#StudyAbroadSoBlack: The Academic Equivalent of the Black Travel Movement

 

 


 Image related to article By Kellee Edwards


 

My best friend shared this article in Travel + Leisure Magazine entitled Black Travel: The Movement and I loved reading every single word of it.  All kinds of thoughts came to mind and here are some of them...

I am not a vacationer, but an adventurer, not a tourist, but a welcome guest. Not to be mistaken for a misguided wanderer, but a peaceful pioneer on an endless quest.  (My mantra)

From the first time I left the United States of America (2000, Oaxaca, Mexico), studied abroad (Alicante, Spain, 2003), felt the privilege of long-term leisure travel (Vietnam, 2006), taught abroad (Tokushima, Japan, 2007), moved abroad with the intention of staying for-e-ver (Ghana, 2011), traveled with college students abroad (South Africa, 2014), and traveled abroad "for work" (Limerick, Ireland 2017), I understood- clearly- the limitless joy associated with Being Black Abroad. Let me be specific though, being a Black American abroad. Experiencing privilege for the first time, or at least recognizing that yes, even Black Americans have countless privileges, was a game changer. And ever since, there has been no other choice but to live life differently.

 Black Travel is an act of self love and it is revolutionary.

Acquiring an awareness of the rights that Black folks can exercise freely while in many countries, like walking around anywhere without fear (and dare I add, after dark), entering into resource rich spaces without suspicion, working hard and being paid equally, and even being awkwardly stared at for being amazingly unique (instead of distrusted), can feel like having access to a superpower. 

The freedom and confidence to travel is like a superpower that can be pulled out anytime we (Black Americans) need to 'tap out' of the often toxic environment of our birth.

As an educator, my work (especially preceding covid-19) is jam packed with conversations, events, workshops, advising, emails, GroupMe messages, and any other form of student engagement that one can imagine. As well as, conversations about when to go abroad, where to go, how to get there (financially), who to convince (and how), what to study, what to pack and often most significantly...what a Black student should prepare for abroad, have filled my work days with meaning and purpose.  Having once been in their shoes and later gained a wider perspective on the long-term impact of taking this first step, I feel responsible for priming them to thoughtfully maximize the opportunity to study abroad.

 #StudyAbroadSoBlack: The Movement

So, after reading the article on the BTM, in addition to following all the Black travel IG pages and podcasts, it dawned on me that the social media, student development, community engagement movement,  #StudyAbraodSoBlack, the we* launched in 2016 is the academic equivalent to the Black Travel Movement (BTM)! (Goodness, I am late to my own party!) 

Empower, assisting, and preparing Black students for travel and study abroad is an act of social justice.

Because of the BTM's growing visibility, I know that students are increasingly inspired to study abroad by the many glamorous, affluent-looking and adventurous images presented by the BTM. On one hand, I love this fact and on the other... I am concerned. My concern is that these impressionable minds will learn to see travel as a status symbol, like a Louis Vuitton bag. Unfortunately, higher ed "culture" also encourages students to pursue the high impact practice of study abroad as a way to best "market" oneself to future employers.  Furthermore, I question what percent of Black travelers miss the mark on respecting local natural environments, indigenous communities, customs, language, and social norms in order to harness a sense of self liberation? Will Black students make the same careless mistakes?

Actions that lack mindfulness, even by us, are the exportation of American arrogance and ethnocentricity.

Intentionally creating space before students travel abroad to discuss mindful traveling practices (e.g. practicing the local language, learning customs, researching history and current affairs, understanding environmental factors, etc.) is work that myself and the field of IE must continue to become experts at doing.  My assumption (and hope) is that the academically focused, currently currency-limited, language learning, and limitless #StudyAbroadSoBlack participants of today will become the representatives of the BTM of tomorrow.  

I affirm (not, hope or pray) that the BTM will create an increasing number of globally-conscious educators/scholars/professionals/parents who apply their more liberated outlook and lifestyle to inform the future generations of Afropolitans on how access the same, and to do so even more sustainably and with greater cultural competence, humility, equity, and fairness. 

The privilege to travel to foreign lands can be a spiritual opportunity to connect (especially, in the local language!) cross-culturally and for mutual benefit.  It can all make accessible space to be free and to 'turn all the way up'.  

Let's just be sure that we, as Black Americans, are being mindful and in integrity... we've come too far.

 
#StudyAbroadSoBlack: The Movement


The mission of the hashtag is to simply aggregate the images, videos, stories, and feedback of Black students who boldly go outside of their comfort zones and into the world to enrich their lives and perspectives on country, community, and self.  The vision of #SASB is three-fold:

  1. To proclaim that Black students are able, supported, and encouraged to seek out global learning opportunities that will enrich their academic curriculum, multicultural network, language proficiency, and cultural competence (when relating to Americans and people from other countries).

  2. Be the call to action that informs Black students and their communities about the importance of cultivating global consciousness and its influence on the wellbeing of the PanAfrican community.

  3. An invitation to the world to celebrate and support globally-inspired Black students by intentionally ensuring that study abroad experiences are Accessible, Inclusive, Diverse, and Equitable- for All! 

     

    * Created with the People, The Culture, The Community by Dr. Keshia Abaraham, Tonija Hope, and Yours Truly, Maraina Montgomery at Howard University 

     


Other great articles related to the BTM are HERE & HERE!



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