The Black Travel Movement

How Emerging Black Travelers Are Redefining Exploration

The Black travel movement has evolved significantly since the era of the Green Book. Today, online communities and influencers are motivating a new wave of global adventurers.

By Kellee Edwards

Few would enjoy being told where they could and couldn't travel. Yet, this was the harsh reality for African Americans during the Jim Crow era.

Between 1936 and 1966, The Negro Motorist Green Book and its successors provided crucial guidance for Black travelers and their families, highlighting dangerous "sundown towns" where they could encounter hostility after dark, as well as recommending hotels, restaurants, and businesses that were welcoming.

Fortunately, the original Green Book is no longer essential for the African American community. Black travelers have become a significant economic force, spending $109 billion on travel in 2019, according to a recent study by MMGY Global, a marketing agency. However, concerns remain. In response, a powerful new Black travel movement has taken shape over the past decade — focused on providing travelers of color with guidance, inspiration, and a sense of belonging to explore the globe.

A pivotal moment was the establishment of the Nomadness Travel Tribe in 2011, an exclusive Facebook group created by Evita Robinson from New Jersey. "The Nomadness brand has always represented community, taking risks, trailblazing, and being first to try new experiences," Robinson reflects on the group that began with just 100 members and has now grown to over 25,000. Members exchange travel tips and create guides to destinations, including information on accommodations, local experts, safety concerns, and Black-owned businesses to support. Recently, one member sought advice on St. Lucia, specifically for a reliable taxi service; another member who had just returned from the island provided the contact number for the driver she had used.

As Nomadness has expanded, influential Black travelers have started inspiring others to explore the globe. My personal travel journey began about 11 years ago, driven by my aspiration to become a TV host — a field often dominated by older white men. I realized I had to excel beyond expectations to catch any network's attention, so I trained as a pilot, became a scuba diver, and adventured widely, accumulating over 100,000 social media followers. In 2016, I made history as the first Black woman to host a show on the Travel Channel, Mysterious Islands. Last year, I hosted the inaugural 24 episodes of Let's Go Together, the Dinogo podcast dedicated to celebrating diversity and inclusion in travel.

Others are forging new paths — and consequently inspiring more Black travelers. Eco-explorer Mario Rigby, based in Toronto, trekked from Cape Town to Cairo from 2015 to 2018, documenting his journey on his blog. "I've always felt it's vital to see diverse faces in the world of exploration," Rigby, a guest on Let's Go Together, shares.

The momentum keeps building, and Rigby, Robinson, and I are not alone. In 2019, Detroit's Jessica Nabongo achieved her dream of visiting every country in the world, becoming the first Black woman to document this journey, amassing nearly 200,000 social media followers along the way. Chicago native Nathan Fluellen has been surfing worldwide since 2017, giving back to the communities he visits and sharing his experiences on Instagram. The Bay Area's Martinique Lewis authored the new ABC Travel Green Book, a contemporary iteration of the original that serves as a global directory for Black-owned businesses. Additionally, numerous other influencers, like style-savvy Cedric Wood, are encouraging Black individuals to travel as well. This demonstrates that when it comes to where we can go, the possibilities are virtually limitless.

The Travel Advisors Paving a New Path

A new wave of experts is designing experiences specifically for Black travelers.

By Tanya A. Christian

In 2012, attorney Sheila Ruffin identified a gap in the travel industry. After moving to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands to focus on maritime and environmental matters, the Howard University School of Law graduate realized that the yacht-charter sector primarily catered to one demographic — white individuals.

"I thought, This needs to change," Ruffin reflects. Already an enthusiastic traveler, the Virginia native set out to create her own business tailored for Black adventurers. In 2019, Soca Caribbean Yacht Charters was launched, positioning Ruffin among a rising number of Black advisors curating luxury experiences for a demographic often overlooked by mainstream tourism providers.

"Black travelers have a wide range of interests, just like everyone else," observes Kareem George, founder of the Michigan-based agency Culture Traveler. A member of T+L's Travel Advisory Board, George highlights that his clients make various requests, with popular destinations including the Caribbean, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, and South America. "These places are iconic, but also resonate historically with clients based on their ancestry," he adds.

The Caribbean holds significant importance for Carl Napoleon, founder of Carnival Jumpers. Based in Brooklyn, New York, his company aims to enhance access to the Carnival experience by organizing trips to these vibrant island celebrations. Carnival Jumpers manages everything from lodging to intricate details like costume choices and introductions to mas bands or krewes, making the planning process much easier.

Some advisors focus on fostering community among their clients. Christina Rice, a certified yoga and meditation instructor from Georgia, centers her OMNoire retreats for women of color around wellness. "I believe a retreat reflects the leader, so it's crucial for attendees to truly connect with that person," Rice explains. Pre-trip video calls play a key role in her approach, helping guests familiarize themselves with workshops, small-group discussions, guided meditations, and yoga classes, including those set for Ghana and Portugal in 2021.

Cole Banks, the Atlanta-based founder of Sisters Traveling Solo, emphasizes the importance of building connections. She has led groups of solo women on adventures such as hiking in Greece, exploring museums in Morocco, and enjoying a beach retreat in the Seychelles. While these destinations attract participants, the friendships formed are equally appealing — like those among a trio of STS travelers who met in China in 2017 and now make yearly trips together, with their latest adventure to Cartagena, Colombia.

"These women transform from strangers into lifelong friends," Banks notes about the connections made on her trips. "I witness it happening on every journey."

VIDEO: A Heritage Trip to West Africa Can Be Transformative for Black Americans