so? How not?

Examining the photos: Open the Smithsonian worksheet and complete it for each photo. Then draw a chart to compare the photos with African Americans to the photo with the White Traveller.

4. Represent your learning: You can use a graphic organizer such as a Venn diagram or T chart. You can also write up what you found or draw it. Refer to your teacher for directions.