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This thread has been going on for over 2 years!! How cool. I am a 49 year old African American who has started traveling more as I get older and more financially stable. My wife is white. We live in Dallas and really have not had any problems here. We have traveled a a good many large cities the last couple of years, San Francisco, LA, DC, Seattle, Oakland, Houston Phoenix, and some others. Never ha a problem and never felt out of place except for 1 time. We had take a day trip to Mount Rainier and were awed by it. On the way back we got hungry and stopped at a very well known steak chain in Puyallup, Washington. They were very busy when we stopped and there was a wait. There were no blacks in the place, something I do notice when not in my comfort zone. We kept noticing that that we were being passed over by people who we clearly were there before. So after this happening 7 or 8 times we just left. My wife called the Manager of the store and let her have it. We were offered all sorts of free coupons and so forth but declined. Outside of that incident I have no issues traveling anywhere.
My Pops was in WWI and seemed to dig the Army a bit. It was his way out of Harlem in the early 20th Century and he became one of a handful of Black American men to achieve the rank of Major as a Reservist. Oddly enough, he never emphasized to me, his oldest and only son, to "travel" for the hell of it or to get my Passport, yet would have been giddy if I'd been drafted to fight in Vietnam. I'm glad my "lottery number" was too high for induction and that President Nixon canceled that dance just in-time! Now in my late fifties, it wasn't until I met my fiancee`two years ago, who is from Ukraine, that I wanted to even visit another country! When I tried to get my first passport, my home state, which I hadn't lived in in two decades blocked it for a tax debt of over a score. Fortunately, my fiancee` helped me with that enormous bill and I have it now. I agree with much of the above in that we who were raised by the first 'middle class' Black American generation in post WWI fifties, sixties and seventies did not have overseas travel emphasized in the home. Most of the convo over the dinner table was about the homegrown battles of Black civil rigthts, the Vietnam War and the assassination of emerging leaders who wanted us to be free worldwide.
In general, very few Americans travel abroad anyways. Most Americans visit european cities and have seen few African Americans as well.
Few examples:
Most Americans visit London, Paris, Italy, Spain and Peru, costa rica, Mexico
Some Americans in china, Japan, Vietnam, thailand, Argentina and chile brazil,Egypt, Australia/new Zealand
Almost none in Botswana, Zambia, Maldives, morocco, Tunisia, Kenya/Tanzania, Namibia
Been to all of the above countries and seen most Americans, african americans included in central America and Europe.
In general, very few Americans travel abroad anyways. Most Americans visit european cities and have seen few African Americans as well.
Few examples:
Most Americans visit London, Paris, Italy, Spain and Peru, costa rica, Mexico
Some Americans in china, Japan, Vietnam, thailand, Argentina and chile brazil,Egypt, Australia/new Zealand
Almost none in Botswana, Zambia, Maldives, morocco, Tunisia, Kenya/Tanzania, Namibia
Been to all of the above countries and seen most Americans, african americans included in central America and Europe.
I saw numerous American tourists in Morocco. Interestingly, one was a couple from the Midwest who were familiar with Duluth (my hometown), and another was traveling with her British husband and had a family event later that month in a tiny Iron Range town (which you usually have to pass through Duluth to get to).
Some American college students make a stop in Morocco on their "eurotrips", since it is a convenient ferry ride from Spain. It's another continent, you know, and who wouldn't want to say they've been to Africa?
For the other countries, even though some of them attract few American tourists (if tourists at all), many are quite frequently studied abroad in. A girl I knew studied in South Africa and went sandboarding in Namibia, and my college did a yearly summer trip to Tanzania (which was outrageously expensive).
The only black-american tourist I have seen in my city (Granada, Spain) have been Michelle Obama
Do you see a lot of white American tourists there?
I was there in May 2008 and there were several in the Alhambra and around town in general. Granada is a popular destination for school groups and American tourists in general, as I would expect Cordoba and Seville to be.
I've noticed the same thing. Last year I went to Colorado Springs and did'nt see one black person the whole time I was there. Also visited the Treasure Coast of Florida same deal. But when I thought about and looked at US Census figures it made sense. Blacks are only 12% of the US population and the vast majority either live in the Deep South- Alabama, Mississippi, etc. or live in a major city like NYC or DC. I live in Missouri and most black people here are either in Kansas City or St. Louis. Talking to black people I know I've noticed when they travel they tend to frequent places with a sizeable black population. I guess its a comfort and safety issue.
Black people travel a lot and spend about a very significant amount of money, annually, on travel and tourism. We go places that we are comfortable with, and travel mostly during holiday seasons, and the summer months. Florida's Emerald Coast is becoming a destination, but not yet a significant one. Soon it will be, though. (Great shopping!) The same applies to Colorado Springs. Not too big on skiing and mountain climbing at the moment, so we shy away. Red states overall may not be too hospitable, so we go places where we are less apt to stand out, etc.
