New Project to create Travel Guide aimed at the African-American International Traveler.

The editors of BlackTravels.com, The African American Travelers Guide to the World, are actively seeking submissions of letters, stories and essays, of up to 1000 words, describing the experiences of African-Americans while traveling internationally for education, business and leisure.

Geneva, New York --October 2, 2003 --The editors of BlackTravels.com, The African American Travelers Guide to the World, are actively seeking submissions of letters, stories and essays, of up to 1000 words, describing the experiences of African-Americans while traveling internationally for education, business and leisure. The new book project is designed to create a comprehensive travel guide aimed at African-American college students, business people, as well as leisure tourists considering international travel. The editors are especially interested in finding travelers who have spent time in Eastern Europe, Asia, and South and Central America.

The project was conceived two years ago by Donna Albro, a Professor at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, and Artist/Writer and avid traveler Kesha Bruce. Were hoping to assemble a compilation of personal experiences from African-American travelers about the attitudes and cultures they encountered." says Albro, It goes without saying that the Black international traveler has experiences that can be very different from other travelers. And there are no travel books that talk about how people will treat you in Naples, Italy or if you will have trouble in a small town in Poland."

Since creating the Traveling While Black website, the editors have received many e-mails from African-American travelers all over the U.S looking for information about destinations they are interested in traveling to. Most travelers write for information about safety or cultural issues and advice. Even today I see a good amount of apprehension from many Black travelers about traveling abroad, and most of that fear comes from not knowing how they will be treated once they get there.", says Bruce, Being able to talk to other Black travelers beforehand about a countrys racial or political climate can have a profound effect on a travelers over-all experience. In some cases just knowing what to expect can make a travelers experience much more enjoyable."

Donna Albro is the director of the peer education in human relations (PEHR) program at Hobart and William Smith colleges. She works with students to prepare them for active lives of social change and social justice. Albro also serves as a consultant in human resources (private practice) and offers gender/cultural awareness training to institutions for the enhancement of diversity and social justice. She also conducts seminars on affirmative action, sexual harassment, and employee relations.

Kesha Bruce is a photographer and mixed-media artist from New York. She received a BFA in painting from the University of Iowa in 1997 and an MFA in Painting from Hunter College CUNY in 2000. Her work has been shown in New York as well as the Midwest, including the Hunter College Times Square Gallery in New York and The Bronx Council on the Arts Longwood Gallery.