*insert Beyonce singing ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ at Beychella*

Hi! I’m Shayla, a Washington, D.C.- based travel journalist with words in The New York Times, Coastal Living, Veranda, Hemispheres Magazine and more. I’m also always rooting for everybody Black, word to Issa. These worlds collide here at The Road We Trod, a travel newsletter where I share my experience and expertise on travel destinations through the Black gaze. This means that when I travel, I’m usually asking myself these questions when I visit a place: What’s the unsung Black history here? What are the most celebrated Black institutions I need to see here? 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, this newsletter is for you. If you want to be intentional about your spending when you travel, this newsletter is for you. If you want to read the unfiltered musings of a woman who has spent more than 10 years crafting articles for the world’s most respected travel publications and news organizations, this newsletter is for you. Welcome. I’m so glad you’re here.

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