If you’re not a minority, why are you so sure of your anti-racism tourism?
By: Shamontiel L. Vaughn
Tags: Black People, White Privilege, Holocaust, Racism, Race

My problem isn’t even with people who suggest I leave because of who the current president is. Hell, there have been many days since Inauguration Day 2017 that I’ve wanted to pack. But as with the history of slavery — Dutch, English and French slave traders, I’m talking about you — America didn’t invent dictators either. Leaving the country does not leave the problem. Here’s why.

I’ve yet to hear this anti-racism sentiment from non-U.S. people who are of African descent. (Yes, I’m aware of Lucy and Ethiopia, but you know I’m not talking about the oldest of fossils. Please don’t start that “we’re all African” comeback.) There is this peculiar belief that melanin-less people from other countries can somehow help me solve all the problems of racism by just moving. But every time I have this conversation with someone overseas, my first question is, “Do you have friends who are of African descent? I’m not talking about someone you breeze by at work or wave at because (s)he lives or works in the area. I mean the kind of friend who can walk right into your home and open your refrigerator, and you wouldn’t blink if this person did it? Do you have that kind of friend?”

Technically this is something I can also ask white Americans who state that they have black friends. Chit chatting here and there with a colleague is not a “friend.” You have earned an associate, but not a friend. So why is this friendship so meaningful? Because if you are not black but have legitimate black friends, they will more than likely tell you about race-related issues that have happened to them. And if you’re really friends with this person, chances are you’ve actually seen an instance or two of questionably racist (or at least elitist) attitudes toward someone of color.

If you’re getting ready to say, “In _______________________, it doesn’t happen for most of the people,” I call b.s. I don’t know all 7.8 billion people around the world and cringe when I hear the phrase “most people.” What that usually means is “most people in your social circle.” But I’ve gone to a high school and two colleges with foreign exchange students, and not one of them has told me racism is a “foreign” concept to them.

Of course if someone grows up in an environment where everyone looks, talks and walks like them, chances are pretty high that you would not experience racism. I was born and raised in an all-black neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. I can assure you I did not experience racism while walking in my own neighborhood. Why would I? There was a myriad of melanin in each house and apartment. Now once I stepped out of my neighborhood and engaged with those who did not look like me (specifically the police station next door to my high school), that was a different experience altogether.

I don’t fault you for loving where you’re from. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being proud of your home country. I am smug about being a Chicago native, and will call anyone out who claims to be from the Windy City but has a questionable area code or ZIP code. (Claim your suburb, not my city.) So I fully understand the pride in one’s hometown and/or new residence of choice. But unless you are someone who would be the target of racism, you cannot tell me what it’s like to be a person of color in another country. You can only tell me what it’s like to be you. Keep that in mind before you share these magical anti-racism stories. And stop sending strangers two-page messages about it, too. It’s the most bizarre travel blog I never need to read again.