Martinique Lewis, host of National Geographic's "The Black Travel Across America," recently spoke with The AutoNsider's Daryl Killian about her latest project,the ABC Travel GreenBook app. The app aims to support Black-owned businesses across six continents.
Inspired by the historic 'Negro Motorist Greenbook,' which guided Black travelers seeking safe places to stay and eat during the Jim Crow era, the ABC Travel GreenBook app offers a database of Black-owned businesses, events, and communities. It hopes to promote these businesses to a broader audience and help travelers discover and support Black-owned establishments.
One unique feature of the app is its rating system, which allows users to share their experiences and provide feedback on the quality and safety of the businesses listed. This feedback helps promote lesser-known businesses and amplifies the voices of Black travelers who may otherwise struggle to find and support Black-owned businesses.
During the interview, Lewis encouraged Black and non-Black travelers to use the app and support Black-owned businesses. She highlighted the importance of amplifying these establishments, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affected Black-owned businesses.
The ABC Travel GreenBook app has already experienced overwhelming support, surpassing initial download and subscriber goals since its launch. Lewis hopes that the app will continue to grow and help promote and support Black-owned businesses in vacation hotspots worldwide.