Bucket List Destinations For Black Travelers

8 STOPS THAT REFLECT OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE

- Rosalind Cummings - Yeates

“BUCKET LIST” IS A FAVORITE TERM for frequent travelers. The idea is to see as many notable and inspiring destinations as you can before you die. For many people, legendary European capitals such as Rome, London and Barcelona top the list, as do natural wonders including Peru’s Machu Picchu and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. But for Black folks, travel often reaches beyond the excitement of a new destination. We long to see where our history, culture and people have triumphed and thrived in a world that doesn’t necessarily embrace that history. Here are some key destinations for exploration of Black culture to add to your bucket list:

NEW ORLEANS

Look beyond the constant parties, and you’ll discover a city rich in African-American history. Stroll the colorful streets of Tremé, the oldest Black neighborhood in the U.S.; visit Congo Square, where enslaved Africans were allowed to play drums and dance, leading to the development of jazz music; and pay homage to Marie Laveau, the healer and vodoo priestess who created the annual St. John’s Eve Midsummer Festival.

GHANA

The African continent should be on every Black traveler’s list, but for African-Americans, Ghana holds the significance of being the land to which many can trace their origins. Tracing ancestors’ steps through the slave castles that line its south coast is a powerful experience. The most well-known is Cape Coast Castle, with its infamous Door of No Return, overlooking the Atlantic. And don’t miss the Manhyia Palace Museum in Kumasi, which showcases the gold work and traditions of the Asante people.

SENEGAL