How Travel Looks Different for People of Color

2020 marked a turning point for not only the black community, but for People of Color alike, who are all too familiar with the inequalities seen in our world. Now more than ever, people are hyper aware of the racial disparities that take place in industries such as Fashion, Beauty, Entertainment, and of course, Travel.

As two people who write about travel experiences, there is a huge part of travel that is often left out of the narrative. We reached out to some of the most influential women of color in our travel community to shed light on their travel experiences, and the response was overwhelming.

These 10 stories, depict how travel looks different for people of color. We encourage you to read these stories, empathize with their experience, and create more space for these voices to be acknowledged. We are thrilled to be able to amplify the voices of these incredible, diverse travelers.

MILLETTE FROM @THENEXTSOMEWHERE

Travel has had a profound impact on me as a person of color, and as an immigrant. My bicultural upbringing was fraught with an inferiority complex. At home, I was the eldest daughter of a Filipino immigrant family, trying to uphold their precious traditions. In a predominantly white city, I was a novelty —part of the 1% of Asians living in this small coastal city in Massachusetts. Every day felt like a war with my identity—I was not fully Filipino, not fully American, and definitely not a white American at that. But growing up, my dad worked for the airlines and took advantage of the family flying benefits as often as he could.

In travel, I learned a great lesson about belonging. Travel allowed me to see, and therefore appreciate, many different ways of living, while demonstrating our shared humanity no matter who we are/where we are. The traveler is more often than not, the outsider in every place they encounter.

They are a participant observer, trying to learn from what they see. Exposing myself to unfamiliarity showed me that the only way to bridge gaps in understanding is to be both curious and to participate. I’ve recognized that my “otherness” could/can be an opportunity for education and cultural exchange, and by adapting that mindset in my everyday life, I’ve been able to remedy the internal struggle of being Filipino enough and being American enough, even though I am not white. While traveling, I’ve seen non-BIPOCs struggle with unfamiliarity, realizing many of them experience the discomfort of being “the other” for the first time in their lives while on the road. Having the privilege to travel at an early age shaped a healthy outlook on being different/celebrating diversity.

-Millette | Founder, The Next Somewhere

IMANI FROM @IMANI_ESCAPES

When it comes to my experiences of traveling while black, I acknowledge a certain amount of privilege in the fact that I am mixed race and have a lighter skin tone. It is, however, something I have to consider whenever I travel. One way this affects me, is the obligatory “racism in [insert country]“ google search before choosing a destination, the results of which have sadly put me off visiting some countries, at least on my own. Another thing is the occasional stares.

When visiting Scandinavia with my dark skinned friend, she noticed the stares a lot more than I did, which makes me think about where colourism comes into PoC travel experiences.

I am lucky in that I have not had any overtly racist or negative experiences whilst traveling, which so far has mostly been around Europe. The further north or east you go in Europe, you tend to find less racial diversity. So I have obviously noticed when I don’t see many people who look like me when traveling. That’s also the case in many parts of my own country, so it’s not especially off putting for me. I’m used to being the only non white person in a room, but traveling as a black/mixed person in an unfamiliar country can add an extra layer of vulnerability, on top of being a solo female.

-Imani| Founder, Imani Escapes

RUBILYN FROM @RUUUBS

No matter how many times my boyfriend and I plan and prepare, the one thing that always makes me anxious about traveling is the airport. With my boyfriend being Black and myself being Filipina, I know we get looked at differently during our travels. But there’s something about the airport that makes me feel like I know something, no matter how small, will come up.

100% of the time when something happens, or when one of us gets pulled aside to a different queue to wait much longer, it’s my boyfriend. Whether it’s a carry on or luggage that needs to be double or triple checked, it’s always him. One terrible experience we had in Iceland was to check the carry on he had that was full of action figures we had bought from London. They opened the luggage, opened every single box, and put them back just terribly. Mind you, if you travel, you know how strategic you have to be to make sure your souvenirs fit a certain way. If that was me carrying the carry on, would I have gotten pulled aside?

