Latrese Williams is one such black traveler. When Ms. Williams goes out in Chicago or pretty much anywhere else in the United States, she said, she often feels ignored by men who seem to barely register her existence. These polar reactions occur, she said, because she is black. Williams said in her home in the Monti neighborhood of Rome. In November, she moved in with her Italian boyfriend, whom she met on Tinder in Rome. It may be surprising that there is a steady stream of black women who travel to Italy in search of amore. Unlike traditional tour operators, companies like Black Girl Travel and Venus Affect provide dating advice and assistance finding a romantic partner, along with sightseeing. Online, Pinterest, Instagram and Tumblr posts show photos of black women with Italian men or black women with white men in Italy; Facebook groups and YouTube videos contain lengthy discussions about Italian men loving black women. At the time, she felt that she was filling an empty spot in the travel market.
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