What It's Really Like to Travel Solo as a Black Woman
“Travel solo to discover yourself,” they say. “You’ll uncover the true meaning of life,” others preach. You may even hear the occasional, “When you start to travel alone you’ll gain a new perspective on the world around you.”
Maybe all of this is true. But too often, the people making these statements are not of the melanated variety. These quotes often live beneath heavily filtered Instagram photos with blonde haired, blue-eyed women in the foreground. Those quotes may aptly describe their experience but how does that compare to the experience of a Black woman? What can you really expect as a Black woman traveling solo? Well for starters, there’s some good, some not so great and some things to look forward to.
THE GOOD
You may surprise people with your bilingual prowess.
Depending on how you look at it, this could be a good or not so great aspect. But, before you choose your side, hear me out.There were many times I traveled to a country where English was not the native language. And because I never wanted to be that tourist who assumed everyone around me spoke English, I made it a point to learn any common phrases or words that would help me get around. If I had a little more time to prepare, I could even learn full paragraphs to communicate what I needed. Despite this, there were a handful of times I interacted with people who were nearly in shock to discover I was well-versed in the native language. Although, they failed to express the same impressed awe to nearby white tourists who flexed their bilingual muscles moments before. For me, the good lives in those moments of sweet, silent victory over anyone’s false assumptions about me as a Black woman. The added bonus was further demonstrating that the limit on what a Black woman is capable of does not exist.
It may be easier to spot your community.
For many of us, being the only Black woman in the room is not an unfamiliar feeling, even in our home countries. I’ll admit there are times it can feel doubly isolating to not just feel like the only Black woman in a room, but to feel like the only Black woman in a foreign city. On the other hand, when you do finally find those other Black women, you’ll automatically connect over the nuances of your shared experience that no one else understands. In my experience, I would travel to a yoga class, art exhibit, or a café by myself and end up meeting other Black women who just happened to be interested in the same activities. If you plan a longer stay at your destination, your new girl group will naturally attract more Black women looking for the same thing. Before you know it, you’ll have a community of like minded Black women to experience your new environment with.
THE NOT SO GREAT
Be extra, EXTRA aware of your surroundings.
Women traveling alone, in general, can be a target for unwanted sexual attention. However, Black women traveling solo must build another wall of vigilance due to the hypersexualization of the Black body that has, unfortunately, tainted more countries than just the United States. I’ve personally experienced and observed other Black women having their boundaries crossed by complete strangers. Before experiencing this firsthand, I naively thought since there were very few Black people in a city, that the city’s inhabitants wouldn’t draw the same stereotypical conclusions about us. Oh, was I wrong. There are too many uncomfortable scenarios to describe in detail but they have all taught me the same thing: Whether I’m walking down the street or dancing in the club, whether it’s broad daylight or the middle of the night, it’s of paramount importance to always be extra aware of my surroundings when traveling alone as a Black woman. Even if your loved ones are far away, it’s always a great practice to tell them where you’ll be or even share your location with them for extra protection.
People will (still) ogle in disbelief at our hair.
Yes, girl. Unfortunately, the statement above still rings true. Solange made a whole song about it but yet the issue persists. I’ve had a number of hairstyles while traveling abroad from micro braids to crochet styles to my full on afro. Even when you’re abroad, you just might have to swat away impolitely curious hands and set people straight on personal boundaries. It might be a good idea to learn to say, ‘Don’t touch my hair’ in a few different languages.
THE THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO
You’ll have the opportunity to set an example for Black women everywhere that solo travel can be done while also having the time of your life.
The people you’ll meet, the ways you’ll grow and the memories you’ll make are all priceless things to look forward to. The fact that you are the only person who holds these memories makes them that much more sacred. It’s not always easy to travel solo as a Black woman. But let other Black women who have done the same serve as the example that it is possible and it can be just as amazing as you imagined. When you choose to travel solo, you’ll inadvertently be an inspiration to other Black women and girls who may dream of doing the same. Through the good, and even the not so great, you’ll create experiences you’ll remember forever. Who knows? You may even come up with a cheesy quote of your own to remind Black women that solo travel can be for us too.