Meet us in South Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa, Pensacola, Philadelphia (MS), New Orleans, Atlanta, Greenville, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Norfolk, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Richmond, Las Vegas, and places like that. Cherokee, NC and Atmore AL, along with Mobile, are places that are gaining black tourism, too. Here's some facts:
"How African-Americans spend their vacation time and money is just as important as why they travel. The American Traveler Survey says that, much like all other travelers, African-Americans spend most of their leisure travel budget on transportation. Shopping takes the next greatest portion of their vacation money, followed by lodging and meals.
African-Americans are not monolithic; they enjoy a wide variety of activities when on vacation. They are likely to visit casinos, gamble, enjoy fine dining, go to theme parks, experience nightclubs and stage shows, visit historic sites and churches, go to beach resorts and visit museums, art galleries, nightclubs and stage shows. They also look for a scenic location, clement weather, previous satisfaction with a destination or activity, relaxation quotient and cost of hotels and meals. And although Blacks tend to travel with the largest groups, they are also more likely to travel alone than other segments of the population.
“We have to keep in mind that the average (individual) leisure trip for an African-American costs about $1,900,” says Evelyn Potts, vice president of diversity and inclusion for Wyndham Worldwide. “And that’s nearly identical to other groups, Caucasians, Asian-Americans, etc.” - Source: Hotel Interactive -Visit this link for starters: [url]http://www.hotelinteractive.com/article.aspx?articleid=11047[/url]
But rest assured we are major tourists in the USA with a net spend of about $100 billion annually. More than the GDP of most countries. You can also check with the census bureau for more details.
Last edited by backwoods_crow; 05-28-2012 at 12:51 AM..
Reason: Provided new link and info.
I might start a seperate topic on this, but it seems like airports and airlines are the new 1st class in America.
I notice a real dividing line between....your typical person at the mall, beach, on the road, etc vs at the airport.
-It seems like people are much more sophisticated at the airport. Is a $300-500 plane ticket now a sign that you're wealthy? Is it a dividing line between the haves and have nots?
-More education. I wonder what the average education level must be on 1st class. I bet you it averages a masters or higher, and from good top 30, 50 schools. There seems to be a lot of $$$$ flying now.
-It seems like people are more stylish. You don't see complete slobs.
It seems like its becoming a more stratified class of people. Maybe it has to do with the digital divide? And technology. The guy in 1st class is much more technology savvy, plugged in, has his points and miles all analyzed, etc. The lowly man on the street is left out of that.
Maybe it shows how poor the rest of the country is becoming.
Re: black tourists. I don't see a lot of them. Blacks are 12-13% of the population? They were. I was at lax and O'hare last weekend, I dont think I saw 13% at the airport. And not 13% of families.
I might start a seperate topic on this, but it seems like airports and airlines are the new 1st class in America.
I notice a real dividing line between....your typical person at the mall, beach, on the road, etc vs at the airport.
-It seems like people are much more sophisticated at the airport. Is a $300-500 plane ticket now a sign that you're wealthy? Is it a dividing line between the haves and have nots?
-More education. I wonder what the average education level must be on 1st class. I bet you it averages a masters or higher, and from good top 30, 50 schools. There seems to be a lot of $$$$ flying now.
-It seems like people are more stylish. You don't see complete slobs.
It seems like its becoming a more stratified class of people. Maybe it has to do with the digital divide? And technology. The guy in 1st class is much more technology savvy, plugged in, has his points and miles all analyzed, etc. The lowly man on the street is left out of that.
Maybe it shows how poor the rest of the country is becoming.
Re: black tourists. I don't see a lot of them. Blacks are 12-13% of the population? They were. I was at lax and O'hare last weekend, I dont think I saw 13% at the airport. And not 13% of families.
Keep in mind a lot of those first class passengers are flying on company dime and if not directly, are using their points gained on the company dime to fly themselves and their families across the country/globe recreationally.
I know when my father traveled his company paid for business or first class and we never paid for vacation flights due to the ridiculous amount of points accrued from business travel- set up an paid for by his employer.
Keep in mind a lot of those first class passengers are flying on company dime and if not directly, are using their points gained on the company dime to fly themselves and their families across the country/globe recreationally.
I know when my father traveled his company paid for business or first class and we never paid for vacation flights due to the ridiculous amount of points accrued from business travel- set up an paid for by his employer.
That's true, but it still looks like they could be professors. I see them reading the wall street journal, etc.
-Re: black tourists. Does anyone see many black kids on flights? I don't.
Most of the people I see on flights are either single (like the single backpacker, single mom), college age kids (18/19 -27 or 28) or families.
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U R right. Its A Comfort and SAFETY Issue
