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.