Racism-travel – The first time I ever experienced any type of racism in my eighteen years of travel was in San Jose, Costa Rica and on my very first day. the first person I’d meet greeted by saying – ‘What’s up my nigga??!!’ I stopped and asked him ‘young man why did you say that to me?’ ‘Because you’re black.’ ‘And that makes it ok for you to call me a nigga?’ ‘Well all black men call each other that?’ ‘No we don’t most of us rarely use the word at all especially when talking to one another.’ ‘And if we did, you are not a black man.’
‘You know nothing about me or how I might react, do you?’ ‘No I don’t.’ ‘Ok and I could easily beat the shit out of you but I am not a violent man. I am on vacation and and don’t want to end up in a Costa Rican jail. You are young and somewhat naive but the one word you should never call a black man is ‘nigga.’ ‘And if you continue to say that any time you see a black man one day you will meet the one that is not forgiving as I am. They will beat the shit out of you.’ ‘Entiendo, si’ We shook hands and I continued walking.
Throughout the day I couldn’t stop thinking about the young man who called me nigga not even knowing me or how I’d react. Right now racism and bigotry in the US is at an all time high. Young black men are being shot, and most times killed, by white officers that receive little if any discipline or punishment. What makes it all the more difficult is we have a president who is racist as well and makes no attempt to hide or condemn it. And when this happens I ask myself how does the rest of the world see us?
More often than not when I travel I am just another face in the crowd – black, white, Asian or Latino – it is rare for me to get a second glance. But when I do it’s because I am a black in a country that rarely see us. If I were given $100 each time a person said ‘you are the first black person (not man) but person, I have ever met.’ ‘I’d be traveling anywhere in this world I desired.
Racism is universal and it’ll exist until the end of time. And black people must share their part of the problem as well Everything done to a black person is not because of their color. And all white people are not racist. But when I travel all of it disappears, at least for me. But the one stereotype I will never escape and I am sure a percentage of black man have experienced this, is a person’s curiosity of the size of my penis. And in some cases that is the sole reason a person is talking to me to find out ‘if it’s true what they say about black men?’ (another question that would make me very rich) – sometimes before they’ve asked me my name. Of course this is an example of a stereotype and the preconceived notion which only displays a person’s ignorance and find both men and women asking me.
In 2013 after spending New Year’s in Costa Rica my flight went through Newark, New Jersey. Once I’d taken my luggage to go through customs the officer saw me – BLACK MAN, BLACK MAN, BLACK MAN!!!! And he search my luggage. Insulted, shocked, surprised or expected, take your pick at my reaction – sadly it’s expected. A black man coming from a Central American country I guess he was expecting to find a luggage full of coke, cash maybe some weapons – but today wasn’t his day all he found was clothing that needed a washing machine. Why is it the one country I should be able without problem is my own?
‘NO BLACKS, BUT JEWS AND GAYS’
When I travel to a city when it comes to its nightlife I never have a specific disco I just pick one and go in. Well that would not be the case one night in a city I never thought I’d ever experience such blatant racism. ‘I am sorry no blacks allowed.’ ‘Excuse me?’ ‘I am sorry but we do not allow black people into the disco.’ ‘You’re joking?’ ‘I am not sir please step out of the line.’ ‘Of course I do not want to cause any trouble’ ‘Thank you sir.’ Once I’d gotten out of line I talked with the man and I asked ‘why aren’t blacks allowed in?’ ‘Because the owner doesn’t want any in his disco.’ ‘I am absolutely speechless, of all cities this is the last one I’d experience such blatant racism.’ ‘Well now you have, good night sir.’ Wow!!! I thought to myself, I was denied entry into a nightclub in Tel Aviv. As much as it shocked, it didn’t really bother me – I just found another spot and had a great time.
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I know I will be the victim of racism at one point as long as I travel and I know I am not the only person – black, white, Asian, Latino and every race, religion, ethnicity and color until the end of time. But I will ever let it stop me from traveling to any place I want to see in this world. And I won’t let it take away from the experience and all a country has to offer me and I and I have for it.
As always thanks for reading.
AGF
And if you’d like please share your experience of racism on any given journey.