journey black home

This Website Makes It Easier to Find and Book Black-Owned Airbnbs in the U.S.

By Imani Bashir

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All listings featured in this story are independently selected by our editors. However, when you book something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Marginalized travelers have long turned to online communities to share travel advice , encouragement, and best practices when faced with discrimination.

#AirbnbWhileBlack is one example. The hashtag that has been trending on social media since 2016, and through it, Black travelers facing prejudice when booking vacation rentals have shared their experiences with the racial biases of Airbnb hosts.

In response, digital nomad-couple Jessica E. Boyd and Steven M. Hughes have created a new community and database to help Black travelers avoid these negative travel experiences. Their platform is called Journey Black Home , and it helps travelers find and book Black-owned Airbnbs.

In July 2021, after the couple sold off most of their belongings to begin traveling and living in Airbnbs full-time, Boyd, a brand strategist and consultant, and Hughes, a financial therapist, compiled this resource together.

“When we kicked off our domestic nomadic journey last July, we created Journey Black Home to share our travels with friends and family via social media and our blog,” Hughes said via email. “We very quickly realized that our existing community, as well as others who began following, were finding a lot of value in our content.”

The couple has prioritized sharing Black-owned restaurants and shops , as well as Black-centered experiences, online, but finding Black-owned and hosted Airbnbs proved to be more complicated. As they gathered options, they decided a researched list of their findings could be extremely useful to other Black travelers .

“Initially, we searched listings one-by-one on the Airbnb app until we’d gathered a list of 200 stays,” Boyd said, explaining their strategy. “We researched listicles on the top Black domestic travel spots in recent years and made sure we covered those cities first [and] once we launched the list, we created a landing page for the public to submit listings. It’s become our primary source for new stays.”

Now, Journey Black Home has more than 200 Black-owned Airbnb listings spanning 30 states and showcasing properties via their Instagram account @blackairbnbs . There is a specific set of criteria these homes meet: the Airbnbs must be Black-owned or hosted and in the U.S.; they must have an Airbnb profile showing the host’s name and face (because Black hosts who opt to show their face rather than a logo or property photo on their profile are more likely to experience racial bias ); they must have an average guest rating of 4.0 or above, with mostly positive guest reviews; and they must be proactive in responding to constructive feedback or negative guest reviews.

Some of their favorite properties, as featured on their Twitter account, include a three-bedroom, one-bathroom bungalow nestled close to Los Angeles’s SoFi Stadium with all five-star reviews, and this beautifully decorated one-bedroom, one-bathroom penthouse in the heart of Baltimore, Maryland, not far from the inner harbor.

As Boyd and Hughes continue to travel and grow Journey Black Home, their goal is to continue listening to the needs of Black travelers seeking safe travel accommodations .

“A lot of the social feedback we’ve received so far reveals that many Black travelers have made this list their first stop when they're making domestic travel plans,” Hughes said. “[Now,] our main goal is to see that trend continue… We want to become a go-to resource for Black Airbnb hosts who want insight into the guest experience and more tools and resources to help them improve their chances of success on the app.”

The couple plans to expand the project internationally, but for now are continuing to focus their efforts across the nation. To submit your own property or to book a stay at one of the Black-owned Airbnbs already on the list, you can visit Journey Black Home here .

Six stellar Airbnbs featured on Journey Black Home:

Charming bohemian retreat in los angeles.

Sun-filled Long Beach, California two-bedroom

Five-bedroom desert retreat in Tucson, Arizona

Luxury apartment in New Haven, Connecticut

Minimalist A-frame cabin in upstate New York

Colorful, plant-filled Austin home

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Meet Jessica E. Boyd and Steven M. Hughes | Digital Nomads & Travel Content Creators at Journey Black Home

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessica E. Boyd and Steven M. Hughes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessica and Steven, how do you think about risk? Journey Black Home was birthed after we decided to sell around 90% of everything we owned to roadtrip the United States and find the next place we’ll call ‘home.’ Taking that risk wouldn’t have been possible if we hadn’t also taken the risk to become entrepreneurs. Jess has been self-employed as a brand design strategist since 2014, and Steve left his sales position at a Fortune 500 company last December to go full-time as a financial therapist. All that to say, we’re definitely no stranger to risk; the rewards we’ve experienced personally and professionally, on many levels, couldn’t have happened without it.

What should our readers know about your business? On the heels of the year that was 2020, the world’s been forced to do a lot of reimagining about what’s considered “normal.” Between the onset of the pandemic and the spotlight on racial violence and political injustice last year, a lot of fear, outrage, and deep sadness understandably settled into the Black community—we felt it, too.

