On Aug. 30, American Airlines' new social networking travel site, dedicated to sharing the experiences of African-Americas, launched a new series of exclusive events in New York City.
For the first event, Grammy Award-winning artists John Legend and The Roots performed select songs from their forthcoming album 'Wake Up' at New York's Bowery Ballroom. Another show in Williamsburg, Brooklyn is planned, as well.
The 'Green Light' singer told media elite at the evening's pre-concert reception the evenings venue was a special place for him.
"I'm very happy to be here and its really exciting to be performing in New York City," Legend shared. "This is the city where I've lived for ten years and I've lived in this neighborhood for ten years."
The Ohio-born singer added that he's excited for the new partnership with BlackAtlas.com.
"I'm excited to work with BlackAtlas.com and I'm a Million Miler and spend a lot of time on your planes and I'm really excited about the idea to have Blackatlas.com...a site that targets the traveling African American and highlight the exciting things out there for us to see, to eat and do," Legend said.
The site's Travel Expert-at-Large, Nelson George, who has shared his adventures throughout the world on BlackAtlas.com, echoed the platinum-selling singer's sentiments.
"It's always difficult to launch a website, but there is nothing like this. With American Airlines, there is so much access and the places I've been to and videos I've done it all works because American [Airlines] goes to all of these cities," he told the BV Newswire.
"We get so many videos and have so much content now that it is almost becoming like instead of a travel guide like Frommers, you can go to BlackAtlas.com and get the black take on things."
He continued, "There are two things black people want to know when we travel: Are there black people there and How are they treated? I think you're really going to get a sense of that from the site."
According to American's Vice President of New York, Art Torno, who got his start 31 years ago as a flight attendant for the airline and previously worked on Latin America and the Caribbean territories, "BlackAtlas.com is for anyone interested in sharing black culture all over the globe."
Following the special tour with John Legend and The Roots, BlackAtlas.com will have another exclusive event with 'Top Chef Masters' winner Marcus Samuelsson at his highly-anticipated Harlem restaurant Red Rooster followed by another intimate gathering at Russell Simmons' home.