Travel Professionals of Color Association

02/06/2025

Celebrating Black History Month

Matthew Henson

Matthew Henson was one of the first great Black pioneers of travel – and the first man to stand on top of the world, planting the first US flag at the North Pole in 1909. Henson first began travelling in 1878, aged 12, when he worked as a cabin boy on Katie Hines, a merchant ship sailing to ports in China, Japan, Africa, and the Russian Arctic seas. In 1887, Commander Robert E. Peary recruited Henson for his expedition to Nicaragua. After Nicaragua Henson joined Peary again, for an expedition to Greenland. While there, Henson embraced the local Eskimo culture, learning the language and the natives' Arctic survival skills over the course of the next year. Peary was impressed by Henson’s skills and asked him to travel on his future expeditions, including the North Pole expedition from 1908-1909. When Peary was overcome by frostbite or exhaustion and could not leave his dogsled, Henson forged ahead in the cold with a few Inuit expeditioners and planted the very first flag at the North Pole. Triumphant when they returned, Peary received many accolades for his accomplishment, but — an unfortunate sign of the times — as an African American, Henson was largely overlooked.

Henson spent the next three decades working as a clerk in a New York federal customs house, but he never forgot his life as an explorer. He recorded his Arctic memoirs in 1912, in the book A Negro Explorer at the North Pole. In 1937, a 70-year-old Henson finally received the acknowledgment he deserved: The highly regarded Explorers Club in New York accepted him as an honorary member. In 1944 he and the other members of the expedition were awarded a Congressional Medal. He worked with Bradley Robinson to write his biography, Dark Companion, which was published in 1947.

Henson passed away at 88 years old in the Bronx. His wife Lucy passed away 13 years later and was laid to rest beside him at Woodlawn Cemetery in New York. In 1988 their remains were moved for interment at Arlington National Cemetery.

02/03/2025

Celebrating our TPOC member, Gaynelle Henderson and Henderson Travel Service!

Established in 1955, the origin story of Henderson Travel Service—both the first Black-owned full-service travel agency in the U.S. and a pioneer of Black American travel to Africa—is rooted in the determination and resilience of one woman: Freddye Henderson. Through the years the agency has planned and booked thousands of trips for Black travelers, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1964 visit to Oslo, Norway, where he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize for his leadership in the Civil Rights Movement.

Read the full article: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-past-present-and-future-of-the-nations-first-black-owned-travel-agency-henderson-travel-service

02/01/2025

CELEBRATE!

The theme for Black History Month 2025 is "African Americans and Labor". This theme focuses on highlighting the significant contributions of African Americans to the workforce throughout history.

01/20/2025

"If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective."

MLK - Christmas sermon, Atlanta, Georgia, 1967.

01/14/2025

A year in review at Salamader Resorts, a TPOC partner.

01/14/2025

01/09/2025

Rachel Clark, the African-American woman who influenced Jimmy Carter's philosophy of service. https://www.nps.gov/people/rachelclark.htm?fbclid=IwY2xjawHsvnhleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHectLbcdR_Dg_aLURxWwJvS1i_-REMaFQRdyI2TYvW4NQVMI-BzzyK7Jhg_aem_x8K5LrQKvKp0XQ2kPctA7Q

Rachel Idlette Holt Clark was born April 2, 1890, in Sumter County, Georgia. In 1912, Rachel married Jack Clark, and in the 1920s they moved to Archery to work for Earl Carter.

01/01/2025

Here’s to new beginnings! As 2025 begins, we want to express our gratitude for your support. May the New Year be filled with growth, innovation, and success in all your business endeavors.

TPOC Board of Directors

12/25/2024

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a fresh start to a prosperous year ahead. Thank you for your incredible contributions to our success!

TPOC Board of Directors

11/28/2024

On behalf of the Travel Professionals of Color (TPOC) Board of Directors, we wish you a joyous Thanksgiving celebration and hope you are able to spend it with your family or special friends. We are thankful for many things this year, but mostly to have all of you and your continued support.

11/23/2024

Harriet Tubman is now a General Tubman. Last week became recognized as a one star General. Moving forward we now call her Brigadier General Harriet Tubman !

11/22/2024

Memories of the 2013 TPOC Conference in Trinidad & Tobago.

Good memories!

Click on pictures for additional information.

11/19/2024

TPOC Board Members and Heritage Team visited the International African American Museum during our visit to Charleston, S.C. for our annual Fall board meeting.

The International African American Museum tells the unvarnished stories of the African American experience across generations, the trauma and triumph that gave rise to a resilient people.

Click on pictures for additional information.

11/01/2024

Day of the Dead, or Día de los Mu***os, is a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated November 1- 2. On this day, it is believed that the souls of the dead return to visit their living family members. Many people celebrate this day by visiting the graves of deceased loved ones and setting up altars with their favorite foods, drink, and photos.

History of Day of the Dead
The ancient indigenous people of Mexico have practiced rituals celebrating the lives of past ancestors for around 3,000 years. The celebration that is now known as Day of the Dead originally landed on the ninth month of the Aztec calendar and was observed for the entire month. In the 20th century, the month long festivities were condensed to three days called The Days of the Dead: Halloween on October 31, Day of the Innocents on November 1, and Day of the Dead on November 2.

La Catrina is one of the most recognizable figures of Day of the Dead, a towering female skeleton with vibrant make up and a flamboyant feathery hat. The Lady of Death worshipped by the Aztecs protected their departed loved ones, guiding them through their final stages of the life and death cycles. La Catrina that we know today came to be in the early 1900s by controversial and political cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada. Artist and husband of Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, included José’s La Catrina in one of his murals which depicted 400 years of Mexican history. His mural, “Dreams of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park”, includes himself and a young child holding hands with La Catrina, who is dressed in sophisticated garb and a fancy feathered hat.

Plans for Day of the Dead are made throughout the year. Toys are offered to dead children and bottles of alcohol or jars of alote (grilled corn) get offered to dead adults. Most families decorate their loved ones’ graves with ofrendas, which often includes marigolds. It’s said that these specific flowers attract the souls of the dead to the offerings, and the bright petals and strong scent guides the souls from the cemetery to their family’s home.

Since the 1960s, when the Mexican government declared it a public holiday based on educational policy initiatives, Dia de Mu***os has been observed throughout Mexico. The tradition was added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s Representative List of Humanity’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008.

10/15/2024

Shout out to all women small business owners! You go girl!

Growth of women-owned businesses
During the period of the pandemic and beyond, the growth of women-owned businesses has been impressive. According to statistics from the Wells Fargo report:

From 2019 to 2023, women-owned businesses’ growth rate outpaced the rate of men’s by 94.3% for the number of firms, 252.8% for employment, and 82.0% for revenue.
Nearly half a million women-owned businesses with revenues between $250,000 and $999,999 grew their aggregate revenues by about 30%.

Between 2019 and 2023, Black/African American women-owned businesses saw average revenues increase 32.7% and Hispanic/Latino women-owned businesses 17.1% compared to all women-owned businesses’ 12.1% rise.

10/14/2024

10/09/2024

The ORIGINAL Taste of Louisville celebrates 50 years, showcasing some of Louisville's most talented and hardworking food and beverage rock stars. Join us in the Da Vinci Room at the Melwood Arts Center on Wednesday, October 16th, from 6-9 p.m., where 50+ restaurants and beverage companies will showcase their talents in the kitchen. Your admission includes all food and beverage samples, live music on the patio, and an unforgettable evening with friends and foodies.