Black women need to experience the world—and let it experience THEM right back
March 17, 2010
Me, during my brief February business-and-pleasure trip to London. But on trips like these -- unless I've made prior plans to meet up with African-American expatriate friends or am traveling WITH black folks, I almost NEVER run into black Americans when I'm overseas. But it sure would be nice!
It amazes me that in 2010, there are folks out there asking whether black folks travel. There’s still a perception out there that we don’t—which is why I’m thrilled that earlier this month, Jay of JayTravels.net wrote a blog post on “Do African Americans Travel?” But rather than ranting against the naysayers and tossing out figures about how much we spend, Jay shares excellent and thoughtful reasons of why we SHOULD hit the road and travel the globe (“gaining a better understanding of the world and how it affects your life locally;” “the more you travel, the more you realize issues between nations are rarely the will of the ‘people’”).
The discussion always fascinates me. In fact, the reason I launched this blog in the middle of a winter night in December 2008—during my 40th birthday getaway to the south of France, in fact—was to encourage African-American women to get out there and experience the world. And in fact, to let the world experience THEM. We sisters have a LOT more to offer to global culture than the rump-shaking hip-hop video vixens would have people believe. We’re smart, strong, independent, confident—and fascinating creatures in the eyes of many of the world’s diverse peoples.
Unfortunately, American-generated stereotypes often do us no good, here OR abroad. And that’s why we need to get out there as talking and walking ambassadors (whether strutting in four-inch stilettos or scooting around in sneakers) in countries other than our own.
I recently returned from a weeklong stay in London and Paris, but when I’m abroad, I just don’t run into lots of African-American travelers—male OR female. And of all the trips I’ve made in Italy—including the seven months I lived in Florence—I’ve almost never bumped into black folks from the States (who weren’t there to visit ME or traveling with me, that is). And it’s been a huge event and lovefest when I have. It’s not that we don’t have the cash to travel overseas (have you seen the way we roll in Vegas and the Caribbean?); it’s that many times we wonder how we as black people will be received and treated, or if we’ll be the “only one.” We often talk ourselves out of going before we truly consider the idea.
But you know, life itself is a crap shoot. Just leaving the house presents potential challenges and trials—especially if you live in a big American city. So why are we scared of London and Dakar, Buenos Aires or Berlin? As Jay writes, “the world is a beautiful, ugly, exciting, relaxing, sensual, dangerous and wonderful place.” Why not forgo fear and meet the world on its OWN terms, enhancing your own personal growth in the process?
As I’ve shared on this blog, my global travels have made me the person I am, for better or worse. And in the words of the Maya Angelou tome and the gospel song, I wouldn’t take nothing for my journey now.
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20 Comments Leave a Comment
1.
Monica | March 17, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Maureen:
Love the post–and the blog.
This hits home. I just got back from Iceland and posted some pictures on Flickr. The first thing my friends wanted to know: Were there many blacks there?
I get it. I’m pretty well-traveled but have avoided a few destinations–not many–based on perceived perception. I’ve decided not to let that stop me anymore, especially after realizing this year that, like it or not, I am an ambassador for US.
Happy Travels
2.
urbantravelgirl | March 17, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Hey there, Monica — Ms. Newspaper Journalist by day, Travel Junkie after hours! A woman after my own heart, as I’m a newspaper reporter from WAY back! Thanks so much for finding my blog and visiting.
SO glad to see you made your way to Iceland!! I went to Reykjavík five years ago on a freelance writing assignment and must admit, I wondered if I’d see any black folks in what I assumed was the most Caucasian of countries. But you know, we’re everywhere — and I saw one in a Pizza Hut next door to my swanky hotel! (Don’t even ASK why I was craving American-style pizza in a land with incredible seafood.) Don’t know where the sister was from, but she definitely WAS a sister from SOMEWHERE in the diaspora!
So glad you don’t let “perceived perceptions” from grounding you, or from visiting countries where there might not be many of “us.” You’re so right — we ARE ambassadors for the United States, like it or not. And fortunately, most of the world (for a change!) actually LIKES our president, which gives black Americans instant “street cred.” What a concept, eh?
Keep on traveling, Journalism Sista!
Maureen
3. 3/18/2010 Update « &hellip | March 18, 2010 at 12:17 am
[...] Urban Travel Girl Black women need to experience the worldand … [...]
4.
heilene | March 19, 2010 at 12:17 am
Thanks for this blog and this particular post. Oh my, I do wholeheartedly agree! That African Americans don’t travel very much is not surprising: most Americans don’t travel outside of the United States or get past the Northern Hemisphere, and many do not have a passport. I think it’s indicative of our American culture as a whole.
