Did January go by as fast for anyone else? Here we are now in February 2023. In thinking about what I wanted to focus on this month, I was recounting some recent travels that made an impact on me. Just like you, I’m sure your personal travels give you an opportunity for growth or education beyond your everyday experiences. When you think about our regular routines it is amazing how much of a bubble we sort of live in. Thank goodness that our own travel experiences give us that chance to break routine and learn about other places, people, cultures and in turn, more about ourselves. It’s not lost on me that this month is also Black History month. As a part of my company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Corporate Committee this area of awareness is close to my heart as a way of living my values every day. With that in mind, this edition of the Travel Hi Five is focused on some resources that give us an opportunity to learn more about someone else’s walk in this life while helping us expand our awareness of the human experience beyond our own.
So, what about those travels that impacted me and have me still thinking about them to this day? My wife and I had an amazing opportunity through my agency to travel with American Cruise Lines in December on a Mississippi River cruise from New Orleans up to Vicksburg, Miss. and back. If you have not experienced an American river, I highly recommend it. It will open your eyes to a new way to experience this country. That trip provided a better understanding the role this amazing river plays in the history of our country, for better or worse. Perspectives on the Civil War and the period in history where the emancipation of slaves happened but was slow to be accepted across the country. Knowledge that the North created some of the military’s first fully black regiments that were enlisted to fight for the Union (or North). Having this better understanding made me wonder how we become aware of these types of experiences sooner rather than later.
Here then is my attempt to help bring awareness through FIVE categories of resources to go with the theme this month:
American Cruise Lines
Because I mentioned them, I wanted to share the link to American Cruise Line’s website to explore their product as a way to see our rivers here in the U.S. I know there are many other great products out there, namely American Queen Voyages and now Viking, that provide simar experiences. Whatever product you choose just be sure to put this on your list at some point. Onboard talks and the excursions make history come to life in ways that may surprise you. Our trip gave us serendipitous moments to find hidden gems like the Civil War Museum ran by Mr. Charles Pendleton who is a local and runs it as a black-owned business who was simply a collector of Civil Rights memorabilia. His experiences led him to open the museum in his community. With a balanced view of all sides of the conflict you can feel his passion to educate as you talk to him.
Civil Rights Travel Destinations
There are many important places to visit to get a better sense of place and to understand what life was like during the civil rights movement. We celebrate the achievements of not only Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, but many who were involved in the civil rights movement. More recently we were reminded that Rep. John Lewis continued that work by getting into “good trouble” before his passing in 2020. Read about him and how to plan a journey to many cities along the civil rights trail at: https://civilrightstrail.com/.
Additionally, here’s a really good list of 12 important civil rights sites and destinations everyone should visit.
Supporting Black-Owned Businesses
Many of us have heard of the 2018 movie Green Book, the story of African American Pianist Don Shirley’s cross-country travels in 1962. Shirley traveled with his white bodyguard using the “Green Book” as a travel guide for safe places to eat, stay and more. If you have not seen the movie, I recommend watching it for context. The original Green Book was written in 1932 and published in 1936. Now there is a modern-day green book called The ABC Travel Green Book created in 2020 by Martinique Lewis, president of the Black Travel Alliance. The book is suitable for all travelers interested in supporting black-owned businesses internationally. Read this article for more details and some inspiration.
Black History Month Resources
Common Sense Education is a great website for educators teaching lessons on Black history with videos, lessons, podcasts and more. I selected this resource because if you’re planning a trip for a family with different age levels the resources on this site are very good pre or post travel discussions.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
So much can be written about this topic. From an industry perspective, it’s important to note that the U.S. Travel Association has made this one of their advocacy pillars for the organization and their members. From guest experiences to hiring practices, they’ve provided a number of resource links on their website. In their words, “a successful future relies on an inclusive and diverse workforce and guest experience.”
For me, this was an important edition to write so I took lots of care in making sure these resources are valuable for you. Here’s the thing though, seeing it in text on a screen is SO completely different than getting out and experiencing it for yourself. Please bookmark this article, print it or download it. If you use just one of these resources and it makes a difference for you then I will feel that it was well worth it. I know it will be worth it for you. Have a great month and here’s to your success!
Have a topic you think should be considered for future editions of Travel Hi Five? Get in touch with me at mmussey@travelleaders.com.
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