Each February to mark Black History Month, the United States celebrates the Black men, women, and organizations that have helped move the needle forward for equality. While one month—28 days to be exact—isn’t nearly long enough to share every worthy story, tours about the topic can be an excellent experience to fill in the gaps, and to support Black tour operators who work tirelessly to include accurate details of the Black experience that are too often left out.
There are many Black history tours right here in the United States that range from group to self-walking and driving options; self-guided tours are great for those who prefer to go at their own pace or avoid crowds, plus they’re usually free. As we continue to learn about Black history beyond the limited scope of textbooks and the internet, consider checking out one of these Black heritage tours across the country.
Black Liberation Walking Tour: Oakland, California
Type: Self-guided
Duration: 2 hours
When most people think of Black history in the United States, they typically imagine the history of the American South, New York City’s Harlem, and Washington, D.C. This self-guided tour in Oakland, California, shares nearly 100 years of Black history in the American West, from the West Coast’s Civil Rights Movement and the Great Migration, to present-day stories of Oakland residents. Tour stops include St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, which was the spiritual home of the local Black Panther Party; the California Hotel, one of the few hotels in the 1950s that allowed Black guests and eventually became a popular entertainment venue for Black musicians like Billie Holiday, Sam Cooke, and James Brown; and the house of Delilah Beasley, one of the first Black women journalists to write for major American newspapers.
The self-guided tour route, photos, and accompanying audio files for the journey can be found here.
Black Austin Tours: Austin, Texas
Type: Walking (seasonal, May-August)
Duration: 2 hours
Owner Javier Wallace is a history buff through and through, and his family has lived in the Austin area since the 1820s. He has thoroughly researched and curated this seasonal walking tour that explores everything from the Texas route that many enslaved Black people used to escape to freedom in Mexico in the late 1800s, to the Black-owned businesses and sites that have played an integral part in the success of Austin’s Black residents. “This tour is important for Austin because it forces an insertion of Black histories, experiences, and contributions in a city that has tried to silence them,” Wallace says.
A Tour of Possibilities: Memphis, Tennessee
Type: Riding (via van) or self-driven; virtual option
Duration: 2.5 hours
Owned and operated by Carolyn Michael-Banks—a Memphis resident for over 20-years—this caravan tour provides the stories between Memphis’ historical sites, such as the Mason Temple where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous ‘I’ve Been to the Mountaintop’ speech, while connecting dots that aren’t typically in history textbooks. “I like to ask guests questions as we go along, because when you just hear the information lecture style, it doesn’t stick,” Michael-Banks says. “I’ll ask, ‘what were you taught about the reason why Rosa Parks stayed seated that day?’ Many will respond with ‘she was tired.’ But I point out it was because she was tired from the way Black people were being treated. When I engage with questions, it allows the information to stick and hopefully inspires guests to research further on their own.”
To help guests stay safe, Michael-Banks allows guests to follow the caravan in their own vehicle while listening to the audio through a personal smart device. There is also a private tour option—up to 10 people— that allows you to ride in the caravan with Michael-Banks. Tours are Thursday through Saturday and cost $45 per person over age five. A virtual option, which includes a live presentation with video and narration, is also available for groups.
Frankly Charleston Black History Tours: Charleston, South Carolina
Type: Walking
Duration: 2 hours
Since 2015, Franklin Williams has hosted his Frankly Charleston Black History Tours in the city’s downtown area. A family-owned business, Williams educates tour participants about the free and enslaved Black men and women who helped build the city of Charleston, and what life was like for them centuries ago. Participants learn some of Charleston’s oldest history as it relates to the enslaved, including the picturesque Citadel that was built in response to an 1822 slave revolt.
“Charleston doesn’t often give credit to the Black people who built it; it’s slowly getting better, but I make sure to honor them,” Williams says. The tour sites can change once Williams has a conversation with guests and gets a feel of what they are interested in learning. “This is a very interactive tour. You can just listen, or you can ask questions and even debate me, if needed.” In April, Williams will also begin offering a riding tour as a way to visit additional sites that are farther out from the downtown Charleston area.
Harlem Walking Tours: Harlem, New York
Type: Walking
Duration: Varies
Launched in 1998 by Harlem native Neal Shoemaker, Harlem Walking Tours offers several tour options, including a Harlem Renaissance Multimedia Walking Tour that explores venues and sites that were instrumental to the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s. The two-hour tour starts at the Schomburg Center for Research; guides bring the tour to life with sound and video equipment as you walk the same sidewalks as Black icons like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and more. There is also a Harlem Gospel Tour—a three-hour walking tour that explores the impact that gospel music and the church have had on Harlem over the decades. All tours are conducted by a Harlem native.
KB Tours: Washington, D.C.
Type: Walking, bus, and virtual options
Duration: Varies
For over 20 years, KB Tours has provided walking, bus, and more recently, virtual tours in the Washington, D.C. area. The daily African American Heritage Tour starts at the Navy Memorial on 7th and Pennsylvania Avenue and makes stops at the Frederick Douglass House, Howard University, and the historic neighborhoods of Shaw, Anacostia, and LeDroit Park. Afterward, guests are encouraged to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture (the museum offers free admission, with timed-entry passes).
“If people like to go off the beaten path, ours is the tour to go on,” KB Tours owner Kenny Burns says. Participants will need to allot four hours for the African American Heritage tour; additional, shorter options include a series of 90-minute virtual tours. There’s also a four-hour African American History at Night tour, which starts at 7:00 pm. For those who may be visiting D.C. with a large group, or even for a family reunion, KB Tours offers private options, too.
BY DEANNA TAYLOR