Once we decided to embark on our nomadic journey this past July, we knew that it would provide an important opportunity to help our community expand their idea of what’s possible, just by sharing how we’re now designing our lives. Journey Black Home offers a way for us all to remember our strength, resilience, joy, and true destiny in this world—to honor our right to exist and thrive and explore our curiosities safely and confidently.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc. Our itinerary would include visits to Just Add Honey for their tea-of-the-month, or Jess’s favorite, the Honey Lavender Latte with almond milk—the vibe there is pure and warm, and we always have serendipitous meetings. We’d also make sure to stop by Ponce for unique finds by Black-owned businesses, artists, and makers at The Village Market, then slide into Bar Vegan after that for a bite to eat and for great music. We’re huge foodies, so at some point, we’d also be sure to hit Gocha’s for a fish and grits brunch; Tassilli’s for their okra, wraps, salads, and Kale chips; Local Green Atlanta for their salmon Philly (extra sauce); Arize for their French Toast Bites and salmon patties; and Plant Based Pizzeria for some of the best pizza we’ve ever had, vegan or not. We’d also visit Wadada in the West End to pick up some Black-owned essentials for their visit (like Coral Oral toothbrushes and Tru laundry detergent); we’d grab smoothies, or ackee patties, or hit the vegan restaurant pop-ups they have there, too. For something out of the norm, we’d also book an experience with Graffiti Class ATL.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition? Building a team of experts and mentors has been invaluable, even in the short time that we’ve been building the Journey Black Home brand. Our attorney, Chinwe Ohanele, is also a business strategist who’s been instrumental in making sure our intellectual property is protected. Not only that, she makes sure our vision for the brand is broad, innovative, and forward-looking; calling her a gem would be an understatement. We also have very generous mentors who’ve given us more game, resources, and encouragement than we could learn in many years’ time. They know exactly who they are, and we’re grateful for the richness of relationship they willingly and freely offer.

Website:   journeyblackhome.co

Instagram:   instagram.com/journeyblackhome

Twitter:   twitter.com/journeyblkhome

Facebook:   facebook.com/journeyblackhome

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This Black Traveling Couple Just Created The Largest Black-Owned Airbnb List

With 300+ entries and counting, Jessica E. Boyd and Steven M. Hughes have created one of the largest directories of Black-owned Airbnb hosts.

Mitti Hicks • Feb 15, 2022

Welcome back to travel! Whether you’re just getting back in travel mode or have been at it, this editorial, brought to you in partnership with American Airlines is for you.

A traveling couple is making it easier for people to find Black hosts on Airbnb . With more than 300 entries and counting, Jessica E. Boyd and Steven M. Hughes have created one of the largest directories of Black-owned Airbnb hosts after struggling to find them as they travel from city to city as nomads.

“As full-time nomads and people who are always looking for where to stay in the next city, it’s a very tedious and manual process trying to find a Black host,” Hughes tells Travel Noire. “We know that this is also the experience for other people who may not be nomads but want to be in a space that’s hosted by a Black person.”

Boyd and Hughes sold all of their belongings to travel the country in search of their forever city. The Columbia, South Carolina -based couple told Travel Noire in a previous interview that they’re ready to plant roots in a city where they can grow personally, professionally, and spiritually.  

They are documenting their adventures on their social media platforms under the name Journey Black Home, which also serves as a go-to resource for finding Black-owned businesses.

As the couple documents their journey of discovering the most popular places and hidden gems of Black-owned establishments, they want to make sure Black hosts are getting the same exposure. 

For Boyd and Hughes, it’s about more than supporting Black-owned Airbnb accommodations. It’s also about making sure guests feel safe during their stays.

“Airbnb has had a notorious past for struggling with racial bias. People have had their host cancel because the host sees their name or their face and doesn’t feel like hosting Black people,” Boyd adds. “We know that when you stay with other Black people, the likelihood of comfortability is greater and the racial bias is less likely to be there. We’re not saying it doesn’t happen, but for the most part, you’re going to be good.”

The couple says they plan to continue growing the list domestically, and eventually internationally, with monthly updates sent to email subscribers . They are also accepting new submissions to the list on a rolling basis at www.blackairbnbs.co .

You can find the listings online by visiting a separate Instagram they created, @blackairbnbs .

