As a minority, where should I avoid travel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many parts of the South, according to my dark skinned husband.

Nor should Jews, Muslims, and many other ethnicities.

Unless Jews are wearing a kippah or a Muslim wearing a headscarf, they are usually indistinguishable from their fellow Americans. As a Jew, I know that some people in the world may hate me because of my religion, but when I travel, no on can tell by looking at me that I am anything but a Caucasian American.

[Anonymous]

When I studied in France a few years ago, my incredibly-charming professor of African descent commented on the racism he experienced there on a regular basis. I wasn't especially naive, but it really startled and saddened me to know that under the surface racism was so rampant in France.

[Anonymous]

I am a dark skinned minority that has been to both Greece and Turkey and it's been fine (those were actually my favorite vacations). Not sure about the rest of them, since I've never been.

Greece and Turkey would be fine though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a dark brown minority and recently a fellow minority at work commented that he would not travel to certain places because of his skin color and how he would be treated. When I pressed him for places that he would avoid he said Hungary, Russia, Romania, maybe Greece and turkey. Is their anything valid to this? I haven't done extensive travelling and most of the places we have went was England, Italy and they were fine.

Perhaps SE DC, if you're concerned about basic safety.

[Anonymous]

It's a really sad thread. I'm white but have lived all over the world and have thought a lot about this:

- Russia and likely former Soviet States
- In some parts of Central and South America, you will be totally fine, although you might encounter some weak prejudice (that's an oxymoronic sentence, I know, but this is all relative). El Salvador really didn't "have" black people for a long time and there is huge prejudice... at one point in recent, AAs couldn't get visas. But probably safe to travel there for sure.
- Germany- lots of staring.
- Parts of w. Africa: Know they will not consider you "really" American... but in some of the more well-developed places there is a real infrastructure of tourism around AAs visiting
- Middle East- I'd do research about this. My guess is that it's terrible. I know for instance- and this of course was years ago- but during the Iran hostage crisis the CIA station chief (I think that's who it was- anyway, someone in a position of real authority) was black but they couldn't believe a black person would have such high standing and let him go.

Ugh. That was depressing. But I think it's smart to check it out before you go anywhere. The good news is that most of the prejudice while offensive is likely to be more offensive than unsafe in most of these places.

[Anonymous]

DH was very uncomfortable traveling on business in a former Soviet state. Lots of staring, some gave him looks conveying disgust, and in the hotel gym a random person ranted at him (but he didn't know the language so doesn't know what was said) then abruptly ended their workout and left. After a couple days of this, DH stayed close to the hotel and location of meetings, and was glad to return home.

We have traveled to Paris and the South of France frequently, with no problems. It sounds awful, but I've long suspected that the French ID us as non-African blacks and therefore put us in a different 'box' than those against whom they may have prejudices.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who cautioned against traveling to Germany. She is dark skinned from India and said people there called her the german equivalent of a "Paki" and were very rude. Suppose it might have been just her experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a really sad thread. I'm white but have lived all over the world and have thought a lot about this:

- Russia and likely former Soviet States
- In some parts of Central and South America, you will be totally fine, although you might encounter some weak prejudice (that's an oxymoronic sentence, I know, but this is all relative). El Salvador really didn't "have" black people for a long time and there is huge prejudice... at one point in recent, AAs couldn't get visas. But probably safe to travel there for sure.
- Germany- lots of staring.
- Parts of w. Africa: Know they will not consider you "really" American... but in some of the more well-developed places there is a real infrastructure of tourism around AAs visiting
- Middle East- I'd do research about this. My guess is that it's terrible. I know for instance- and this of course was years ago- but during the Iran hostage crisis the CIA station chief (I think that's who it was- anyway, someone in a position of real authority) was black but they couldn't believe a black person would have such high standing and let him go.

Ugh. That was depressing. But I think it's smart to check it out before you go anywhere. The good news is that most of the prejudice while offensive is likely to be more offensive than unsafe in most of these places.

East Africa is weird too. They'll expect you to stay in the driver's quarters of hotels, etc. In a way, you'll have a much more interesting experience, but in a way, it will be a total hassle. Not dangerous, just awkward.
Some parts of the middle east (Oman, UAE, Egypt) are pretty comfortable with a wide spectrum of skin colors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a dark brown minority and recently a fellow minority at work commented that he would not travel to certain places because of his skin color and how he would be treated. When I pressed him for places that he would avoid he said Hungary, Russia, Romania, maybe Greece and turkey. Is their anything valid to this? I haven't done extensive travelling and most of the places we have went was England, Italy and they were fine.

You can go wherever the hell you want in this world because truth be told as long as you're clinging to that 2nd class citizen mindset and are paranoid about how others perceive you because of your skin you really won't be going anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a dark brown minority and recently a fellow minority at work commented that he would not travel to certain places because of his skin color and how he would be treated. When I pressed him for places that he would avoid he said Hungary, Russia, Romania, maybe Greece and turkey. Is their anything valid to this? I haven't done extensive travelling and most of the places we have went was England, Italy and they were fine.

You can go wherever the hell you want in this world because truth be told as long as you're clinging to that 2nd class citizen mindset and are paranoid about how others perceive you because of your skin you really won't be going anywhere.

You are clueless. This kind of bigotry around the world is very real, including parts of the US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a dark skinned minority that has been to both Greece and Turkey and it's been fine (those were actually my favorite vacations). Not sure about the rest of them, since I've never been.

Greece and Turkey would be fine though!

I haven't spent enough time in Greece to comment on that country, but Turkey is not ideal if you're African American. My African American colleagues have lived there for several years, and has experienced the kind of harassment I never did (as a white woman).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a dark brown minority and recently a fellow minority at work commented that he would not travel to certain places because of his skin color and how he would be treated. When I pressed him for places that he would avoid he said Hungary, Russia, Romania, maybe Greece and turkey. Is their anything valid to this? I haven't done extensive travelling and most of the places we have went was England, Italy and they were fine.

You can go wherever the hell you want in this world because truth be told as long as you're clinging to that 2nd class citizen mindset and are paranoid about how others perceive you because of your skin you really won't be going anywhere.

Oh please. Are you truly that ignorant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:India

+1

Hmmm, I don't know about this. My DH is dark skinned and has been to india a couple of times and said everyone was hospitable.

Granted I am light skinned and of mixed ethnicity I have never had any issues in India. My dark skinned colleague from Camroon was considered a novelty in some parts and people wanted to take pictures with her.
Weird, but not racist . There were just intruigued and curious.

BTW Indian's can have very darkskin too. I work in IT and 70% of my India colleagues are darker than I am.

That said India as a whole is obsessed with light skin and sells skin lightning products the same way we sell tanning products here. Often it is the same brands we use for tanning here in the US.
All that aside India is a fine place to travel as a minority.

[Anonymous]

the 1940s

[Anonymous]

As an American, I do not want to travel anywhere in the world anymore. At least till ISIS is taken care of.