Black culture runs deep throughout every city and town in America. No matter where you are, remnants of Black history can be found. Although modernity fuels city’s today, most places in the US have a rich connection to the African diaspora.
Incorporating historical exploration into your travels can be exciting and enriching. American history is Black history. However, some places are more connected to Black history than others. Here are US destinations with a history rooted in Black culture.
South Carolina Low Country
Black culture in South Carolina Low Country goes back to slavery. The area spreads across the state and into parts of Georgia where some of the first African slaves reached American shores. While Gullah Island doesn’t actually exist, Low Country is where the Gullah Geechee people called home.
Today, the Low Country is some of the most beautiful land in the country. Visitors come from all over to experience the richness of Black culture that dwells there. From natural attractions and landmarks to museums and southern cuisine, Low Country has a little bit of everything for the traveler hungry for Black history.
Chicago
According to Choose Chicago, the first permanent settler in Chicago was a Black man from Haiti. Since then, the Midwest city has continued to be a destination rooted in Black culture. There are many Black neighborhoods in Chicago, including Hyde Park and Bronzeville. Throughout the city, there are remnants of Black history around every turn.
Black-owned businesses and cultural institutions thrive around the city of Chicago. There’s a plethora of restaurants, landmarks, and cultural experiences to dive into making it a favorite destination for American travelers.
Tulsa
Before racial discrimination and white terrorism destroyed the city, Tulsa’s Greenwood District stood as the Black Wallstreet of America. It sat in the heart of the Midwest and African Americans from around the US moved there with hopes of a better life.
In 1921, white community members set Tulsa ablaze, destroying the most prosperous Black community in the country. This included the destruction of 35 city blocks and the death of 300 Black people.
Tulsa was one many Black communities in America that was destroyed once it began to flourish. Today, Tulsa is a popular tourist destination in Oklahoma. The city is still defined by Blackness and is built on the foundation the Greenwood District left behind. Despite being burned to the ground, Tulsa rose again as a pillar of the success of Black America.
Harlem, NY
In the 1920s, Harlem was a hub for Black excellence. Harlem became known as the “Black Mecca,” and Black creatives, innovators, and families flourished there.
The Harlem Renaissance was a time period signified by timeless music, artistic expression, and Black pride. This renaissance reinvigorated Black culture across the country. Iconic Black figures, like Langston Hughes, WEB DuBois and Josephine Baker emerged from this movement.
Today, Harlem still shines bright as a symbol of Black culture on the East Coast. Black-owned food spots, like Sylvia’s and Melba’s, serve up hot soul food daily. Festivals and celebrations honoring Black culture happen year round in Harlem, as it stands as a center of Black excellence.