Seeing this honestly, breaks my heart every time, because I know why they chose him. While he’s off being questioned with other people of color, I’m anxiously waiting for him to pop up and reassure that everything is ok.

Even though the both of us are poc, I feel like I’m always worried about him more than myself during these situations. Although I’m Filipino-American, I was able to live my life without being racially profiled as much as he has throughout his entire life. As frustrating as it is, I can tell you one thing–this will not stop us from continuing to see the world as we wish. I hope for change. I hope for equality. I hope that one day poc can continue to live the life they wish, explore the places they want without feeling uncomfortable, and enjoy the time we have on this earth.

-Rubilyn | Creator, @Ruuubs

WUNMI FROM @THRIFTYWITHACOMPASS

I am a proud black female traveler. Despite not always feeling welcome in certain states or countries, I feel liberated and fortunate to be able to experience different sides of this globe. One of the main reasons we started “Thrifty With a Compass”, is because travel did not always seem attainable growing up. As a first generation Nigerian American, the idea of travel growing up did not look the same as my white neighbors. My immigrant parents were fighting to make a name for themselves for the first time in America, which often meant multiple jobs and a wide disparity between “need to have” vs “nice to have”.

We did not have the luxury of going on annual family trips to Disney World or vacationing in the Bahamas. I started seeing the world when I could afford it myself.

You do not see nearly enough black women in the travel industry, and part of that I have to believe is because travel is a luxury that is often out of reach for my black and brown sisters. Our thrifty travel tendencies are not for everyone, but our goal is to show more people like us, that travel does not have to be out of reach, despite the roadblocks the American system puts in place against people of color. 

-Wunmi| Co-founder, Thrifty With A Compass

NANDA FROM @FEARLESSNANDA

Traveling is one of my greatest loves. However, as a queer brown woman, often times it can be stressful to research places to see how friendly they are to brown queer women. Although I’ve traveled abroad to many countries, some of the most uncomfortable experiences I’ve had traveling have happened right here, in the United States. One experience I had was in North Carolina during Dreamville Fest. A day after the festival, my sister and I chose to explore downtown. Unaware that we had ended up in a predominantly white part of town, we came across a very cute cafe. We decided to go in and order some ice cold teas.

As soon as we walked in all eyes shifted towards us and the energy shifted heavily in the silence. There was no greeting as we approached the register to order our tea. The feeling of being the only brown women in the room grew as people stared at us.

Then one of the white employees said to the other “I’ve seen Spanish people at my other job too. I think my coworker is from Panama or something.” Perhaps we should’ve left that second but we didn’t. We stayed until our teas were ready and the whole time we waited their eyes stayed on us. It’s amazing how something so simple like ordering tea can make you feel so uncomfortable.

-Nanda | Creator, @Fearlessnanda

MELISSA FROM @THEGLOBALGHANAGIRL

Like so many of my black brothers and sisters, I do have fears of how I will be treated because of my skin color. My experience being black in America has meant being the only black person in a class or on a team at work, getting followed or watched in a store, people touching my hair without permission or asking if this is my real hair, having to search what racism is like in a place I want to travel to or move to, just to name a few. I believe that travel is meant to be an opportunity to immerse yourself in other cultures, to deepen your knowledge of this vast world, and to take time away from the monotony of the daily routine.

However, it pains me that as black person, I still have to be aware of my skin color when I visit a predominately non-black country.

I hope that we, as a global community, can make serious changes, to create a better world for future generations so that no one has to feel differently because of their skin color. I will continue to use my platform to uplift black voices, as well as share my own unique experiences in travel and in life.

-Melissa | Founder, The Global Ghanan Girl

SOPHIA FROM @THRIFTYWITHACOMPASS

I was born on a refugee camp in the Philippines to a Vietnamese family seeking asylum from North Vietnam. I didn’t have the “normal” childhood most Americans experienced—no family vacations or traveling. The first time I ever traveled was when I was 10 years old, and I went to live in Vietnam for the summer. The second time was for a conference in college. I was so excited to fly to a new state for a new adventure, even if it was just school-related and not for personal. I packed my digital camera and took pictures of everything! From the hotel resort, to my food, because I wanted to keep the memories and share the experience with my parents. Why not, right? Most American tourists would take pictures of their trips and no one would question, right?

