The Untold Story of Route 66

Photojournalist Candacy Taylor, introduced by San Francisco Chronicle columnist Caille Millner, at the Bay Area Book Festival.
Fans of Route 66 will enjoy listening to historian and travel writer Candacy Taylor share stories and anecdotes about the historic byway. She will also dive into the relatively unknown story of "The Green Book," which, during the Jim Crow era, listed Route 66 restaurants, hotels, salons, barbershops, nightclubs, tailors, garages, and real estate offices amenable to serving African American travelers.
Watch more videos from the Bay Area Book Festival here: f4a.tv/1UoIMp5

[@PsyChoAnaLize]

I remember this. I’m planning a trip down Route 66 and can’t help but feel some type of way as I research some of the places I plan to visit.

[@evamaggard]

Was born and raised in Missouri by Route 66 in 1949 .. I met my 1st first black person in 1965 . Thanks for sharing what you found

[@HussyCowboy]

Very, very informative. I did not know about the Green Book (or the Jewish one), nor about Exxon's part in it or any of the other many mentions such as the "pencil hair test". Thank you for doing all this investigative work and for posting this presentation on here.

[@spaceystacey9963]

Thank you for making this video. I’ve been doing a lot of Route 66 research and this video showed me things I haven’t learned before. Being a travelographer I want to share the unknown history and sometimes harsh reality of Route 66. If you ever need some free help with anything involving travel I will be more then happy to donate as much time needed to do my part.

[@clarewiseman8914]

Some time the truth isn't pleasant . I think she's being academically honest and if it offended someone then it's their problem.

[@debranreed8629]

Thank you for contributing to the history of America. We need to get an understanding of as much as we can. A hopeful future can be achieved by understanding the past.

[@TruthBTold-op9kv]

Thank you.

[@DAWintsmith]

We tend to think of the need for the Green Book as only for the Southern states, but I came across a copy a few years ago, and one has only to page through it to see how widespread the problem was. This is not history, but is still in living memory, so people who think this is not important are either very young or in denial. I don't know why white people get so defensive about segregation and slavery. I am descended from slaveholders and various racists and there is only one thing I can do about that: I can listen. I can hear your stories and acknowledge that you and your family went though terrible things. As a storyteller, I know that it is by telling the story that healing begins. It is by hearing the story that we assist in the healing. I am listening.

[@cjaquilino]

Injustices of the past have a direct connection to injustices in modern times. There's an unbroken chain from housing discrimination and redlining to the fact the we're still highly segregated by race in the US today. Today's social issue are just modern iterations of issues we never fully resolved in the past.

[@BestofBCT]

A most wonderful historic look at a slice of American life. Not always pretty, however that was one bold little girl asking her mom all the right questions. Lots of mean spirited comments that is to bad.

[@tonorodriguez5755]

Thanks for sharing this god bless you 💖

[@terrihenricks4160]

The rise of the interstate travel and tourism industry was actually one of the things that led to the integration of public accommodations in the United States.

[@lisasmith9311]

A lot of the iconic fiberglass statues placed along Route 66 were made by Bill Swan at international fiberglass

[@sitproperly]

Thank you for giving this speech. As a student of both Route 66 and racial history, I knew about the torrid racial past (and present) along much of the Mother Road. Having traveled up and down it several times over the past decade, I can absolutely say that we have much work to do. There are some towns where I'd not want to step foot into unless I was white. I hope much more comes of your work, but a word of caution - the resistance that you'll receive won't just be from nutty racists in the KZbin comments section.

[@googleuser6873]

How will things change if blacks keep avoiding people who arent subjected to race? Just a thought

[@googleuser6873]

This is so interesting. I looked up my area, amarillo tx and am sad to see that everything but one place on the green book is demo'd. Supposedly Toms place is still standing but i cant find it!

[@martyjoseph9507]

Interesting how Hollywood and media painted route 66 the way they did, and now they are doing a total reversal with painting the picture.

[@catherineoconnell3213]

Native Indians

[@KrunoslavStifter]

Fuel to the fire. Like in any relationship if you dig up the past all the time you will never have a happy future. Everyone needs to move on and build a better future, the more you talk about slavery and segregation the less you are focused on the future and it certainly not helping the present.

[@kingsevil5255]

"Move on" Or, go fuck yourself. history matters even if it hurts your feelings.

[@ModestNea]

Krunoslav Stifter pretty easy for a devil such as yourself to say

[@SuperVodkaChick]

Easy for you to say, Krunoslav.

[@WAL_DC-6B]

"Those who haven't learned from history's failures are doomed to repeat them."

[@kimbrewis8111]

Very interesting. My only problem is The Green Book wasn’t specific to Route 66 & you singled the Route out. The Green Book covered the whole US & included Mexico & Canada. I know your hope is to honor & inspire preservation to Green Book sites along Rte 66 but I think phasing it as you did puts more negativity

[@googleuser6873]

I drive rt 66 for two hours every day-ive noticed there isnt many people of color on the roads traveling and have wondered why! Even though this is 2018 i feel like this is the closest to an answer i will ever get. Makes me sad.

[@billdeadeye9796]

The Whiteman Highway , stay away!

[@robertwittjr1198]

the issues or race were trans continental, not worse just on this section of road that was a path for lots of people seeking a way to something better. gender and color have nothing to do with the ability to write; so what is the point of this? the issue of racial equality has nothing to do with a number on a road sign.

[@CAR1WA1CH]

Ok, then, now, so what is the point? No one is offended now. The "life threatening" is total BS, but why not add lies to sad and long since abandoned crazy behaviors of the distant past. Why do black folks tip so little?

[@trustjah]

What bridge do you live under?

[@georgeboehringer5530]

What are the Negroes ever attacked by wild Indians?

[@tahcogunworks]

Lost me at SF. Liberal bullshit I'm sure.

[@scttiedsntknow]

Driest lecture ever.

[@billdeadeye9796]

Why does everything involve color ,get over the negative and move on

[@jackr1465]

Just say you're a proud racist and move on.

[@buckeyewill2166]

Jack R ....Jim Crow racism is just like the British burning DC....it’s history.