A woman with braided hair and earrings looking to the side outdoors near a body of water with trees in the background.

I REFUSE TO LET BLACK STORIES BE ERASED

A woman with long black braids, wearing a red blazer and matching red pants, standing and smiling while leaning against a column.

I’m Shayla Martin

a travel journalist, content creator, and cultural storyteller driven by one mission—to connect Black travelers with their roots and celebrate our culture in every corner of the world.

Raised by a Civil Rights activist father and a political scientist mother, I learned early on that knowing our history means shaping our future. Growing up, family trips weren’t just vacations. They were lessons in Black excellence and resilience. It grounded me in pride and purpose as a Black woman and made me walk a little taller.

A logo with a black background featuring large gray overlapping letters 'S' and 'M' inside an outlined black oval.
Smiling woman with long curly black hair, wearing a beige top, red blazer, gold necklace, outdoors near a body of water, bright sky.

I learned that travel connects the dots between who we are, where we've been, and where we belong.

That belief fueled my career as a travel journalist and storyteller. For more than a decade, I've shared hidden and undertold Black stories, shining a light on our brilliance across the globe.

Now, I spend my time showing others how to do the same. I show you how to find the untold, celebrate Black culture, and build a deeper connection to yourself along the way.

Whether it’s learning about Black pioneers or supporting Black-owned businesses, intentional travel is my passion, my expertise, and my promise to you.

Black background with large white text on top spelling 'TLD'.
A black background with large, white, vertically aligned text that reads 'DARK'.

Currently working

as a Senior Editor at Afar.

10+ years of

journalism with features in The New York Times, Afar, Veranda, Architectural Digest, and Conde Nast Traveler.

Creator of

The Road We Trod newsletter where travel meets Black history, culture, and pride.

Explorer

who believes travel should make you feel safe, celebrated, and inspired.

Partnered with

Tripadvisor, Brand USA, Marriott, Kimpton, and Visit North Carolina to create meaningful content.

Dedicated to

uncovering untold Black stories in every travel destination.

Skyline of a city with tall skyscrapers, some with distinctive architectural features, topped with a partly cloudy blue sky and lush green trees in the foreground.
Black background with the words 'bucket list' written in a gray, cursive font.

MY TRAVEL

Tulsa, Oklahoma

A cityscape during sunset featuring a mosque with two tall minarets, a bridge, and reflections on the water.

Istanbul, turkey

Sunset over a city skyline with high-rise buildings, a harbor with boats, and historic architecture including a church with a yellow dome, in a coastal urban area.

Cartagena, Colombia

Three glasses of iced coffee in different flavors, with ice cubes, including one with a straw, on a white background.

Iced coffee always, no matter the temperature outside, and yes, I’ll always choose the Black-owned café over the chain.

Group of six people dressed in formal tuxedos and dresses, embracing and smiling outdoors with a city skyline and a yellow tower in the background. The image has a white outline of a cityscape and the word 'FRASER' at the bottom.
Multiple electronic devices including a laptop, tablet, smartphone, and a container of French fries.

I’ve spent way too many hours rewatching Frasier (yes, I know).

I can’t resist perfectly crisp french fries, travel gadgets, and learning about Black history.

Colorful watercolor globe on a wooden stand.

I’m dreaming about a world where every Black traveler feels safe, seen, and celebrated.

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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 I’d love for you to join me.

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