What is a creative way for a travel journalist to celebrate Black History Month? S/he could write bio sketches of early African American travel heroes for the Black Travel History website hosted by Black Travel Alliance (BTA) and sponsored by Tripadvisor*. https://historyofblacktravel.com/
Well, that is what I did and I am proud to share that BTA is featuring 8 entries from me!
Groundbreakers:
Phillis Wheatley, Poet, And Writer Sailed To England
Leisure:
Charles Young, First African American Superintendent Of Federal Parkland
Migration:
Paul Cuffee Spearheaded The First Black ‘Back To Africa’ Initiative
Martin Robison Delany Led An Exploring Party To Niger Valley To Find A Homeland For African American Repatriation
Mary Fields, First African American Woman Employed As A Stagecoach Mail Carrier
Publishing:
A Narrative Of the Life And Travels Of Mrs. Nancy Prince
Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands
Transportation:
Guion Stewart Bluford Jr., First African American To Travel To Outer Space
“The History Of Black Travel website has been a year-long project for the Black Travel Alliance and we are really excited to be at this next stage, working with brands like Tripadvisor to amplify and create awareness for lesser-known Black travel stories,” states Ursula Petula Barzey, Research Committee Chair, Black Travel Alliance.
Ancestral Blessings, Elaine Lee
*Tripadvisor is the world’s largest travel guidance platform, helping hundreds of millions of people each month become better travelers, from planning to booking to taking a trip.