Related: Airbnb Will Hide Guest Names And Photos On Oregon Bookings To Prevent Discrimination

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How Two Digital Nomads Founded a Directory for Black-Owned Airbnbs

I n 2021, Jessica Boyd and Steven Hughes packed up almost all of their belongings with the goal of vetting new cities across Black America that could become their new home. Both grew up traveling domestically—Jess hit the road for family events and field trips; Steve’s family took regular trips to Orlando, Florida, along with annual road trips to New York.

So far, the couple’s journey has taken them from their hometown of Columbia, South Carolina through states like Texas, Louisiana, and California, where they’ve documented their travels as Journey Black Home on their blog, Instagram, and TikTok. Jess says that the experience has been transformational.

“I was in a bit of a rut personally and professionally pre-pandemic, as well as before we set off on Journey Black Home last July,” she says. “Now, not even a full year later, I feel absolutely wide-eyed and renewed. Also, all of its man-made problems aside, the U.S. actually has lots of beautiful natural scenery between the hustle and bustle of its cities. Seeing more of the country’s natural beauty up close and personal has been incredible.”

Part of Jess and Steve’s journey has included their discovery that material things have less importance to them now. They’ve also been intentional about visiting and amplifying Black-owned restaurants, bookstores, and cultural tours around the U.S.

“Not only have we learned so much hidden and lesser-known Black history in the cities and communities we’ve visited around the U.S., but we’ve also learned a lot about ourselves. I believe we are clearer on what moves us, what we don’t really care about, and what we want and need in a future home,” Steve says. “Before we started this journey, I personally thought we needed more. It’s become clearer to me, though, that we really just need each other and a few other essentials that can fit in a bag. Everything else is icing on the cake.”

Jess says that one of her favorite destinations is Beaufort, South Carolina, because of its unique Black history, landscape, and slower pace of life. So far, Steve counts Los Angeles as one of his favorite places. Some of his reasons include the beaches, mountains, and access to authentic Jamaican and Mexican food.

Opting for a slow travel approach, and in an effort to make it easier to support Black-owned lodging options for themselves and other travelers, Steve and Jess created a list of over 200 Black-owned Airbnbs across the country.

“Since we released The Black-Owned Airbnb List at the end of January, we’ve heard from Black travelers that they’ve been wanting and needing a resource like this; they want to feel safe when they’re away from home and they want to feel good about supporting Black hosts and their Airbnb listings/Black-owned businesses.” Jess adds, “All in all, we believe it’s important that Black travelers have resources to navigate this world safely, and connecting with Black Airbnb hosts can offer that solution.”

The couple accepts US-based listings on a rolling basis at Journey Black Home . They said that once they’ve covered all 50 states, and should the opportunity to grow their team and resources arise, they would be open to possibly expanding the list internationally.

Below, the couple shares two of their favorite Black-owned Airbnbs in the United States.

We hope you love the spaces and stays we recommend. Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Listed prices are accurate as of the time of publication.

Beach View Condo in Gulf Shores, Alabama

It might be impossible to not smile in this bright, two-bedroom, airy beachfront condo in Gulf Shores, Alabama. The condo features yellow and teal sofas, palm tree and flamingo wallpapered rooms, and a playful, neon “Vacay Vibes” sign.

“This is another Airbnb submitted from the travel community that blew us away,” Jess says. “We’ve passed through Alabama on road trips, but this fun and brightly decorated space is definitely a hidden gem.”

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A hiker who found the remains of a missing two-year-old has recalled carrying his skull home under her arm "because feeling it touching my skin terrified me".

The woman, who goes by the name of Manon in a new interview, found the skull of a toddler known as Emile during a walk near Le Vernet in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France, in March.

Manon told French broadcaster BFM TV that she goes for a walk without a mobile phone every day and was on a route she hadn't taken "for a long time" when she made the discovery.

The skull was "white" and "completely clean", she said, with only the top teeth in place.

"I could have left it, but if I returned it might not have been there," she told French broadcaster BFM TV. "Because of that I picked it up, I know that on windy days like this, if you wait, the mountain isn't the same anymore."

Manon made sure she had a point of reference in order to show police where she made the discovery and noted a nearby tree collapsed on its side.

"I was running, I wanted to rush," she said of her journey home. "I said to myself, 'quickly, quickly, quickly - I have to pick up this thing and the police are going to find the culprit… the investigation is finally going to move on'.

"The whole journey, I carried this thing under my arm because feeling it touching my skin terrified me."

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Bringing the skull into her home was "inconceivable", Manon said - so she called the police who came to collect it.

"Everything went well, they were doing their job," she said. "I answered their questions and that was it."

Manon has not gone for a walk since.

