Black Travel

Join us for an inspiring conversation with author Janet Cheatham Bell, who has witnessed the evolution of racial equality in the United States firsthand, from the Civil Rights Movement to today's Black Lives Matter movement. Janet Cheatham Ball shares her profound insights on the progress and ongoing challenges in the fight for racial equality. Janet Cheatham Bell, mother of W. Kamau Bell, the host of CNN's "United Shades of America," also provides fascinating behind-the-scenes insights from her son's show, including her cameo appearance on the season premiere. Her unique perspective offers a deeper understanding of the current racial landscape and the power of media in shaping public discourse. "Traveling to other countries was liberating because I learned that people are the same everywhere…being human is the same everywhere and it has nothing to do with color or culture." -Janet Cheatham Bell One of the most enlightening parts of our conversation [...]

Why is it important for people of color to control their own narrative? How does preserving your story support historical truths? Ardre Orie is a publisher, social activist, and ghostwriter who helps Black men and people of color discover the power of their voice.

Janet Cheatham Bell is an author, scholar, budding playwright and mother to CNN host, W. Kamau Bell, of United Shades of America.  Having lived through America’s Civil Rights Movement, Janet joins World Footprints to reflect on her life journey from a segregated Indiana to her interracial marriage that defied the laws of the era.

The world has changed a lot in the last six months—which means we must change how we interact with it. Travel is different now. Journalism is different now.

Gaining even more traction in 2014 during the historic events in Ferguson, Black Lives Matter became a household name. Since then, the movement has spread across the country like wildfire.

From the violations of the Constitutional rights of peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters, to the unlawful killings of black citizens--George Floyd, Armaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor (and many more before them), to the global pandemic that is taking lives and undermining the economic security of millions of people, and now Americans facing further threats to freedoms and civil liberties not seen in generations, recent events are begging the question: how are we supposed to heal?

Step into the words and paintings of award-winning writers and artists as we celebrate black history in literary color. Award-winning artist Michele Wood’s work reflects a deep sense of history and place.

In one of her last interviews, the late Dr. Maya Angelou spent time with us to share her early life, lessons learned along her adult journey and golden nuggets of wisdom.

black patriot World footprints showcases positive footprints around the world with today’s guests.  Dr. P. Bai Akridge talks about the importance of study aboard programs and how students can discover their potential through global learning.   Frank Martin, producer of the PBS documentary, For Love of Liberty: The Story of America’s Black Patriots, and Bill straw from Blix Street Records, producer of the original soundtrack, discuss their award-winning film. The film details the military contributions of African Americans from the Revolutionary War to the present. The movie allows the viewers to gain an understanding about the experiences and accomplishments of African Americans in the military, and learn why such a group of heroic men and women would fight for the freedom of others that they themselves weren't able to enjoy. Nancy Rivard, founder of Airline Ambassadors International, talks about her decision to leave the management track at American airlines to focus on building [...]

This broadcast is a favorite legacy show that we produced under our old name Travel'n On and before rebranding as WORLD FOOTPRINTS. Father Moses Berry February marks Black History Month, and in celebration, World Footprints returns to Missouri; a state that has made a unique contribution to America’s history. Ian and Tonya will speak to their father Moses Berry, founder of the Ozarks African American Heritage Museum in Ash Grove.  It has an extensive collection of photographs and artifacts of rural Afro-American life in the surrounding areas, preserved by the Berrys and other families over many years. Fr. Moses Berry is a contributor to An Unbroken Circle: Linking Ancient African Christianity to the African American Experience, a ground-breaking collection of essays. He, along with Fr. Alexii Altschul and others founded the annual Afro-American and Ancient Christianity Conferences sponsored by the Brotherhood of St. Moses the Black.  He is in demand locally as [...]

This broadcast is a favorite legacy show that we produced under our old name Travel'n On and before rebranding as WORLD FOOTPRINTS. Tonya and Ian head to Detroit, Michigan to explore what the Henry Ford Museum is doing for Black History Month.

This broadcast is a favorite legacy show that we produced under our old name Travel'n On and before re-branding as WORLD FOOTPRINTS. Let's learn about Baltimore's African American Heritage. Baltimore, Maryland has a number of unique attractions that showcase African-American culture and contributions in America.  Nancy Hinds from the Baltimore Convention and Visitor's Bureau joins our show to share the city's interesting treasures. The city's residents have long been on the front lines of the struggle for civil rights and equality. It is hardly surprising that the city has been at the core of black culture given the sizeable African American population. Along the renowned "Chitlin' Circuit," Pennsylvania Avenue was a stop known for its jazz and theatre. Some of America's most significant musicians, such as pianist, were raised here. African American leaders also had a significant impact on the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Baltimore residents [...]