TRAVEL TIME

By Bob Ferguson

Spring is here, with summer approaching fast, giving folks the itch to get out and go. The mere mention of travel or vacation will bring an instant smile and excitement to any conversation. People tend to delight in the thought of going somewhere and having fun, if just for a quick staycation to relax at a nearby hotel not far from home.

Today the onset of the internet has made it very convenient to compare travel costs, come up with an affordable flight, hotel, or tour package, and with the click of a button, confirm instantly. However, not too long ago, African Americans were denied access to the most basic vacation and leisure travel services that we now enjoy. From the the1930s up until the late 50s, the great migration was when millions of Black Southerners headed north for betterpaying jobs and a new way of life...With significant wage increases and the manufacturing boom of the automobile, black folks purchased nearly a half-million dollars in cars. They hit the road and started to drive across the country knowing full well the sign “We’ll leave the light on for yuh” would not be lit up for them.

Most gas-filling stations, hotels, motels, restaurants, toilet facilities, and other travel convenience stops were unavailable to us. You had to continue driving for miles or until you reached your destination.In 1936 a postal worker, Victor Green, and his wife Alma created and published a directory, “The Negro Motorist Green Book,” a travel guide listing all the overnight spots, eateries, and other service places where blacks could stop, not be harassed or turned away while on the road.

Also, during the 1960s, a black travel service in Cleveland, Cooper Travel, located on E. 105th, and Chester in the Call & Post Building, was a part of this network and assisted black folks stopping or passing through our city headed to other destinations. Unfortunately, Black travelers had to depend on this book well after The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed.

From its inception in 1936 until the final edition of the Green Book was published in late 1965, the book sold over two million copies. In 2020 it was reported that African Americans spent well over 100 Billion dollars on travel and tourism, with nearly 17% of them taking at least one international trip each year. Today African Americans have many destinations they favor, Africa, London, Paris, Spain, Italy, and everywhere around the globe; you’ll see Black travelers. However, the Caribbean, namely Nassau Bahamas and Ochos Rios Jamaica, are the much-loved destinations.

One growing popular vacation spot is Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, with miles and miles of snowy white beaches and all-inclusive luxury resorts. You’ll find it easy to select and treat yourself to whirlpool massages in most master suites, poolside and beachfront lounge bars, plus 24-hour gourmet dining. You can also enjoy an 18-hole PGA golf course at most resorts or spend the afternoon unwinding in a full-service spa getting a manicure or pedicure or chilling out in a sauna.

Since the mid-70s, cruises have made an enormous hit with black vacationers. It offers 24-hour lifechanging experiences to those seeking to enrich their imagination and bring their wildest fantasies to life while at sea. You, as a single or with a companion, will have the opportunity to explore jawdropping experiences as you island-hop or just one port of call for a destination. Cruising is truly one of my favorite all-inclusive ways to vacation. Plan an unforgettable journey of the most pleasurable kind, where romance is exploded into passion, and the fun aboard never stops. Bon voyage.