When Travel Isn’t an Escape: The Emotional Toll of Experiencing Racism on the Road.
Travel is supposed to be an escape—a chance to disconnect from daily struggles, embrace new cultures, and exist in a world of exploration and adventure. But for many travelers of color, the reality is much more complex. The racism we navigate in everyday life doesn’t take a vacation just because we do. Sometimes, it becomes even more pronounced when we step into unfamiliar spaces, where our presence is questioned, our experiences are dismissed, or we become the target of subtle (or not-so-subtle) discrimination.
As someone who has spent decades traveling the world, both professionally and personally, I’ve encountered racism in many forms—from microaggressions that chip away at your peace to outright hostility that makes you question your safety. And let’s be honest: it’s draining. When you’ve worked hard to plan a trip, saved your money, researched your destinations, and finally arrived ready to enjoy yourself, the last thing you want is to be reminded that the world still sees you through a biased lens.
Racism on the Road: The Weight We Carry
The exhaustion of experiencing racism at home is heavy enough, but encountering it while traveling adds an extra layer of frustration. Travel should be a time to relax, but when you constantly gauge how you’re perceived, it creates a mental load that others don’t have to carry. Whether it’s:
Being ignored at a hotel check-in while the receptionist warmly greets the guests behind you
Feeling the extra scrutiny of security at airports or customs, as if you don’t belong
Having locals assume you must be from somewhere else because they don’t expect Black travelers to be present
Hearing the phrase “Where are you REALLY from?” as if your nationality isn’t valid
Being treated differently at restaurants, shops, or tours based on the color of your skin
These moments, big and small, accumulate. And they rob you of the peace you sought when you booked your trip in the first place.
The Emotional Toll of Always Being on Guard
One of the biggest mental shifts that comes with traveling as a person of color is learning how to assess safety beyond just crime rates or tourist scams. Before traveling, I often research more than just the best places to visit—I look into how Black travelers are treated, whether locals are welcoming, and if I need to brace myself for certain experiences. I often say every experience is different, but as a Black woman, I need to be forewarned and be able to make adjustments if I need to. The sad reality is that while many travelers only worry about what to pack, I also prepare for the possibility of discomfort, exclusion, or, worse, outright hostility. It’s exhausting to always have to think ahead about how you will be perceived. It’s exhausting to have to prove, time and time again, that you have every right to be there.
Finding the Joy Despite It All
Even in the face of these challenges, I refuse to let racism dictate my love for travel. I will take up space. I will explore. I will immerse myself in new cultures and refuse to shrink myself to fit someone else’s narrow view of the world. There are places that embrace travelers of color with open arms, and there are communities within travel spaces where we uplift and support one another. One of the reasons I created EbonyTravelers was to share the experiences that so many of us face but are rarely discussed in mainstream travel media. So, to my fellow travelers who have ever felt unseen, unwelcome, or misunderstood on the road—I see you. And I hope that in sharing these truths, we continue to empower ourselves to travel boldly, to find joy despite the ignorance of others, and to create the experiences we deserve. Because no matter where we go, we belong.