Travelling while Black (TWB) is a great experience, and places you in your stretch zone at times. That you have to be almost Buddha-like to deal with certain situations is an understatement. Do I get stares? Yes especially when I was in Asia. Did the Japanese tourists want photographs of me all the time. Annoyingly, yes. Did I have odd conversations with white expats about how I would be received and treated. Oh God yes–and I had to leave them to my husband!
However it can be great: I will never trade being able to see the sunrise at Angkor Wat (twice) or walking around the ruins in Siem Reap ever! We had great conversations with fellow travellers, ate wonderful (cheap) food, saw beautiful animals, and had many odd funny experiences.
I love seeing the world and encourage others to do so as well! Brava to you!
5.
Erika | March 19, 2010 at 2:39 am
Iceland, eh? It’s great to see other black women who have traveled to Iceland. I too craved pizza after I spent 100+ dollars on a cold fish buffet. The experience was amazing and I was able to show my students pictures that were unimaginable.
Currently I live in Hawaii and I try to travel overseas at least once a year. I am planning a trip to the Philippines sometime this year.
Keep Traveling
Erika
6.
Ajuwah | March 22, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Sawadee Ka!! Good Morning Sis!! I send greetings from Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. I love it here and intend to stay for awhile.
I see quite a few Black folks here from the States and from other countries as well. Everytime I see one of us, I speak. Usually my folks speak back, but not always. Some act downright wierd and I’ve been trying to understand why. The last Sista i spoke to, what I thought was a warm and friendly, “Hi Sis!”, looked at me like I had just spit on her Mama and walked on past without opening her mouth. Before her, I’d say I’d seen and spoken to at least 20 other Black people, most of them have been curt, barely cordial. The few that speak more than make up for those that don’t. I’m happy to say I have met some extraordinary Black folks traveling.
I don’t fully understand why so many of us don’t spea
k when we see each other traveling, although I do have my theories.
But know this, Oh Child of the Diaspora, I see you!! I love you!! I am you!! I applaud you!!
When you see me coming, don’t be afraid to look in the mirror that I am and show yourself some love.
If you come this way, you betta holla!!
Much Ajuwah Love
7.
Greg | March 24, 2010 at 10:35 pm
It’s not just sisters; black folks need to travel more, period. And some of them are.
http://imblacknitravel.com/sisters/
Actually, more Americans of all shades need to travel. Maybe then certain folks wouldn’t be so afraid of the rest of the planet, and be so quick to drop bombs on folks. When 75 percent of the people in the world’s most powerfjul country don’t even own a passport, that’s not a good thing!
Glad you’re out there. Keep putting the word out…and keep going!
.greg
8.
Carolyn van Es | March 26, 2010 at 2:57 pm
Hi Maureen,
I also started my blog to show other black American women that we are out there. I wanted to encourage them to take the leap, get the passport and go abroad. One thing that inspired me to blog about my positive traveling experiences was that I’d met other black women along the way. Granted, our numbers haven’t been plentiful, but we do have a presence. Like you, I’d like to run into sisters all over, and I believe that through efforts like yours, that’ll certainly happen. Keep up the pioneering work!
9.
Kelly | March 27, 2010 at 12:31 pm
We certainly travel but many of “us” get locked into traveling to the same old areas (Caribbean, Brazil, etc.) where we feel comfortable instead of being adventurous. Four years ago I went to Croatia for holiday, alone and no press trip. I pitched a story on Croatia to a black travel magazine that I was writing for at the time and the editor told me he wasn’t interested in the story because of how he heard people of color had been treated in Croatia. He wasn’t interested in what my experience was and I, in fact, had a terrific experience. One Croatian I met on Hvar took me around his island for a couple of days and told me that my presence in Croatia was educating the locals on how African-Americans really are, or at least can be. Hearing those words made me proud to have represented African-Americans so positively and made me cognizant of our roles as ambassadors. I had no idea! I encountered no racism, just lots of love everywhere I went: Korcula, Dubronik and Split. And not another black face in site during my 10 day trip. Sad.
10.
gspann | April 2, 2010 at 3:23 pm
I love this topic! I started a full service travel agency that specializes in customized travel for groups and individuals. Mainly I take groups around the world. Although my groups trips are open to anyone, my clients are prodominently African American women. I have taken groups to South Africa, Morocco, Brazil but also to Paris and Italy! Its my goal to get people of color to see the world as theirs too! We don’t have to stick to Black countries and the caribbean! There’s a whole world out there that we are just as much a part of. If you want to earn about my trips check out my website http://www.stgtours.com and join my facebook group SPANNing the Globe Tours!
Bon Voyage!
