Journalist.
Editor.
CultuRAl
storyteller.
Iām Shayla
an award-winning, Washington, D.C.-based travel journalist, content creator and editor.
I specialize in travel storytelling through the Black gaze, meaning that Iām always on the hunt for the undertold, or purposefully hidden, Black history and culture about a destination, particularly those places where you may not expect to find it. Iāve written about the vibrant more-than-a-century legacy of Black culture in Marthaās Vineyard, why preserving Black cemeteries is integral to American history, and the 400-year history of African culture in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Since 2013, you can find my words in
get the guide
This oneās for us
You want to travel where youāll be celebrated, not simply tolerated.
I get it
One thing to know about me? Iām always rooting for everybody Black, word to Issa.
Telling these stories feeds my soul. But most importantly, this storytelling fulfills my mission of ensuring that Black travelers understand that we belong everywhere, because weāve always been everywhere.
When I travel, I usually ask myself these questions: Whatās the unsung Black history here? What are the most celebrated Black institutions I need to see? Do I feel safe here as a Black woman (often traveling alone)? Who are the Black business owners, mentors and community members crafting real change here and how can I support them?
If you find yourself asking similar questions when you travel, youāve come to the right place. If you want to be intentional about your spending when you travel, youāve come to the right place. If you want to read the unfiltered musings of a woman who has spent more than 10 years crafting articles for the worldās most respected travel publications and news organizations, youāve come to the right place.
the road we trod
Where black travelers should go in 2026
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Outside of traditional media, I share my unfiltered thoughts on travel as a Black woman (among other hot topics) on my substack newsletter, The Road We Trod. The newsletter is my safe space corner of the internet, and Iād love for you to join me.