“History will not be kind to us. So you have a moral obligation, a mission and a mandate, to speak up, speak out and get in good trouble. You can do it. You must do it. Not just for yourselves but for generations yet unborn- John Lewis
This is the first post of an upcoming five part travel series supporting the Black Lives Matter movement…
During this time, I’m taking some time to reflect and think.
I am white, and some of us feel ashamed. White people are not perfect. White people have done some REALLY bad things to other people. Don’t even get me started on what we did to the Native Americans just for the pursuit of land and financial gain. In fact, you can check out our Native American tourism guide to learn more about that.
Even my grandmother did not realize she was being racist when she wore blackface impersonating Al Jolson when she was younger. She was one of millions who saw “The Jazz Singer” featuring one of the world’s best entertainer of his generation. Al Jolson was well known to wear blackface in his performances. The ironic thing about it is that he had a reputation for helping fight racial discrimination in his day.
Peaceful Protests Across The Globe
We have seen peaceful marches and protests around the world for the Black Lives Matter movement in virtually every city and many are wondering what they can do to support it?
Actual marches can be risky because of the loss of social distancing and people who go to work sometimes can’t find the time to join these groups. Here we try to address some ways to address that while you are starting to make travel plans again for next year. If you are stressing about travel plans and are apprehensive to travel or protest during COVID-19, there are several ways for you to still get involved. For example, share on social media, donate, sign petitions, and speak with your local representatives in government.
Learning Through Travel
Why not combine travel with learning this important history of our country? Going to beaches, amusement parks and wineries are all great and fun but these types of Black History trips will touch you in your core and possibly change you forever. Learning about oppressive history when you visit these sites is essential for travelers of all ages, even during your family vacations.
There are dozens of diverse museums, monuments, and cultural centers across the United States that allow you to learn about, reflect on, and connect with moments in Black History. Visiting these cultural attractions, you can better learn about the country’s horrific history of racial injustice.
As you go to new places, this movement may come up a lot in conversation as you meet more and more people. When Black people you meet want to engage in a conversation with you on the subject, the best thing you can do is NOT try to relate to their situation. If you are not Black, there is no way you can relate what they and their families feel and have gone through. Just be a good listener and learn about their experiences. Ask questions.
If you want to go back to the beginning of African-American history, it all starts with slavery. We have to admit that most white people had never heard of Juneteenth before June 2020.
Why?
We don’t recall it ever being taught in school or making it into our textbooks. Slavery ended on June 19, 1865 and it took until 2020 for most people to realize that was a really important moment in the country’s history. To this day, we cannot get all 50 states to recognize this important day. Did we know that the Civil War in part was about the South wanting to hold on to slavery? What do we know about the transition from Negro, to Colored, to Black, and then African-American? Here is something I came across as one definition. Black vs. African-American: African-American to describe people (groups/individuals). Black to describe an experience, culture. Black with a capital B. When is it appropriate now to use Black vs African- American?
Cultural Insights
Visiting these historic sites, you can obtain a cultural insight into the lives, past, history, and culture of African-American men, women, and children. Visiting these places provides a sense of connection, reflection, and education to visitors of all ages. Every year, American’s travel all over the globe in search of new cultures. Visiting cultural attractions in the U.S provides an understanding of a heavily mistreated and neglected culture within American borders. Consider visiting cultural centers, historic monuments, and museums to develop a cultural insight of racial disparities, injustices, and atrocities that have occurred throughout time.
Follow The Civil Rights Trail
If you are looking to educate yourself on Black History through travel, one of the best ways to start is by following the Civil Rights Trail. The Civil Rights Trail is a national trail expanding across 15 states and offering approximately 100 historic locations. Visiting the stops on this trail educates visitors about the long, imbalanced, and ongoing struggle for African-Americans’ to achieve equal rights. Some of the most famous stops along the trail include the Washington D.C National Mall, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the location of police confrontations in Selma, Alabama, as well as the historic Edmund Pettus Bridge. Did you know Edmund Pettus was the head of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan? Would’nt be something if they changed the name of the bridge to honor the late John Lewis? I will suggest in detail specific stops to make and black-owned restaurants to eat in while there.
Make New Connections
Educating yourself through African-American travel experiences, you can develop a number of strong new connections. While it is impossible to directly relate to the issues that African-Americans have faced throughout history, you can still make connections throughout your experiences. As you visit cultural centers, museums, and monuments, speak with additional visitors, learn about their experiences, their personal history, and that of their families. As you plan African-American travel experiences, be sure to look for ways to build new connections.
Create A Travel Pledge To Fight Racial Injustice
Of course, when you visit new places, it is crucial to create a travel pledge to fight racial injustice. As travelers, we should understand the importance of educating ourselves on different perspectives, cultures, beliefs, and experiences. To start traveling better, stay committed to educating yourself on marginalized groups and underrepresented people when you visit new places. When possible, participate in local protests, have open conversations, and make donations to areas in need. This way, you can continuously work to expanding our learning, and improve the world for more like-minded value travelers.
Travelers all across the globe are planning vacations that honor and show support to the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. Throughout your travel, there are dozens of cultural landmarks and highlights that you need to visit. Taking the time to visit these sites empowers you to learn through your travel, follow cultural insights, and make new connections. Consider the points mentioned above to learn about Supporting the Black Lives Matter movement through travel.
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