Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Morris.
Barbara, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My love affair with Black History began after negative experiences with “Jim Crow” during visits to the South with my grandparents. At the age of four I was punished for running into the white ladies’ bathroom in Mississippi and trying to drink out of a fountain designated for white people in Alabama. My efforts towards trying to find out what I did wrong were not only not addressed, but I was warned not to bring up the subject again.
I grew up thinking that there was something very “BAD” that Black People had done to make white people hate us so much. I decided to be the very best person I could be to show that I was not a bad person. When that didn’t work, I decided to research on my own to find out just what the problem was. My research eventually concluded that we as a people were not the problem. In fact we derived from a “Great People” and I was worthy to follow my dreams. I did so with an attitude that angrily dealt with anybody or anything that got in my way. I eventually became the first Black Teacher hired in a Southern Suburb of Chicago.
That was not enough however. I carried a burden for African- American young Bloods growing up feeling, as I did, that they were less than their white counter parts. So I became a Brownie Scout Leader, a Den Mother and worked with African American youth in as many ways as I could. In each instance I inundated them about their tremendous heritage. In an effort to expand the knowledge, I wanted to add experiencing the history and events where they actually occurred. Thus Black CouTours was born in 1991.
Has it been a smooth road?
My college training was in Special Education. While I loved researching and developing tours, Business development and taxes did not fall in that category Business and entrepreneur development was not as readily available then as it is today. I ran into many instances where persons were more interested in my research than aiding in developing Black CouTours. The competition of getting enough tours to get better rates with coach companies and hotels was another challenge. Tour guides did not have the same level of enthusiasm about Black History as I and it impacted the quality of the tours they did. They often did not remain with the groups as instructed which also caused problems.
I have been able to add to the experiences by developing special programs such as “The Black Heritage Xperience Project” and “The Heritage Your Birthday Is Noted For”.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Back CouTours – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We specialize in African American Tourism–developing motor coach tours for pre-formed groups. I still do the bulk of the research. A lot more of the research is done on site by special invitation. Three years ago I was invited to the Guadeloupe Islands in the French Caribbean to witness France’s apology for Slavery. They covered my air fare, hotel, meals and transportation during my stay.
Participants regularly note being impressed with the quality of Black History they experience on my tours especially to places they have travelled to before. A great deal of my business comes from referrals and repeat business.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I am always very impressed with the amount of Black History in a city and how readily available it is to the general public.
Contact Info:
- Address: 201896 – Chicago, IL. 60620
- Website: www.blackcoutours.com
- Phone: (773) 233-8907
- Email: Barbarasblackhistorytours@gmail.com
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