Well, when I snapped a picture of my meal, a classmate asked, “why do all Asians take pictures of their food?” Microaggressions…one way to ruin any perfectly fine day.

Was it okay for her to ask me why I was snapping a picture? Sure. Was it okay for her to generalize a whole race based on one action and use a negative tone? Nope. This isn’t a pity story…I fully acknowledge that I am still more privileged than Wunmi and other black travelers. This is simply a story to show that as a POC traveler, people view us as a representative for a whole race, yet with white companions, they are able to express themselves as individuals. Continue to see color, continue to ask questions and learn, but leave the microaggressions at home.

-Sophia| Co-founder, Thrifty With A Compass

LUCY FROM @ABSOLUTELYLUCY

As a mixed-race woman growing up in the UK, I was aware from a very early age of the racism and microaggressions that were present everywhere. I’m half Mauritian and half white English, but have been called everything from Paki and Black bitch, to dirty exotic and even Black scum. My family has always been big travelers and I’ve spent the last 6 years full time traveling.

Over the years I’ve been spat at by men in Morocco who hated that we were a mixed-race family. I’ve had groups of racists try to intimidate me on public transport in the UK. I’ve had men in Europe and Australia try to “collect” me – by that they mean sleep with me because apparently Mauritian girls are sought after for those trying to “collect the rainbow”.

When I lived in Northern Germany, I was constantly stared at on public transport. People would refuse to serve me or speak to me, only communicating with my white boyfriend. I could tell a million more stories, as could most people of color. It certainly will never stop me from traveling, but the adjustments you automatically make to avoid & cope with these situations are something white travelers just never have to experience.

-Lucy | Founder, Absolutely Lucy

MAL FROM @MALEEKMEDINA

I’ve traveled to a lot of places with friends and my husband on the East Coast. Traveling while black for me, can be emotionally draining. I remember going to South Carolina and taking back roads. I love the back roads! But my heart sped up when I saw confederate flags flying, or neighborhoods that seemed like my color wouldn’t be welcomed. I tried my best to silence my fears and hope for the best. But my emotions ran.

Also, in South Carolina. There’s so many historic plantations that are main attractions for tourists. I couldn’t help but to think of the many black men and women who suffered at the hands of white people on those very same plantations. My people. My ancestors. The same plantations that many people get married at even today. It hurt my heart to see it in a South Carolina tourist guide book.

I think of driving through West Virginia — I was with one other black friend and a white friend. We had to stop at this very eerie gas station. The black friend and I both became alert and told our white friend to go in the gas station only because we feared the overall, camo wearing and bearded white man at the register would say or do something to us.I remember being in a beach town in North Carolina and being the only black friend there. We ate at a bar & I felt like all eyes were on me. I searched frantically for another familiar skin tone, but had no luck. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because I was black with a group of non black friends. I felt uncomfortable.

I always look up where I’m going first to check and see what the hate crimes are like. I check and see if there is even a big population of people that look like me. Traveling while black for me is always having to “check and see”. It can be emotionally draining and scary at times.

-Mal | Founder, With Love Mal

KY FROM @OHITSKYB

Once I started traveling solo my confidence grew so much, it allowed me to live my life to the fullest with little regrets. I started my page, because whenever I searched for travel inspiration on Instagram, I was advertised to look through mainly white travel pages. There is little representation of black travelers ESPECIALLY black women. One of my favorite adventures is when I traveled solo to Southeast Asia. I visited 4 countries in a month; Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia. Representation is so important, because not only did my long, grey, faux locs attract a lot of attention, so did my skin color.

People asked me to take pictures with their babies and some people would touch my hair without asking. I could walk down the street and EVERYONE would stare in awe. Maybe shock? As if black women were the unicorns of the world.

I am so proud to be who I am and it makes me so happy to meet and see more beautiful black women traveling. We are not unicorns only to be seen in people’s dreams. We are real, we are here, and we are capable of doing the things that people assume can’t be done!

-Ky | Creator, @Ohitskyb