Shayla Martin

These days, sustainability within the travel industry goes so much further than banning plastic straws or putting a recycling bin in your room. Resorts and hotels around the world are getting serious about renewable energy, conserving and protecting their local environments and minimizing waste production (research estimates that hotels process 289,700 tons of waste each year!) in innovative ways that will benefit generations to come. From electricity-generating fitness equipment to native tr...

The Sun-n-Sand Motor Hotel in Jackson, Miss., where civil rights activists gathered in the 1960s. The Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in New York City, where Ella Fitzgerald and the Count Basie Orchestra performed. These, along with many other sites that are integral to Black culture, no longer exist, while others have fallen into disrepair, with little hope of survival. Often the loss or degradation was by design — many were systematically destroyed through racially coded policies like “urban renew...

Creole cooking classes, boisterous street parties, a tour of a cacao plantation and visits with islanders preserving local traditions: A traveler explores a more intimate St. Lucia.
“Here, smell this,” said Hans Mathurin, 29, as he pulled off the road, rolled down his window and snatched a leaf off a bush. After a skull-rattling ride along treacherous, bumpy roads en route to a Creole cooking class, I wasn’t quite in the mood to smell, much less eat, anything, but I took the crushed leaf and ...

The 400-year history of African culture in this maritime Canadian province is expansive, but it’s a story that’s been tucked into the shadows of Canadian history. Now, grass-root initiatives are changing that.
“Whenever I travel and tell people where I’m from, they always say, ‘There are Black people in Nova Scotia?’” said René Boudreau, 30, founder of Elevate and Explore Black Nova Scotia, a travel community and experiential business designed to inspire Black travelers to visit the province....

Lately, it seems as if so many industries are discussing the idea of creating a more equitable future, but what does that actually mean in practice? When it comes to the future of American neighborhoods, how can we as architects, designers, developers, and creators build neighborhoods that are not only inclusive but also equitable? Neighborhoods that don’t deny the people and cultures that came before but instead celebrate and honor these communities and ensure their future generations will a...

While growing up in the 1970s, Margott Williams heard stories from her mother about her family members buried in Houston’s Olivewood Cemetery, but it wasn’t until her grandmother died in 1999 that she attempted to visit it on her own. “I never imagined in a million years that Olivewood would be so overgrown to the point that we couldn’t even get in,” says Williams. “I decided in that moment that this cemetery needs to be taken care of.”
She reached out to the county historical commission to i...

It might surprise even the most dedicated music fans to learn some of the most important, groundbreaking sound in jazz came not from a recording studio in a city like New York, Detroit, or Chicago—or even Memphis, Nashville, or Muscle Shoals—but a quiet suburban home on Long Island.
That home belonged to John and Alice Coltrane, who, after spending years in crowded cities, moved to the leafy enclave of Dix Hills, New York, in 1964 seeking reconnection with each other and spiritual solace. It ...

At times overshadowed by its namesake neighborhood in Chicago, Milwaukee’s Bronzeville district is again distinguishing itself as a center of African American culture. From 1910 to the 1950s, the area buzzed with Black-owned businesses, but it was decimated by “urban renewal” projects that razed thriving Black neighborhoods across America. Today’s Bronzeville is supported by about $400 million of redevelopment funds from organizations like the Historic King Drive BID, P3 Development Group and Maures Development Group (all led by people of color)...

When the historian and journalist Carter G. Woodson proposed the first Negro History Week in 1926, he hardly imagined what would eventually become a monthlong celebration of Black history and culture across the nation. Today, every single state commemorates Black History Month in some fashion, acknowledging the trailblazers of the past, celebrating those making waves in the present, and honoring all the African Americans who have shaped the United States through both triumphs and unimaginable...

Whether they work on or off Capitol Hill, Washingtonians tend to plan their summer schedules around that of Congress, meaning that during the weeks preceding the lawmakers’ return (this year beginning in mid-September), the nation’s capital is far less crowded than usual. For visitors, a largely empty city means the possibility of scoring reservations at the most exclusive restaurants and strolling past the glowing Lincoln Memorial at night without joggers ruining your photo op.
Although the ...

With our new WFH-reality, it's more important than ever to have a trusted pair of sweatpants.
I personally tested 10 different styles and reviewed them based on fit, length, softness, and more.
Whether you wear them around the house or out and about, these are the best sweats on the market.
Permanently remote positions and flexible work schedules means that you've likely made sweatpants a staple in your wardrobe. While it's great there are so many brands to choose from, it can be hard to come...

Summer is is the time to debut cute new outfits while out and about.
Two-piece sets remove the stress of outfit planning, offering a simple, coordinated look.
We rounded up the best matching sets at a wide variety of budgets, styles, and sizes.
After months of not leaving the house and only truly getting dressed from the waist up, it's safe to say that our style muscles got a little atrophied during quarantine. So if you're now feeling a little overwhelmed by the process of getting dressed to...

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Disclosure: Written and researched by the team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently...

This luxurious silk is soft with a brushed feel, making it more durable for machine washing.
While this line beats dry cleaning, it does require more care than your average set of pajamas.
I'll admit I fell into the trap of perfectly curated Instagram ads, but when I came across Lunya's washable silk line that claimed to be made from naturally thermoregulating silk you could throw into the washing machine, I was intrigued. Not only was the washable silk line low-maintenance, it was absolutely...

Mid-twentieth century Los Angeles often conjures visions of glamorous Hollywood parties, but the spaces in which those events were held were not open to everyone. In the early 1940s, it was nearly impossible for Black Angelenos to find a welcoming event space for any sort of celebration. “Back then, Black people weren’t welcome in restaurants or hotels. Even if you found a venue that would allow you to come, you weren’t treated well,” says Gayle Beavers, president of the Wilfandel Club and gr...