Reviews on Mapping with Melanin™ exist to help Melinated travelers and community members make informed decisions about where to spend their time and money. Every review is a contribution to collective safety and cultural knowledge. We take the integrity of our review system seriously. Reviews that do not meet our standards will be removed, and accounts that repeatedly violate this policy may be suspended or permanently banned.

To submit a review, you must: • Have a registered Mapping with Melanin™ account. • Have firsthand experience with the business or location you are reviewing. • Not be an owner, employee, or immediate family member of the business being reviewed. • Not have a financial interest in the outcome of the review.

All reviews are subject to moderation. We may remove reviews that: • Violate our Review Policy or Community Guidelines. • Contain false or defamatory statements. • Are flagged by multiple community members as inaccurate or abusive. • Appear to be part of a coordinated campaign. When a review is removed, the submitter will be notified. Repeated violations may result in account suspension or permanent ban. Businesses may flag reviews for moderator review. Flagging a review does not guarantee removal — our team evaluates each case independently.

Verified businesses may respond publicly to reviews. Business responses must: • Be professional and respectful. • Not contain threats, personal attacks, or discriminatory language. • Not reveal private customer information. • Comply with our Community Guidelines. Responses that violate these standards will be removed and may result in suspension of the business's response privileges.

If you believe a review about your business is false or violates our policy: 1. Flag the review using the report button. 2. Provide a brief explanation of why you believe it violates our policy. 3. Our moderation team will review within 5–10 business days. 4. You will be notified of the outcome. Note: Disagreeing with a review's opinion is not grounds for removal. We only remove reviews that violate our stated policies.

If your review was removed and you believe the decision was made in error, you may appeal by emailing [email protected] within 30 days of removal. Include your account email, the business name, and a brief explanation. Appeals are reviewed by a senior member of our moderation team. Decisions on appeals are final.