Black Diary 1887 offers a mobile app that turns walks, bike rides, drives, or bus trips into guided tours of a city’s Black heritage, highlighting historic sites, resistance movements, artistic renaissances, and personal stories. The app provides location‑based narratives and maps, enabling travelers to discover hidden corners and learn the often‑overlooked contributions of Black communities to urban history.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Many city tours and travel guides overlook or omit the contributions and experiences of Black communities, leaving visitors unaware of the rich cultural and historical sites tied to Black heritage. This gap limits public awareness and appreciation of the diverse narratives that shape urban landscapes.
Solution
Black Diary 1887 offers a mobile application that transforms everyday routes—walking, biking, driving, or taking the bus—into guided tours of a city’s hidden Black history. Using GPS and location‑based triggers, the app delivers curated, step‑by‑step stories about resistance movements, artistic revolutions, and personal narratives tied to specific streets and landmarks. Users receive audio or text narratives that contextualize each site, turning routine travel into an educational experience. The platform continuously updates its content library to include newly researched sites and community‑submitted stories, ensuring relevance across different cities.
Target Audience
Primary users are culturally curious travelers, educators, and local residents who want to explore and learn about Black heritage in the cities they visit or live in.
Features
- GPS‑driven itinerary that syncs stories to the user’s exact location and mode of transport
- Curated narratives covering resistance, artistic movements, and personal accounts from Black history
- Audio and text formats for flexible consumption while on the move
- City‑specific content libraries that can be expanded with new research and community contributions
- Offline mode allowing users to download tours for use without cellular connectivity