7 Countries Where Black People Are Not Welcomed transcript

What if I told you that some of the world's most Instagram-worthy destinations are places where your melanin might make you a target and not a tourist? We all love discovering new destinations, experiencing different cultures, and creating unforgettable memories around the world, but let's be real, not every country rolls out the welcome mat equally for black travelers. >> We're going to give you an honest breakdown of seven countries where black travelers consistently report problems.

And this video is not about limiting where you can go or spreading fear, but by the end, you're going to know which destinations to approach with caution, including one country that's been marketing heavily to black Americans. But the reality on the ground is telling a completely different story. And just to be clear, we are not here to bash entire countries or their people. Every place has beautiful souls and some not-so-beautiful ones.

But the thing is, some places do have some systemic issues that make traveling while black a little complicated. And when we see these patterns and we're hearing the same stories from multiple travelers who look like us, it's worth paying attention to. >> Starting with Saudi Arabia. I'll be honest with you, this was never high on our personal bucket list anyway. Sure, the kingdom is investing billions into tourism infrastructure, and those futuristic mega-city buildings that look like something straight out of a sci-fi movie do have me somewhat curious, especially when you add the marketing and the visuals that are constantly in our faces.

You can definitely tell they're trying to rebrand themselves as this modern, welcoming destination. But what they're not advertising are the countless labor disputes in Saudi Arabia involving black workers, primarily from African nations. And I'm not talking about minor disagreements, these are stories about exploitation, abuse, and treatment. The conditions that some black laborers face there are genuinely concerning to say the least, and it's not just isolated incidents.

Now, I know what you might be thinking, but I'm a tourist, I'm not a worker. That means I'm not going to experience the same treatment. And sure, you're probably not going to face the exact same challenges as laborers would, but the thing is, the cultural attitudes and the racial biases that allow these workplace injustices to happen don't just magically disappear just because you're holding a camera instead of a work permit.

So, those same societal views about black people, they're still going to be there when you walk into a restaurant, check into a hotel, just navigating the streets. So, if you do decide to go, more power to you, it's your journey and your choice. Just pack some extra patience along with your passport. You should probably be prepared for prolonged stares, questions that feel invasive, and interactions that might leave you feeling uncomfortable.

And of course, some travelers have definitely had positive experiences, but many others have stories that confirm why this destination gives me pause. And for us personally, there are just too many other incredible places in the world where I know that we're going to be genuinely welcomed and not just cautiously tolerated. Argentina. This one is also unfortunate because we actually visited Argentina specifically to see Iguazu Falls on their side, and those falls were absolutely breathtaking, some of the most stunning landscapes I have ever seen on that side of the world, hands down.

And the Devil's Throat, intense doesn't even begin to cover it. Nothing, I mean, absolutely nothing can truly describe what it's like standing that close to those powerful waterfalls. You can feel the mist on your skin, you can hear the roar that drowns out everything, and you're just in awe. It's one of those natural wonders that genuinely leaves you speechless. So, when I tell you Argentina's issues with race, it sucks because there's so much beauty there, but we have to talk about the reality.

Argentina is in deep racial denial. Here are some things most people don't know. Black people once made up a third of their capital's population, a third, and now today, it's officially less than 1%. And no, they didn't just pack up and leave, they were systematically erased through social engineering policies, wars that disproportionately sent black men to the front lines, and a deliberate push for European immigration to whiten the population.

It's a dark chapter of history that many Argentinians either don't know about or just refuse to acknowledge. >> This denial creates a really uncomfortable environment for black travelers today. You'll constantly experience staring. Black travelers report having their skin fetishized in nightclubs, being completely ignored in social settings, and facing outright racism in taxis and restaurants. And here's what makes it especially isolating.

There's almost no visible black community or cultural infrastructure for support. So, when you're dealing with these microaggressions or worse, you're often going to be navigating it completely alone. And even when we visited Iguazu, we didn't see not one other black person in passing, not even one. >> So, if you do decide to visit Argentina for the falls or the wine country, because those things are genuinely worth it, just go in it with your eyes wide open, be prepared for those uncomfortable moments.

Okay, Morocco. Y'all, when I first heard about some black women's experience here, I was genuinely upset, like heartbroken, because Morocco has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. The vibrant colors of the souks, these gorgeous clay streets winding through the ancient medinas, the intricate tile work, the spices, the culture, I mean, it's literally the stuff of travel dreams. The landscapes range from the Sahara Desert to the Atlas Mountains to coastal cities.

It's diverse, it's rich, and it's beautiful. That's why it's really annoying, especially for single black women traveling there, because who doesn't want to experience this beauty? Unfortunately, Morocco is a patriarchal society, and women traveling alone face a different level of attention and harassment. And black women, they go extra hard with their very specific targeting that goes beyond the typical catcalling or street harassment, so be aware of that.

