- You might get stared at.
At times, this is very, VERY obvious. If travelling to a homogenous country that doesn’t see many black people, being stared at is a commonly shared experience. The best way to navigate this in my opinion, is to not perceive it negatively. Most of the attention I received appeared to stem from curiosity and admiration rather than something negative. Having this mindset will enable you to navigate such situations and it’ll reach a point where you recognise the stares, but they don’t necessarily make you uncomfortable. Of course, have your wits about you- if someone’s stare feels strange, uncomfortable, or threatening, find a way to safely leave that situation.
- Some people may touch you and take pictures of you.
This may happen a lot more or a lot less than you expect. It’s heavily dependent on where you are. For example, you’ll probably be stared at a lot more in rural Vietnam than in Hanoi (a city bustling with tourists). Again, I realised most people weren’t trying to be rude, they just seemed curious. At times I willingly took pictures. But, there were times where locals would grab my arm and point to a cameraman ready to take our picture and some who (when I wasn’t looking), would try and touch me inappropriately. I began to feel like a spectacle or some endangered species that people (for some strange reason), felt entitled to touch. So, I write this to say, it’s ok to move away. It’s ok to say no. If you feel uncomfortable, the right answer is always no.
- Always be prepared.
Solo travelling as a woman has its risks of course but travelling as a black woman adds another layer of risk. People aren’t so used to seeing black women solo travelling so in some ways, you may be more of a target. Stay vigilant but don’t be paranoid. Allow yourself to say ‘yes’ to crazy and spontaneous experiences but learn to trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is.
- You do NOT represent black people.
A responsibility black people who solo travel sometimes feel, is this immense pressure to positively represent our race. And it’s understandable, particularly in a country that doesn’t have a large black population or one that does not see many black tourists. There might be negative perceptions of you based off ignorant and racist ideologies. It is NOT your job to convince people that you do not fit whatever negative stereotypes they may have of you. A person who judges a race instead of an individual is simply a bigot.
Your job is to explore, to have fun, to create new and beautiful memories. To be wholly and unapologetically you.
Affirmation: I exist unapologetically as me, both at home and abroad. Being brave and taking risks ALWAYS works in my favour.
Read more about solo travelling as a black woman here!
