In American culture, the road trip has long been a rite of passage. But as American Studies scholar Cotten Seiler explains, for much of the 20th century, America’s highways were anything but an open road for black motorists. For this reason, two enterprising African Americans published guidebooks listing towns and businesses that would welcome black drivers. These books are now out of print, but Seiler wonders how safe the road remains for black drivers today.

Little noticed amid this week’s tumultuous political news, the Trump administration announced plans to roll back protections in the Endangered Species Act. Members of Congress, at the behest of business and property rights advocates, have tried unsuccessfully for decades to limit the act’s power. But, as three natural resource scholars write, those efforts fly in the face of almost overwhelming public support for the act.

And, for those pondering over what happens to us after we die, and whether virtuous actions do indeed result in divine rewards, Holy Cross’ Joanne Pierce explains the Christian idea of heaven and how the promise of eternal life evolved.