So, the pattern that we keep hearing about is men will approach you calling you sister, and they're doing that to establish familiarity and to get close. And it seems friendly at first, almost even respectful. But the moment you're not interested or you set a boundary, the energy switches up on you really quickly. And look, I want to make sure I'm very clear here, this is not going to be every single person that you encounter in Morocco.

There are wonderful, kind, and respectful Moroccans. But the frequency of these reports from black women travelers specifically, it's enough that we want to make sure that you guys are prepared and aware. Now, here's the thing, and Irene, I know you must feel this way, too, this information won't necessarily deter us from visiting. It's still going to be on our bucket list, but what it does, it helps us adjust our expectations and our travel strategy accordingly.

Maybe it means that you shouldn't go solo or that you travel with a group or at least one other person. Maybe you book accommodations in areas that are known to be more safe for solo woman travelers. Adjust what you do, and I'm sure that you'll have a great time there. Knowing what to expect means that you can prepare yourself mentally and logistically. It means that you can still have that dream of wandering through the riads and haggling in the markets or riding camels in the Sahara.

You just have to do it with your eyes wide open and your guard up appropriately. Before we move on to the next country, though, if you're watching this on the YouTube app, tap the hype button that's right underneath the video. You can only hype videos in their first week, and those [music] points really help small channels like ours reach people who really need this information. And don't forget to like and subscribe if you haven't already.

Okay, this one genuinely hurts to talk about because every young Indian person like our age we've encountered has been nothing but warm and welcoming. Just a few weeks ago in Croatia, we struck up a good conversation with a group of Indians, and we ended up bonding over their love for Jamaican food and ours with Indian. It was one of those easy but memorable travel moments that reminds you of how connected we all really are.

And that's what makes this conversation so complicated. India has incredible food, a lot of rich history that runs deep, and some of the most stunning architecture that you're ever going to see in your life. The culture is vibrant, the landscapes are diverse, and there's so much beauty to experience. But we have to be real about something that also runs deep in their society, and it's colorism. Lighter skin has been associated with higher status and purity for a very long time, and British colonization only intensified these attitudes.

It's heartbreaking because this isn't about individuals being cruel, it's about systemic bias that's been normalized over several generations. We've heard from black travelers being overcharged for services, experiencing harassment in public spaces, and sometimes even being denied services altogether. African students studying in India have shared stories of serious discrimination both in academic settings and in everyday life.

The microaggressions can be constant and exhausting. From the prolonged stares that make you feel like you're on display, the assumptions made about you based solely on your appearance. Meanwhile, there are Indians the same shade as us, and sometimes darker. And here's the thing, I genuinely believe this is more of a generational issue because the younger generation seems much more open-minded and globally aware. But when you're traveling, you're interacting with people across all age groups, taxi drivers, hotel staff, restaurant owners, shopkeepers.

And unfortunately, some of these older, more deeply ingrained attitudes might surface in those interactions. It doesn't mean that everyone will treat you poorly, but it does mean that you need to be prepared for the possibility. This is one of those destinations where your might vary dramatically depending on where you go, who you encounter, and even how you present yourself. The colorism issue is real, and it's something to seriously consider when deciding if India is the right destination for you right now.

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But moving on to the next country, let's talk about China. And this one is different for me specifically because I've genuinely wanted to visit for years, and and honestly I I probably still will. I mean, even just from the food alone, getting some authentic Chinese cuisine, dim sum in its birthplace, and street food that looks amazingly incredible. And beyond the food, you have things like the Great Wall, which is one of the seven wonders of the world, and I have to lay my eyes on that.

Not to mention, almost everything we own is made there. It's the manufacturing powerhouse of the world, and it has this undeniable pull of curiosity. But here's where it gets complicated. I've never actually been to China, but I've had multiple encounters with Chinese people. They are often the first, if not the second ones ready to reach out and try to touch your hair without asking. The comments about your skin tone come real quick, and the request to take pictures with you is exhausting.

They'll call you Beyoncé or compare you to whatever black celebrity they know like you're some kind of exotic attraction rather than just a person. It's just annoying and awkward, and I personally don't find it flattering at all. You become a spectacle, a curiosity, something to look at rather than someone to genuinely connect with. And if that's the experience outside of China, imagine what it would actually be like once you're there.

And during the pandemic, we saw some truly disturbing footage come out of Guangzhou. So, Africans, people who were living and working there legally, were literally kicked out of their homes and denied access to hotels even when they had negative test results. Also, the stares that you get aren't just awkward quick glances. They're prolonged with no shame at all. People will openly stare, point, and whisper. In major cities like Beijing or Shanghai, you might not notice it as much, but in the smaller cities or the rural areas, it's going to be unavoidable.

