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In the fall of 2021, Jessica E. Boyd and Steven M. Hughes sold all their belongings in their hometown of Columbia, South Carolina in order to explore the USA in search of the ideal city to plant roots. Their project ended up leading to the creation of a major resource for other Black travelers.
As digital nomads, Boyd and Hughes traveled the country and documented their experiences along the way under the name Journey Black Home. Their goal was to find and share the most popular, as well as under-the-radar, Black-owned businesses in all the cities they visited around the country. They detailed bars, restaurants, shops and more, compiling what’s become a go-to resource for finding Black-owned businesses.
Throughout their journey they stayed in Airbnbs. Given the notorious issues Airbnb has had with racial bias – hosts canceling on black guests, for one – Boyd and Hughes felt more comfortable seeking out Black-owned accommodations. They also wanted to continue their support of Black-owned businesses on their travels as they looked for a place to stay. It turned out to be a tedious process trying to find Black-owned Airbnbs, so they decided to start compiling a new kind of list.
Since its inception, the list has grown to more than 200 entries and counting. The list is maintained at www.blackairbnbs.co with monthly updates sent to email subscribers. User submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. The couple plans to continue their focus on domestic Airbnbs and will eventually expand internationally. Listings can also be found on their Instagram account @blackairbnbs.