Gai
11.
urbantravelgirl | April 5, 2010 at 2:40 am
Gai, thanks SO much for sharing your thoughts — and your Web site! You’re out there doing what I’m always suggesting — that black women get out there and see the world, whether in a group tour or rolling solo. (I see you’ve included Paris’ Olivier Magny and his O Chateau wine tastings on your tour– VERY cool!)
Keep up the much-needed work of helping turn us from tourists into “ambassadors!”
Maureen
12.
urbantravelgirl | April 5, 2010 at 2:45 am
Kelly,
Thanks for sharing your story about Croatia. Besides you, I know of only one other African-American woman who visited that country. My friend Paula had an AMAZING time, and only had great things to say about how she’d been received. I believe she had a Croatian friend, as well, and got a chance to see inside the culture from someone who had family there.
But I hear similar things about Australia — black women who’ve recently gone have raved about their experience and treatment there, while some black folks back here in the States (who mind you, have never BEEN to Australia) tell tales of racism against African-Americans in the past. While I’m not doubting it existed, each person’s experience is different — and what a shame to cut yourself off from a place because of hearsay from folks who have never even TRAVELED! Let’s get out and see what the world has to offer US.
Maureen
13.
XaiXai | April 9, 2010 at 2:50 am
R/Australia and Croatia, I know it’s not fair but often black women will receive better treatment than a black man. Also often black Americans are treated better than blacks from the rest of the diaspora. Just something to think about.
14. Urban Travel Girl »&hellip | May 7, 2010 at 7:50 am
[...] want to share that gospel with others. After all, the reason I started this blog was to encourage African-American sisters to venture out far beyond the United States borders and experience the worl…. There’s far too much of it to see—and we are far too fabulous—to stick close to home just [...]
15.
This Time Now | May 7, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Glad to see that you’re still doing your thing!
I’ve been traveling and living abroad 20 years now, yes, I left the U.S. when I was twenty and haven’t looked back. Gothenburg, Paris, and now Seoul are just cities that I call home. I’m so used to being treated respectfully outside my country that when I do visit and don’t receive the same treatment in my own country (rarely happens but still!) it’s like I’m on another planet. Traveling has not only changed my life, it IS my life.
Wonderful blog, keep up the great work!
Felicia, This Time Now
http://www.nearandfar.wordpress.com
16.
urbantravelgirl | May 7, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Felicia,
I LOVE your line, “Traveling has not only changed my life, it IS my life.” I feel exactly the same way, even though I only lived abroad (the first time, certainly not for the LAST time) for seven months in Florence, Italy.
I agree that being a traveler is part of your soul’s makeup, just like those other qualities of ours that seem as intrinsic to us as our DNA. Thank goodness we got bitten by THIS bug!
Thanks so much for the nice words about my blog!! Hope to meet you out on the road some day!
Maureen
17. America Tour » Blog&hellip | June 10, 2010 at 8:49 am
[...] Source: urbantravelgirl [...]
18.
sherrie | July 17, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Like what you had to say. in the late 70’s i travled for mywork. It was great. I did meet one black guy in Japan love that place. There a lot to be said about Germany,but i did fall in love. I need to find a way to travel free again. And meet the world, see me on u-tube, SHERRIE PARRIE. KISS KISS
19.
Monica | August 8, 2010 at 7:59 am
Excellent article! Yes, Yes, Yes….we should travel and explore the world! Traveling is my life. My experiences gained from traveling internationally have had a great impact on how I see myself and the world. And I’m hungry for more. I’m preparing a list right now of my next countries to explore! Keep up the good (and fun) work and maybe someday we’ll meet on our travels!
Take Care!
20.
Kim Witherspoon | August 8, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Hey Maureen,
I’m on my way to Italy for 2 weeks and I’d like to get some suggestions from you if you don’t mind.
I’m taking 5 of my Sista friends with me. We’re doing 2 nights in Venice and then taking the train down to Arezzo (Tuscany), where we’ll pick up rental cars and drive to our rented villa near a hilltop village called Lucignano. This will be my second time staying at this estate. I can’t wait to see it again.
I’m keeping our itinerary very loose but plan to get into Rome, Florence, Pisa etc., to do all of the tourist stuff…gotta make sure we hit all of our food groups, especially in Florence; shopping, eating, drinking wine, looking for men, LOL. I’m having dreams about the Ponte Vechio and shopping till I drop. My plan is to have to pay for excess baggage going home!!
Seriously though, my question to you is that one of my primary goals is to check neighborhoods in Florence that would be suitable for me to live in on my own. I know you’ve live there in the not so distant past, so any info you can share will be hugely appreciated. Where did you live, where are the best Mom & Pop restaurants and cafes, best places to shop as a local. Where did you go for entertainment and so on?!
I’m hoping that this trip will encourage one or 2 of the ladies to be brave and take the plunge and move with me.
Thanks,
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