And what makes it worse is that there's limited black community there for support. So, it's going to really feel like you're navigating all of this stuff alone. So, yeah, China is beautiful, the history is rich, the food is delicious, but the reality of traveling there as a black person is something you need to seriously consider and be mentally prepared for. Your comfort and your dignity matter, and you deserve to spend your money where you'll be respected, not just treated like a curiosity.

All right, so let's talk about the next country, Italy. The art, the history, the architecture, the pasta. I mean, on paper it sounds like a dream destination, right? But here's the thing. Italy has never been super high on my bucket list, and after learning more about how they treat black travelers, I'm even less interested now, to be honest. Far-right politics have created an environment where anti-black sentiment isn't just tolerated, it's actually being amplified by people in positions of power.

We're talking about politicians who openly refer to black immigrants as an invasion. That kind of rhetoric from leadership trickles down and sparks everyday people to act on their personal prejudices. What really gets me is how normalized racism has become in certain aspects of Italian culture. If you're a football fan, you've probably seen the videos of Italian football stadiums where crowds are literally making monkey chants when black players touch the ball.

It's degrading, it's dehumanizing, and it's happening in front of thousands of people with little to no consequences. Black travelers consistently report being followed around in stores like they're about to steal something, being refused service at restaurants and cafes, and just encountering cold, hostile stares everywhere they go. And that's not the vibe anyone wants while they're trying to enjoy a vacation and spend their hard-earned money.

And look, I know some people will say, "Well, not everyone in Italy is like that." And sure, that's probably true, but when the reports are this consistent and this widespread, when hostility comes from both everyday people and systemic structures, that tells you something about the overall climate of what you're walking into as a black traveler. And don't get me wrong, the beauty is absolutely there from the Colosseum, the Amalfi Coast, the rolling hills of Tuscany.

Italy is visually stunning, but so is the hostility. And for me, I'd rather spend my tourist dollars in a country where I'm going to be appreciated and respected, and not just tolerated or treated with suspicion. But if Italy is still calling to you despite all of this, just make sure you're going in with realistic expectations, and do your research on what cities and neighborhoods might be more welcoming. And be mentally prepared for the reality that you might face some discrimination.

But honestly, there are plenty of other places on this planet where your melanin is not going to be a problem, and those are the destinations that we personally would rather support with our hard-earned money. All right, moving on to our last country, Mexico. And this one is tough because Mexico has been the go-to for so many of us. Beautiful beaches, incredible food, and the dollar stretches further. What's not to love, right?

But we need to have an honest conversation about what's really happening on the ground right now. The heart of Mexico is changing, and anti-foreigner sentiment is rising in ways that are getting harder for us to ignore. I've heard so many reports of black tourists being profiled under the guise of immigration checks, but let's be real, it's not about your paperwork. But what really gets under my skin is the expat tax, or as some will call it, the gringo tax.

It's really exhausting, and it's one of our biggest pet peeves when we're traveling. It's being viewed as a dumb American, basically. And unfortunately, some locals are notorious for taking advantage of foreigners because they assume that because our dollar stretches further, that means that we can afford being scammed into paying inflated prices. And I know what you might be thinking because honestly, in most countries, it is pretty common to hear of gringo tax and things like that.

But when we're seeing so many reports of this happening with black travelers specifically in Mexico, it's again, it's just one of those things that you want to be aware about. And it happens with everything, food, goods, services, and even rent. You'll be quoted one price, and then find out other people are paying half of what you're being charged. And the sad part about it, constantly being on guard against being scammed makes you less trusting of people.

It just changes your whole demeanor towards locals because you're always questioning, "Is this person being genuine, or are they trying to take advantage of me?" And that's not the energy I want to carry when I'm supposed to be enjoying a country. Then there's the police situations that we've heard a lot of things about. And look, we already have complicated feelings about police in the States, but the corruption in Mexico does hit differently.

We've heard so many stories of police extorting people and pulling them over for no reason other than to get money out of foreigners. We've heard that they threaten to send people to jail for traffic violations or what other made-up charges they can come up with. So, if you're considering Mexico, and we get it, the pull is strong, just go in with realistic expectations, travel in groups when possible, stick to tourist areas that have better reputations, research your accommodations thoroughly, and always trust your gut.

If something feels off, it possibly is. Your safety and your peace of mind are worth more than any beach sunset. There are plenty of other destinations where you don't have to constantly be on guard or worry about being taken advantage of simply because where your passport is from or the color of your skin. So, what do you think? Have you traveled to any of these places? Drop your experiences in the comments below, both the good and the challenging.

And we do have a video that you should check out where we talk about seven countries that we absolutely love, and three that we're not so keen on returning to. Yes. As always, thank you for watching, and we'll catch you in the next video. Bye.