Welcome to the Mid-Atlantic!  I'm 54 and came to the area to go to college.  After graduating I stayed.  My last winter in The Chi, '83, during the Xmas break it was 40 below, 80 below wind-chill.  That was all the hint I needed to not come back after I graduated in Spring '84.  I was born and raised on the South Side and graduated from Corliss.  OK, enough of the personal history.  
   
 Hobbying; Sooooo, your Membership with TER is all you need IMHO.  I've been a member since '01.  Although I'm not a member of P411, it is a good addition to your portfolio.  I've met several ladies who were members of P411 but who frequented TER.    
   
 I prefer TER because it has a national, and even international, scope.  Also TER provides more of a one-stop shopping location.  I'm planning some travel to a few Asian countries and the Asia discussion board has been an invaluable source of info.  Other sites like TER are more regional, i.e. you have sites that primarily feature ladies on the west coast and sites that feature ladies primarily in the Rockies.  Hence, if you travel often like I do then it would be beneficial to become familiar with those sites.  TER does not allow posting/discussion of its competition, for obvious reasons, so I wont attempt to name them here.  You can PM me for that info.  But again, IMHO TER is the preferred information site for the hobby.  You would be hard pressed to find other sites that are much different or of better quality than BP.  All the others have volumes of Bait & Switch, fake PICs, Scammers, etc.  Hence, TER is a wonderful clearing house of information.  
   
 Soul Power: So I'm AA also, I don't know if the "No Black Men" rule is more prevalent in the Mid-Atlantic than anywhere else but during my travels I've found it to be so.  I don't see as many "No Black Men" disclaimers as I do in this (DMV) area.  But with that said, don't let it bother you for two reasons: FIRST, the sensitive/up-close-and-personal nature of this hobby almost dictates ladies make their preferences known to ensure the client has a good time and/or get what they paid for.  I ENCOURAGE the ladies to make it plain.  Hell, if I were a CMT I could not have obese clients, I just couldn't do it.  When I first broke into the game I was kinda put-off by those disclaimers also.  But as in the real world...I don't want to be with and/or spend my money with anyone who does not want to be with me.  SECOND, it's been my experience that for every 1 ad that you see that says "No Black Men" you'll find 5 who love and/or are into black men.  Or, the point of your race is not even an issues or question.  So don't sweat the small stuff.  You'll see threads pot up about every 6 months or so with Newbies getting their feelings hurt when they read those ad disclaimers.  And I get it.  The initial read of those sentiments can kinda sting at first.  But after a session or two with ladies who enjoy and/or even prefer Black Men as clients will make all that go away.  Then after you become more seasoned in this world you will come to ignore it.  
   
 With that said, you are entering the hobby at a time when the whole "No AA" is evolving.  Now ladies are starting to note no AA under say 40.  I have seen one lady who is a star around here and who we enjoy each others company immensely that post that in her Ads (No AA under 40).  So I don't know what these young whipper snappers are doing but it's obviously not endearing them to the ladies.  I'm sure it's that whole modern day "Rap" mentality where these young men are encouraged to NOT be gentlemen.  I hate it and don't condone it.  I hope dudes who think that shyt is cool are relegated to a life of endless masturbation.  Oh how I long for the days of Eric B. Rakim, EPMD, Dougie Fresh.  But I digress.  
   
 Hence, your 30 something age and nationality may impact you some at this time.  You appear to be a fine young man and gentlemen so once you get established and get a presence on the TER Whitelist, P411 reviews, and a reference history it's all Marvin Gay and Lingerie after that.  
   
 Finally, IMHO, do not write off or ignore BP.  Once you learn how the game works and how to do your homework with the use of TER, BP can become a mini Treasure Trove of opportunities.  
   
 Good Luck Grasshopper and if you ever need any assistance let me know.  If you're interested, I have a UTR connect that I use that can serve your needs well given your "Newness" to the game.  PM me.