“Eat, Pray, Love”: Black Women Living Abroad
Last year, at the height of the Georgle Floyd (BLM) protests, there was a USA Today headline that read: ‘I'm leaving, and I'm just not coming back: Fed up with racism, Black Americans head overseas.” Many Black Americans continue to fantasize about giving their two weeks’ notice, and moving abroad to seek out their version of ‘Eat, Pray, Love.” Nevertheless, one has to ponder, is the grass always greener? Are Black female expats exchanging U.S. style racism for other ‘-isms’? Or is there a brighter future at the end of the rainbow? Below are the insights and experiences of six Black women who live outside of the United States. They discuss what makes their city ideal, or not so ideal, for the Black female with wanderlust.
What do you consider a "good quality of life"?
A good quality of life is financial stability, family and friends, good health, and enough free time to enjoy trivial pursuits. DD/London, United Kingdom
Good quality of life is feeling free to do everything I want, any time I want. Access to good/healthy food, the ability to cater to myself with massages, going to the gym, surrounding myself with only positive minded people. And never forgetting to be thankful for all of it. Not taking it for granted! Mary/Hamburg, Germany
I would say health first of all. Your drinking water needs to be clean; access to good nutrition (clean vegetables) and health facilities; and being in an environment that is not harmful to the body (high pollution, living next to a factory). Living in an emerging market, it can get very real! You can literally take these things for granted but you have to do your due diligence around what your chosen environment will offer, both good and bad.. Also access to healthy relationships, personally and professionally, are key. Then finally, your work; access to work that edifies or supports you in your personal growth. Lakeshia/ Accra, Ghana
Social connections/people: THE MOST IMPORTANT. A place where there are many young professionals, organic opportunities to meet others (especially locals) and being able to find/create your “tribe”, a family away from family.
Affordability: a city that’s not so expensive that it makes financial stability feel nearly impossible. A city that won’t break your pockets over a cocktail (or 2) and an appetizer. Jasmin/Johannesburg, South Africa
To me, a good quality of life means: being able to get around without a car, as I don't drive. Also having access to local organic food; retail shopping; and culture and entertainment (movie theaters, concert halls, museums). The ability to have a nice meal with a friend. As a parent, I need to be close to my kids' school, so that we can spend more time together and less time commuting. As much as I love the big city life, I do enjoy getting away from time to time. I love spending a quiet weekend looking at the sky, going for a run, reading a book, and spending quality time with my loved ones, away from the daily congestion. Pam/Paris, France
I consider a good quality of life feeling at peace where I live. A city where people are relaxed, friendly and welcoming, is very important to me. And it's hard to separate quality of life from cost of living - I prioritize being in places where my dollar will go far. Roshida/Mexico City, Mexico
What makes your city great for Black women to live in?
There’s been an increase in recent years of safe spaces for Black women by Black women. However, honestly, I don’t know if my city is great for black women to live in. I often feel like we are treated as third class citizens, neither white nor male, and oftentimes we can’t count on racial solidarity as a source of comfort. DD/London, United Kingdom
Seeing the new generation of Black people being very confident about their heritage and showing it! There are many mixed couples, which has changed over the last few years, as love is a big topic for women. Also, there’s a new movement of young entrepreneurs with African backgrounds, despite being a small percentage of the city’s population. Mary/Hamburg, Germany
For someone who is in their 20s, it’s a great place to enter and be in the majority. There are many safe places for expat Black women in Ghana. Furthermore, I believe that Black people need a time for ‘rest’ and not to constantly focus on their race. In America, we talk about race so much, due to the environment. But being part of the majority, you can just exist and identify with other parts of yourself, as opposed to always leading with racial identity. When you don’t have to think of yourself only as ‘Black’, you get to delve into the other parts of your identity, like being a woman, millennial or an entrepreneur. You start to strengthen those other parts of your identity, which I think is so dope and empowering. Lakeshia/Accra, Ghana
-Cultural diversity: the great thing about Johannesburg is that while nearly 80% of the population is Black, it’s a huge melting pot. There are Africans from all over the continent, as well as expats from Europe, Asia, and America. There are so many different people to meet and learn from.
-Access & mobility: most things and places are easily accessible, as there is a good transportation system, and Uber is very reliable. Johannesburg feels like it’s the size of NYC without the brutal journey of going from Brooklyn to Harlem.
-Affordability: the cost of living in the city is quite low (depending on your means of course). From monthly rent to club/bar hopping to quick weekend getaways to buying a house/land, it’s all reasonable. And by reasonable I mean pretty cheap if you’re earning USD. Jasmin/Johannesburg, South Africa
-Easy access to healthcare professionals who know about health conditions that usually affect Black people (dermatologists, cardiologists, mental health specialists)
-The existence of Black womxn communities
-The food! The wine! Fashion! The architecture!
-A couple of great hair stylists (I can tend to my natural mane myself, but every now and then, my hair needs professional care). Pam/Paris, France
Mexico City is a cultural hub with more museums than any other city in the world. There's always something to do, and the cost of living is lower than the U.S. The restaurant scene is amazing, as is the street food. And best of all, the people here treat you with respect and care - but not in the "I've never seen a Black woman" before way that happens in other countries. People don't stare or touch you. Also I never receive the negative energy that can come to you in the U.S, simply from existing. Roshida/Mexico City, Mexico
What makes your city not ideal for Black women to live in?
Africans of different nationalities like to stay in their circle (country specific). For example, you’ll always hear, ‘oh you from Ghana’ [I’m from Kenya], as Hamburg has the highest concentration of Ghanaians in Germany. And it’s a constant task of reminding people that Africa is more than just one country! Then, there is the stereotyping that all Black people are the same, just because we have the same skin color. Finally, in my personal experience, there's less support for Black female owned businesses. Mary/Hamburg, Germany
I would say there are other -isms that you have to deal with outside of racism, like chauvinism, classism and sexism. Though there can be an ‘othering’ that is reserved for foreigners, my experience has been a little different. My mother, father and extended family are from Jamaica, and I am a first generation American. When I arrived in Ghana and people asked me about myself, I’d say I’m Jamaican-American. Once I shared my Caribbean heritage, there was a shift and more of an embrace into the culture. There are a lot of similarities between African and Caribbean cultures like ‘this is a food we make too’ or ‘you look like my family’. So as a Caribbean-American, I can attest that I have had a slightly more fluid experience in Ghanaian society because of my Jamaican heritage. Lakeisha/Accra, Ghana
-Safety: Gender based violence makes Johannesburg less than ideal for Black women. As an expat, I have certain privileges that somewhat shield me (residential location, economic status, etc). So while I haven’t or don’t know anyone who has been a victim of gender based violence, I know it’s something women in SA are speaking out against often. Ironically, the “extra safety precautions” I try to take are just the regular things women have to do to keep themselves safe in any city in the world, if I’m being honest. My mention of gender based violence should not be read as discouraging women from traveling to or living in SA. The reality is that any major city in the world requires a woman to take certain safety measures. Johannesburg would be no different. Jasmin/Johannesburg, South Africa
Life in Paris can get pretty hectic and simultaneously lonely. One has to get out of one’s shell to create meaningful connections with other people. Parisians are known for their sense of style, and also for being grumpy, and both statements are true most of the time. ;) Pam/Paris, France
Nothing! If you're up for adventure, this is the city for you. Roshida/Mexico City, Mexico
