I often converse with 20 something gap year Americans about my travels. Most are generally surprised that traveling as a black man is largely different than traveling as a white, middle class American. WEIRDDDDDDDDDDDDD. Now I can’t blame them. Western rhetoric will have you believe the U.S. is all rainbows and sunshine while the rest of the world is a war torn wasteland of bigots and terrorist. I mean we have a black president. Doesn’t that mean racism is dead……………………….? Doesn’t that mean the world see’s us in a different light? In short, NO!!! Traveling as an African-American has pros and cons like anything else. The stereotypes we face are largely created and perpetuated by western media. The U.S.’s chief export behind bullets. While traveling these stereotypes largely form the crux of our international image. Despite this, I’ve found my experiences to be framed less by the color of my skin but by the quality of the people I interact with. Below I touch on a few things I’ve found in my travels as an African-American man.
NOTE: For the purpose of this article I use “Black” and African-American synonymously. Big difference between African and African American. Definitely going to cover than soon.
People are Genuinely Curious. Not Malicious
Many people stare. Especially in places where blacks are rare such as Asia and Eastern Europe. These are also the places I had the best experience in regards to race relations. Eastern Europe gets a VERY bad rap. Having spent quite a bit of time in Poland (one of my favorite countries), Hungary, Romania, and Czech Republic, I can say most people simply haven’t interacted with blacks. I’m often approached kindly and sincerely by people wanting to know about my life and how I like their home.
Asia is a bit different. In Asia you’re treated like a celebrity. I’m really not sure why but you are. Asians are very curious people and will engage you. Sometimes uncomfortably so. An older Korea woman grabbed my friends dreads while we were shopping in Busan. Not to hurt him but to feel them. Luckily he was used to it (which I could never understand), but many people I know would have gone ballistic. That led to a delicious Korean meal at her families restaurant.
My experience in South America was intriguing. Each country is very different in their overall dealings with blacks. Buenos Aires ( SPECIFICALLY BA. Argentina was great overall) is one of the most racist and elitist places in the world. Open and clear racism. I’ve been informed this is a result of issues with Nigerian immigrants. In Chile I received curious looks and was often mistaken for Brazilian or Colombian because of my lighter skin. In Colombia they refused to believe I wasn’t fluent in Spanish. Brazil…….well Brazil they treat you like family regardless. Salvador was a real treat to visit as the ethnic African community is VERY strong there.
I would say that 90% of the time my race has been a positive that’s worked to my advantage. I also don’t allow racist and bigots to get under my skin not matter where their from.
Many Have Media Fueled Stereotypes
The U.S. media is just terrible when it comes to minority representation. Regardless of what anyone tells you, the U.S. media is the dominate force in global perception. From the Iraq war to Justin Bieber. The U.S. media fuels the views and perception of people around the world. Much of what people think about you (and we about them) is from media representation. Of course this can be good and bad. I’ve been asked “Can you play basketball”? “Do you have a big dick”? “Can I call you my nigga”? “Can you rap”? And the list goes on and on. I really didn’t understand the impact media has on me until I began traveling internationally. Not only as a receiver but as an active caricature. I didn’t care much how my people were portrayed in media. Always the violent thug or athlete. THIS is what people around the world really believe African-Americans are. After realizing this I became ashamed.
Now when I say ashamed I don’t mean of my people. But of myself for not doing everything I could before to fight against the “angry black man” stereotype. For not learning more about the vast number of immigrant communities I grew up around. For allowing myself to be blinded to the control media stereotypes had over me. I’m not yet there but I try everyday to change my perceptions of people and places through education and exposure.
Poor People are the Most Open Minded
Rich people can be assholes. A vast majority of wealthy citizens (and travelers) that I’ve met have been assholes. The people that have been the warmest and most open are the ones who have little. At least in the material sense. Free meals, beds, directions, advice, and genuine compassion. Poor people have been the highlight of my travel experience. Likely because they don’t have access to the mass media brainwashing many have. If I had to list the best countries I’ve visited the list would include most of Eastern Europe and Asia. Two of the poorest parts of the world. What makes poor people so much fun to be around is they don’t have that desire to “impress” you. Poor people have a thirst for knowledge. They want to show you the best of their home and learn about yours. They don’t care how much money you have or how many stamps are in your passport. They care about the content of your character. They also know all the cheap ways to have fun which are usually the best. If you haven’t bought a case of beer and sat on the Brazilian coast with friends until the sun came up then you haven’t lived.
People Don’t know What to Say
This is funny and frustrating. As Americans we are very sensitive. Especially as marginalized minorities. The U.S. has given us a weapon in being “offended”. We whip it out whenever someone says something we don’t like. We’ll leave that garbage at home. People have said some of the most “inappropriate” things you can imagine. From penis size to religious views. Europeans are notorious for going off on religious and political tangents with me. Doesn’t bother me but I know some it would. South Americans tend to ask very personal sexual questions. No idea why a Colombian man wants to know how big my dick is but ok (in hindsight I think I know why). Asians and Middle Eastern people are more interested in your family. I don’t have a good relationship with my father (as many young black males don’t) and they find that very very curious. I find this lack of censorship refreshing.
When you open up to people they open up to you. These conversations weren’t one sided. You would be amazed how simple and enjoyable life can be when you let that PC shield down and realize people really don’t care if you’re offended or not. That really only gets play in the U.S.
Racism is Much Worse in my Head
This is going to be the case with most people. Reality rarely lives up to the expectations of your imagination in many situations. For me, the level of racism worldwide was one of them. Growing up I was taught to believe the world was full of evil and racist terrorist. Germans, Russians, and Chinese people hate us. That there were Nazi’s all over Berlin and I would be locked up in China for thinking about freedom. If anything, I was the racist when I started traveling. I found that overt racism and other discriminatory views are rare and far between. Where they do exist the majority stand against them. For those social norms that we deem discriminatory (women being covered for example) can easily be avoided by researching although I caution against this self imposed censorship. Travel is about replacing the fantasy with reality. Global racism is a fantasy.
You have a Chance to Educate People
I’m very hard on traveling Americans. I feel we get a bad reputation internationally as rude and selfish assholes. Unfortunately, it’s true in many cases. The small amount of the U.S. population that does travel tend to be of a certain class and privilege (and yes color). They carry themselves a certain way and present a certain image of the U.S. That’s even worse when you add race and gender into the equation. The numbers of representation drop drastically when referring to minority classes, so I need to hold us minorities to a far higher standard.
I have had the honor to be the first black person many people have met. Poland, Uzbekistan, Romania, Japan, Thailand, Russia, and Chile. Each of these countries (and I’m sure some I don’t know) I have met people that never met a black person before. They now KNOW that all blacks aren’t “baggy clothes wearing thugs”. They have personal and direct knowledge to pull from. I provide knowledge of what African-Americans (at the very least myself) are really like and dispelled several misconceptions. It’s our responsibility to represent our country and people in a positive light. As the global community becomes more connected, we as minorities must take our place as global citizens and help facilitate the transition into global unity.
