The First Black-Owned Travel Website Turns 30, Uplifting Black Travelers Worldwide

Soul of America, the first Black-owned travel website, marks its 30th anniversary with a mission to empower Black travelers through guides to cities rich in Black culture, history, and businesses. 

Founded by Thomas Dorsey in 1994, the platform offers travel resources spanning over 150 destinations in the U.S. and abroad, curated to help travelers explore destinations that celebrate and preserve Black heritage. 

For this milestone, Dorsey and his team have refreshed their popular US City and international travel guides.

30 Years of Building a Legacy in Black Travel

Soul of America has roots that run deep in the history of Black travel, beginning with pocket-sized maps that highlighted essential cultural and heritage sites across the United States. 

By converting these into the first web-based Black travel guides in 1997, Soul of America became a digital resource, predating both TripAdvisor and Google. 

For Dorsey, this journey was inspired by his market research in 1991, when traditional travel guides often overlooked Black neighborhoods and businesses. 

His passion for ensuring travelers could access authentic Black experiences has driven Soul of America’s growth into a trusted guide for millions of users over the years.

“After 30 years of connecting people with meaningful travel experiences, we’re grateful for the trust and appreciation from our community,” said Thomas Dorsey, founder and CEO, according to BlackNews.

“As an anniversary gift to our visitors, we’ve refreshed our guides to include new, soulful journeys across top U.S. cities and international destinations.”

A Resource for Rich, Authentic Experiences

From iconic cities like New York, Washington D.C., and Chicago to emerging destinations such as Greensboro and Savannah, Soul of America offers insights into Black-owned restaurants, boutiques, spas, and cultural landmarks. 

With the latest updates, Dorsey’s platform now includes special international guides featuring cities like Paris, London, and Rio de Janeiro, as well as Caribbean destinations known for their vibrant cultural scenes.

Today, Soul of America honors that legacy by helping travelers connect with destinations that resonate with the history and future of Black culture worldwide.