In this episode, we talk about how the travel industry is reckoning with issues of racial diversity and inclusion. The industry, to put it mildly, has had a long history of whitewashing travel. This applies to how destinations get marketed, the travelers whose stories get featured in publications, and even who travel companies work with to promote their products. Black travelers, travel writers, and influencers have been challenging these practices for years, but the ongoing protests and activism around the Black Lives Matter movement marked a kind of watershed moment. Back in June, on BlackoutTuesday, several travel companies posted Black Squares on their instagram feeds in solidarity with BLM. But as several people pointed out, the action seemed performative at best. One of those people was Tanisha Cherry, a blogger, influencer, and podcaster based in Canada, who we had a chance to speak with to hear her thoughts on the issue. For more on the topics we discuss in this episode, and to learn more about our guest, check out the following links: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/20/travel/travel-brands-black-lives-matter.html https://www.blacktravelalliance.com/ https://www.instagram.com/tanisha.cherry/ https://www.instagram.com/cherryloungepodcast/