Genetic testing confirmed her suspicion that the skull belonged to the two-year-old, whose disappearance was well-publicised last year.

Marks found on the skull could have been caused by animals after the boy died, prosecutor Jean-Luc Blachon said last week. The cause of death is yet to be identified.

Following the discovery of the bones, some of Emile's clothes - including a T-shirt, shoes and shorts - were found close by , it was previously reported.

The two-year-old went missing in the French Alps last summer. He was last seen walking down a street near his grandparents' house on 8 July.

He was staying with his maternal grandparents in a remote mountain village just outside Le Vernet for the holidays.

They realised Emile was gone when they went to put him in the car, the local mayor said at the time.

After beginning as a missing person investigation, the case soon became a criminal inquiry into a possible abduction, although police did not rule out murder, an accident or a fall.

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England home kits 2024: join the journey

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Mayflower II passes through Cape Cod Canal on its journey to Plymouth

By Neal Riley

Updated on: April 11, 2024 / 3:02 PM EDT / CBS Boston

PLYMOUTH - The Mayflower II is returning to Massachusetts, and you can track its journey home online.

The 67-year-old wooden ship, a replica of the vessel that brought the Pilgrims to America in 1620, departed Connecticut Wednesday morning at about 10:30 a.m. It spent the winter docked at the Mystic Seaport Museum, undergoing routine maintenance and getting a fresh coat of paint.

Mayflower II travels through Cape Cod Canal

The journey from Mystic to Plymouth Harbor takes between 20 and 25 hours, and is dependent on many factors including tide and weather conditions. The Mayflower II  passed through the Cape Cod Canal at 7 a.m. on Thursday, and the heavy fog at the time made for a ghostly scene.  

Track the Mayflower II

When the Mayflower II leaves from Mystic, towed by the Weymouth-based Stasinos Marine, you can track its journey on this website . 

The Plimoth Patuxet Museums' Facebook page will also provide updates. 

See the Mayflower II in Plymouth

The 106-foot ship arrived at the State Pier in Plymouth Thursday and it's expected to open up to the public on Saturday at 9 a.m. 

Since the Mayflower II landed in Plymouth in 1957, more than 25 million have stepped on board to visit it, the museum says. The replica had $11.2 million worth of repairs finished in 2020.

Tickets to board the Mayflower II are $19 for adults, $17.10 for seniors and $13 for children.

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Graduate Spotlight: Gabby Brandner’s formative journey to become a children’s minister

From Cincinnati, Ohio, to Amarillo, Texas, by way of Lipscomb, Brandner encounters faith, growth and a nurturing community.

Keely Hagan | 615-966-6491 |  04/11/2024

As she reflects on her educational journey, beginning in her freshman year, newly arrived from Cincinnati, Ohio, to pursue a double major, until today as she prepares to graduate this May, Gabby Brandner says her experience at Lipscomb has been nothing short of transformative.

From the outset, her selecting Lipscomb to pursue a double major, in children’s ministry and theology and ministry along with minors in missions and Greek, was a deliberate choice. “I knew that because of my career path I would need to attend a Christian university,” Brandner said, “I sought out an intentional community that would help me grow in my faith, vocation and personal development and realized that Lipscomb would help me achieve my goals.” 

Lipscomb is a community of fellow seekers, which made her growth inevitable, she said. “Personally, I have been challenged in my beliefs and pushed to grow into a fuller version of who God created me to be. I have been seen, known and loved while at Lipscomb.

“The most formative relationship that I have made during my time at Lipscomb has been with Dr. Holly Allen (former professor of Christian ministries and family science),” Brandner said. “I took my first class with Dr. Allen in my first semester of freshman year. She took the time to get to know me both professionally and personally and encouraged me in my faith. Although Dr. Allen officially retired at the end of my sophomore year, she continued to serve as a mentor to me.”

In addition to what she has learned both in and outside of classes, Brandner said she was challenged through abundant opportunities to experience her field and research relevant topics.  

She said that through her connection with Allen, “I have made various industry contacts, have been given the opportunity to volunteer at conferences and events, and now am planning to present alongside her at the Children’s Spirituality Summit this May. I owe my passion for children's spirituality to her and her courses, and I contribute much of my faith development to her as well.” 

For Brandner, the transition after graduation to the role of children’s minister is not just a career move but a testament to divine providence and the culmination of years of preparation. She credits the support and guidance received from the Lipscomb community as instrumental in helping her find not only a job, but one that is a good fit, with a sustainable position and a welcoming community. 

