Image By: Ted Schurter, The State Journal-Register via AP
We often hear about the famous Route 66 in American History, but it's rarely linked to our Black history. Kenneth Lockhart, Stacy Grundy, and Gina Lathan are changing the narrative and introducing travelers to the rick Black culture that lives on the Route.
Route History is located two blocks from Abraham Lincoln’s preserved family home and neighborhood and one block from the Historic Route 66 in the capital city of Springfield, Illinois. Route History is an attraction that allows visitors to experience and learn about the tragedy, resilience, and excellence of Black people along Route 66 and in the city of Springfield, Illinois.
These experiences serve as a reminder of struggles and consistent perseverance towards excellence despite overwhelming systemic racism and injustices. Route History recognizes, celebrates and captures the often-untold story of Black people who defied odds, demonstrated the epitome of community and leadership and sacrificed with their lives for the betterment of others.
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Route History pays tribute to Black business owners along and near Route 66, how they served as economic drivers along Route 66, were an integral fabric and social support in Black communities and the critical role of Black businesses as Black people transitioned from the south to the north during Jim Crow and the Great Migration.
Route History educates and pays tribute to Victor H. Green and the Negro Motorist Green-Book, the Springfield Race Riots of 1908 and the Black Entrepreneurship program of Esso Gas through pictures and displays. Springfield Illinois was a major safety-net for Black travelers who needed access to necessities – gas, lodging, and food, that was typically denied to them by neighboring “Sundown Towns” that required African Americans to leave their towns before the sun went down and often greeted Black visitors with overt racism.
“Route History’s physical location is symbolic of its mission to provide linkages of African American history with the broader Springfield Illinois history. Located a few blocks from Abraham Lincoln’s home and the Eleventh Street Corridor, the City’s unspoken segregation dividing line, Route History is poised to give visitors a clear historical perspective unlike any other.” - Doris Turner, Springfield Illinois Ward 3 Alderman
Route History also highlights the historical treasures of Springfield; two of which include the Ambidexter House and the Lincoln’s Colored Home. The Ambidexter House coined the “Tuskegee of the North” and modeled after Booker T. Washington’s Tuskegee Institute, trained and educated Black students specializing in math and science. Unfortunately, due to funding challenges, the Ambidexter House closed in 1908.
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In 1898 Ms. Eva Carroll Monroe, a Black social work pioneer, started Illinois’ first Black orphanage in Springfield. In 1904 on the same land as the original building, the Lincoln's Colored Home was built. From 1904 to 1933, Ms. Monroe administered Lincoln's Colored Home and provided African American orphaned children and homeless senior citizens food, clothing, and shelter in a family-style setting.
Ms. Monroe pioneered efforts that established models of care, protection, and inclusion for African American children and the elderly in systems of care. During the month of April, Route History will launch a statewide celebration and acknowledgment of Ms. Eva Carroll Monroe through the “Thank You Ms. Eva” Tour. The purpose of the tour is to heighten awareness, celebrate, and recognize Ms. Eva Carroll Monroe for her service and contributions to the field of health and human services.
“Springfield Illinois’ history is forever linked to Abraham Lincoln and Route 66; however, the African American perspective is often missing. Route History provides an opportunity to identify, research, collect, house, maintain, and interpret that historical perspective ensuring that it is not lost.” –Doris Turner, Springfield Illinois Ward 3 Alderman
The owners of Route History are a collective of social entrepreneurs who lend economic and intellectual resources to aid in the implementation of sustainable and transformative community projects. For Route History’s 2019 Sustaining and Transforming Communities’ project, proceeds from the Lincoln’s Colored Home t-shirt will be donated to select youth education programs.
“We want to ensure that Ms. Eva Carroll Monroe’s contribution to the city of Springfield, the state of Illinois, and the field of health and human services is recognized and that we speak her name. She left an amazing legacy and we want to continue her mission of supporting, protecting, and caring for children.”- Stacy Grundy, Route History Co-owner
For additional information on Route History go to www.routehistory.net
