Black History Without Borders

Source: DuxX/iStock

To close out Black History Month, I’m focusing beyond our borders to highlight people and events in the wider African diaspora. A principle in my forthcoming book for Black women is global awareness and engagement. I believe global awareness is critical for our ability to heal and thrive in the world, especially in the face of racism.

One way to increase our awareness and experiences beyond the United States is to travel. Of course we are drawn to places where other Black people are and where we can indulge in cultural experiences and common personal interests. While we certainly should visit countries where we can relax and have fun, I want to encourage us to also use these opportunities to learn about the history, culture, and economies of places we visit.

You don’t need to travel far to get a taste of different lifestyles and experiences. And you don’t have to blow your budget to do it. You can start by visiting an unfamiliar area in your home state or a neighboring state and being a tourist close to home before venturing further.

I recently had the opportunity to travel with family and friends to Europe. We spent most of our time in the Puglia region of Italy, which is known for its wonderful food and easy pace, as well as for its location on the map: in the “heel of the boot.” We adjusted to the local customs, eating our largest meal at lunchtime and having a light late-night dinner. We accompanied our innkeeper to town and shopped for one of our meals, picked herbs in the garden of the villa, and prepared a feast of homemade pasta, baked chicken, mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. Those of us who used the washing machine hung our clothes to dry, as dryers are rare in much of the country. We ventured to the ancient town of Matera, where cave dwellings and churches are carved into the mountainside. We ate the freshest of foods and more gelato than I thought could be possible. And we walked. And walked. And walked.

A hearty group of us ventured out most mornings around 7:30 to walk along a stretch of the ancient, unpaved road just outside our villa, Via Appia. During one of our walks, we met an elderly Italian couple who were engaged in a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. They showed us their Italian guidebook, which charted a path from Rome to Bari, on Italy’s southeastern coast. From there, pilgrims take a boat across the Adriatic Sea to Greece and then continue their walk. We later learned their pilgrimage was called Via Jerusalem, or Jerusalem Way. With help from Google Translate, we were able to learn that they were walking along a path that was part of an experience for people interested in raising their spiritual awareness. I was fascinated by their journey; meeting them deepened my appreciation for the experiences of people in other parts of the world and for humanity as a whole.

On the last morning of our stay, I ventured out on Via Appia for a solo walk. By the end of the week, the ancient dusty road was familiar and I felt a sense of peace and calm walking by myself. The late-summer sun was already high and the dew was dry. I began to wonder what it might have been like for my ancestors who might have traveled this same road. They might have been enslaved, as so many African ancestors were in all parts of the world. What might they think, seeing this modern group of Black travelers, venturing to this corner of the world, romping on the beaches, dining at the best restaurants, on their own volition, masters of themselves? Memories of those walks still brighten my heart and make me smile.

Whether you choose to travel to Black nations or those that are predominately white, it can be enlightening to think about the history of not just colonialism but also how Black people organized to liberate themselves and others. Throughout the Caribbean and Africa, there are rich histories of resistance and preservation of culture, language, and cuisines. Our ancestors were not just victims of colonialism but survivors who adapted and created and risked their lives to empower their people. Consider the Maroons, or African descendants of natives who escaped capture during the transatlantic slave trade to establish free societies in Jamaica and other parts of the Americas.

According to a recent report, by 2050, 1 in 4 people on the planet will be African. That’s an astounding statistic that reflects a seismic shift in population around the globe. Regardless of where you plan to travel next, take the time to do some research and find out about the experiences of Black and indigenous populations in your target destination. Where are the Black folks and how did they live? What contributions did they make to Latin America, Canada, the Middle East, and other parts of the globe? How are Black people living and transforming the cultures and economies today?

While there are certainly stories of conflict and suffering in the world, you will also find expressions of deep pride and joy among Black people anywhere you visit. These global experiences can also serve as counterprogramming to all of the negativity about people of the African diaspora so commonly expressed in the West.

Growing Your Global Awareness

In the book I am co-writing, I define global awareness and engagement as seeing the world through a womanist lens. With openness and curiosity, Black women with a global mindset can work to understand a region’s culture, history, resources, economy, religions and challenges. Despite negative connotations associated with the idea of “globalism,” this broader perspective allows us to both see and respect other cultures and to secure our place at the table and in the world. I recommend the following ways to engage more deeply with the world, which will help promote our resilience and enhance mental health and well-being:

Cross-Cultural Psychology Essential Reads

Living and Loving in a Diverse Society

Documenting Cultural Lineages

Start at home. Research the history of your town or city, particularly the lives and experiences of Black people. Your library and other cultural institutions like museums might offer insight. The website Historypin.org provides a forum for individuals to share photos and stories about their local communities. It includes a section about the Green Book, or a guide for African American road travelers during segregation.

Expand your lens to the whole U.S. Our country is full of destinations with fascinating history. You could target major Black cultural institutions such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., also known as the “Blacksonian”; the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem; or the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, among several others. Consider states you have yet to visit and do your research.

Tap Black-owned travel resources. Founded by Zim Ugochukwu, Travel Noire is digital media company serving millennials of the African Diaspora. It offers travel news, recommendations for first-time international travelers, city guides, and a newsletter. Other sources of travel inspiration and information include Single Parents Who Travel, founded by intrepid traveler, writer and former #Essence colleague Tomika Anderson. Another source of inspiration is National Geographic’s Explorer in Residence Tara Roberts who chronicled her journey with Black scuba divers searching for slave shipwrecks in the Into the Depths podcast.

Connect. Whether you travel in the United States or abroad, take the time to do research about local history and culture online or through travel companies. Once you are at your destination, make a point of talking to locals, from cab drivers to small business owners. Ask them about their backgrounds and lives. What do they think of current leadership and what’s happening in politics? Where do they vacation and why? Be willing to share details about yourself, with humility and respect for others.

Bring it home. In addition to photos and souvenirs, bring home a piece of your travel experience. It could be a piece of art or a book by a local author. These mementos will keep the experience and your global awareness alive. You can also write about your travels—impressions, surprises, favorite moments—while the memories are fresh in your mind in a special travel journal or notebook.

Wherever you go, take your curiosity and cultural humility with you, and consider how each trip transforms your awareness of not just others but also yourself.