What does it mean to travel across all 50 states and 50 countries as a Black woman?
In this episode of Unlock Black Journeys: The Podcast, I’m joined by Ebony Walden, an author, filmmaker, consultant, and speaker based in Richmond, Virginia. Ebony is the founder of Ebony Walden Consulting, a racial equity–focused firm, and the creator of Black Beyond Borders, a documentary series and podcast exploring culture, creativity, connection, and cuisine across the African diaspora. She also writes Beyond Borders, a weekly Substack newsletter on travel and transformation.
In this conversation, we explore her journey across all 50 states and 50 countries and what she has learned about Black travel, belonging, and navigating space across the United States and beyond.
Ebony shares what it means to move through different places as a Black traveler, how safety and freedom show up in unexpected ways, and what it looks like to find connection and cultural immersion across borders. We also talk about how travel becomes a tool for reflection, storytelling, and transformation.
If you’re curious about the Black travel experience across the U.S. and around the world, or you’re looking for meaningful insights on the best destinations for Black people to find comfort and community through the lens of someone who has deeply traveled both domestically and internationally, this episode is for you.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
This episode is part of Unlock Black Journeys: The Podcast, where we are archiving all 50 states, one conversation at a time! Learn what it’s like traveling while Black and how to find Black-owned businesses, shop local, plus explore Black history & culture as you visit all 50 states through curated, local Black travel insights.
We tackle questions like:
Why? Because every destination is a Black destination. Stay tuned to see when your state is featured.
Welcome to the Franny the Traveler blog! I’m Dr. Franny, a national award-winning educator, entrepreneur, author, and Black travel enthusiast on a personal mission to make every destination a Black-owned destination. As I visit all 50 states and 50 countries by age 50, this Black travel blog is a growing collection of Black-owned city guides, itineraries, travel tips, and reflections on traveling while Black for the conscious traveler. I’m so happy you’re here!