“My professors and community at Lipscomb helped me find job opportunities, discerned with me how I would fit in different churches, and celebrated with me after I accepted my new position,” she said. 

Yet, amidst the excitement of new beginnings, she says there lingers a bittersweet sentiment. “On the one hand, I am so excited to step into this new phase of life. I have been preparing to be a children’s minister for years and am eager to begin to apply what I have been learning. I have a passion for the spiritual formation of children and cannot wait to get to form experiences for kids to encounter God,” she said.

“On the other hand, the prospect of leaving Lipscomb, with its nurturing community and steadfast support system, evokes a sense of loss,” she said. “While it will be hard to leave, I take heart in knowing that this support will not go away as I graduate. The assurance that this community will continue to be a pillar of strength, albeit in a different form, brings solace. The bonds formed here transcend physical proximity, rooted in shared experiences and unwavering support.”

As Brandner prepares to bid farewell to Lipscomb, the journey continues, fueled by a passion for spiritual formation and a commitment to lifelong learning. The memories created, the lessons learned and the relationships forged will serve as guiding lights for the path ahead.

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'Golden Bachelor' split! What went wrong?

Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist announce they are dissolving their marriage after just three months

LOS ANGELES -- Bachelor Nation is still trying to recover from the bombshell news that "Golden Bachelor" couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist are divorcing after only about 3 months of marriage.

The couple told ABC's Juju Chang "We've had a number of heart-to-heart conversations and we've looked carefully at our situation, our living situation and so forth, and we've kind of come to the conclusion mutually that it's probably time for us to dissolve our marriage."

They insisted they're still in love, and to drive that point home, they held hands throughout their Good Morning America interview.

So, what went wrong? Theresa and Gerry told Juju that they are both dedicated to their grown children and grandchildren and they felt it was best to live apart.

Having those important conversations with a potential partner was important to Gerry from the very beginning.

On The Red Carpet spoke to Gerry several times over the course of his "Golden Bachelor" journey including just before he left for hometown dates.

"I can't say I've found the one, but I've found the few. And with the help of hometowns and seeing the lifestyles and seeing all the women that I'm down to in a more relaxed setting, I think that's going to help me make good decisions," Gerry said.

"One of the first things I looked for was a sense of humor, the woman's ability to laugh at herself, even to laugh at me," Gerry revealed at the show's premiere event in September. "I was looking for the person that would be a full-fledged 50-50 partner with me, not someone that would walk a step behind and make me take the lead all the time."

Theresa seemed to be just that. She was able to calm Gerry's nerves after a harrowing drive to their one-on-one date at a diner, where they bonded over the losses of their spouses and they encouraged viewers to not stop believing in love. Viewers saw that bond grow through the season.

At the "Women Tell All" taping, Gerry revealed what was ahead on overnight dates and why they were so important to him. And it's not the NSFW reason!

"I will tell you, the overnights were a watershed moment for me. When you're off camera and you don't have microphones listening, and you can have those discussions that you can't have in front of other people, it's much easier to learn about someone and make decisions."

Was their living arrangement - and how they'd handle being near their respective families - something Gerry and Theresa spoke about on their overnight date?

It seemed both Gerry and Theresa were all in during the finale in November. Theresa told Gerry, "The best is yet to come," and as he got down on one knee, Gerry proclaimed, "You're the person I can't live without."

The two announced on "After The Final Rose" that they were getting married January 4.

"This show has touched so many lives and we feel that we've really made a difference in people's lives and we want to bring them along for this ride," Theresa told On The Red Carpet when we checked in with them in December.

More than seven million viewers watched as Theresa and Gerry exchanged their vows in a ceremony officiated by former contestant Susan Noles.

Theresa and Gerry seemed like the picture of wedded bliss at the "After The Final Rose" live show for "The Bachelor's" latest lead, Joey Graziadei.

And just last week, at an event for Hulu on Disney+, Theresa updated On The Red Carpet on married life.

"Wonderful! We're just so happy. We're with our families, we just came from filming something together."

That something is "Celebrity Family Feud." No word yet on when, or if, that episode will air.

And as we digest the news of their split, Gerry and Theresa want people to know that the love is not gone.

"There's no doubt in my mind. I still am in love with her, I root for her every day," Gerry said to Juju Chang.

Theresa also said she doesn't want people to be discouraged by this news.

"I don't think we can tell you how many people told us that it gave them so much hope. We want none of that to change for anybody."

For more on the split, check out the latest podcast episode of "Playing The Field."

Related Topics

• ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
• THE BACHELOR
• ON THE RED CARPET

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