Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracey Simpson.
Tracey, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Living with my mother in North Carolina and visiting my father monthly in Maryland, I became used to domestic travel early on. I went on my first international trip at 12, after traveling to San Francisco, California, for a family reunion, where my family decided to drive across the borders of Mexico. After arriving, I soon learned the harsh reality that so many Mexicans were living; limited drinking water, unsanitary living conditions, and extreme poverty. I remember children the same age as me, if not younger, trying to sell candy and souvenirs for little to nothing. After returning back to NC, I became curious to the world beyond the US.
On my 15th birthday, my dad and I traveled to Jamaica. I remember thinking, why was it that almost no one looked like me at the resort. However, everyone looked like me on the island (beyond the hotel district)? As a child, I did not understand. As I got older and began to see more of the world, I then got used to returning home to my friends saying things like, “You have money; you’re always traveling,” “I can’t believe you went there! It’s not safe.”, “I don’t see any people that look like me there. Why would I go?”. They’d tell me this story they had been fed for decades that they couldn’t travel. That it was too expensive, or it just wasn’t meant for them to explore.
Entering college, I knew that I wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad. Being a broke college student, I had no idea how I was going to make it happen, but I knew somehow it had to! My senior year, an opportunity came up for me to study abroad in South Africa for a month. After working two jobs and making a GoFundMe, I finally came up with the money. While I was preparing, I did not know this would change the entire trajectory of my life.
During this short time in Johannesburg and Cape Town, I was exposed to so much! From the rich history of Apartheid to working with some of the 13.8 million+ people who lived in poverty. I came back home not only humbled but extremely inspired! I wanted to share with my friends and family not only how beautiful and rich the country was culturally (and physically), but the resilience and stories of so many overlooked people. I had seen too many times, Americans visiting exotic vacation destinations, only to stay at a resort, eat pizza, and soak up the sun. Exploiting them for their beauty, yet failing to acknowledge the rich culture within these destinations; and the stories and experiences shared by the people beyond the hotel/resort walls.
I chose travel because 17% of African-Americans take one or more international trips and travel more than six times every single year, yet 2.6% of ads focus on African – American audiences. I knew that being well-traveled resulted in higher income, higher impact, improved job performance, and a wealth of overall health benefits. But I also knew a couple more things; I knew that people of color were more likely to travel and make a purchase if advertisements reflected them. I knew that there was a huge, untapped potential (as well as lack of representation) because, as people of color, we are top consumers of media.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Not at all! Having started my business straight out of college, I was going through a stage of transition that prevented me from fully investing in my business. I moved thousands of miles away, from NC to Texas with no family or friends, as a first-year teacher. I lacked the time nor network to expand my business the way I knew I could. After getting settled, I found my voice again and begin to grind.
As a result of the global health pandemic that occurred as a result of COVID-19, it also made a major hit on trips that I had planned for both myself and several clients. This also put a hold on the travel industry as a whole and forced me to venture into other avenues of expanding my business, which included YouTube, Financial Literacy, and Youth Empowerment.
Please tell us about WeTravelBlack.
WeTravelBlack was created to fill a noticeable gap within the people of color, one between the life that many minority millennials want to live, traveling, versus the life many of them believe is accessible to them. WeTravelBlack is fueled by the lack of minority representation within media in the travel community. The goal is to increase accessibility and exposure to travel opportunities, serving as a place for members to look for planning resources, daily inspiration, itineraries, as well as assistance booking trips, and a network of like-minded travelers.
WeTravelBlack aims to cultivate increased travel experiences upon minorities in order to broaden their knowledge, cultural awareness, and the overall well being of minorities globally. WeTravelBlack empowers the global community through youth empowerment, community outreach, and disaster relief.
We are known for our social media presence and the exposure we give to travelers of color. I am most proud of the community that we have built through our social media and the assistance that we have recently begun providing to the community. June 2020, WeTravelBlack planned to host a trip of 10 youth to provide disaster relief to Puerto Rico. Due to COVID-19, the trip was canceled, however, it provides promise for future outreach. This is also what sets us apart from other black travel groups. We are not looking to only expand and expose opportunities to millennials but we are trying to use millennial platform to reach down and help out the upcoming generation.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am super excited to use the WeTravelBlack platform to continue uplift the next generation. We are currently looking for minority business professionals and owners to assist in sponsoring ten high school seniors and ten college students for a Youth Empowerment Brunch scheduled to take place in March 2021.
I am also excited to get back outside in order to expand our group travel trips and partnerships with tour agencies globally. I am also looking to connect additionally with other travelers and specifically travel bloggers.
Pricing:
- 50 Resources to change your travel game ($9.99)
- Comfy Boss Travel Tee ($15.99)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wetravelblack.org
- Phone: 919-605-3122
- Email: info@wetravelblack.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wetravelblack/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/traceysimone_/
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