Introduction: Seeing the System for What It Is
Travel is meant to be an escape, a journey into the unknown, a way to experience the world beyond our own. But for many, travel is also a stark reminder of the inequalities that have been baked into society. The reality is that the system is rigged—it has been built to favour white people, while those of darker skin tones must navigate a world filled with prejudice, assumptions, and systemic barriers.
This isn’t just about casual racism or ignorant tourists; this is about the structural inequalities that shape how people of different races are treated while moving across the globe. The way Black and brown travellers experience the world is fundamentally different from their white counterparts, and it’s time to confront that reality with brutal honesty.
Racism, particularly systemic racism, is not an accident. It is a structure that has been deliberately crafted and maintained throughout history. As James Baldwin once wrote, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." To truly understand racism in travel, we must first recognise the historical foundation that shapes the modern world.
Table of Contents
The Roots of the System
To understand why travel is not experienced equally by all, we need to look at history. Colonialism, slavery, and segregation have left an indelible mark on global power structures. From the 15th to the 20th century, European nations colonised vast parts of Africa, Asia, and the Americas, exploiting their resources and enslaving their people. These centuries of oppression have had lasting consequences, not just economically but socially and psychologically.
During the colonial era, white European travellers were seen as explorers, missionaries, and pioneers. In contrast, Black and indigenous people were seen as commodities, obstacles, or subjects to be 'civilized.' This ideology justified the brutal treatment of non-white populations and established a hierarchy that persists to this day. The effects of this can still be seen in modern travel experiences. A white traveler backpacking through Africa is often treated with hospitality, while an African traveler in Europe is met with suspicion.
Historian Edward Said, in his groundbreaking book Orientalism, explains how the West has long portrayed the East and the Global South as places of mystery, exoticism, and danger—perpetuating stereotypes that affect how people of colour are perceived while traveling. The idea that white people belong anywhere, while others must justify their presence, stems from centuries of colonial rule.
The legacy of colonialism is evident in visa policies, economic disparities, and even the way history is taught. Western narratives have glorified explorers while erasing the suffering of those who were colonised. This one-sided storytelling has shaped global perceptions, influencing how different races are treated in the travel industry today.
The Illusion of a Post-Racial World
Many people argue that we now live in a post-racial world, where equal opportunity exists for all. However, travel and tourism industries continue to reflect deep-rooted racial disparities. In the United States, for example, the legacy of segregation means that Black travellers still face discrimination in many places. The Negro Motorist Green Book, published from 1936 to 1966, was a vital tool for Black Americans, listing safe hotels, restaurants, and gas stations at a time when traveling while Black could be deadly. While the Green Book is no longer necessary in its original form, racism in travel has not disappeared—it has simply evolved.
Today, Black travellers still face racial profiling, both from law enforcement and within the hospitality industry. Research conducted by Airbnb in 2016 found that Black guests were 16% less likely to be accepted by hosts compared to white guests with identical profiles. Similarly, a study in 2021 revealed that Black travellers often pay more for flights and accommodations due to algorithmic biases and economic disparities. I know right?shocking but true.
Even in international travel, many Black travellers report feeling unwelcome in certain destinations. Some are stopped more frequently at immigration checkpoints, while others are questioned about their financial status or purpose of travel in ways that white travellers rarely experience. These micro-aggressions add up, creating an exhausting and often discouraging experience for travellers of colour.
The Unseen Struggles
One of the reasons racism in travel is so difficult to address is that those who benefit from the system rarely notice its flaws. Privilege creates a veil that makes injustice invisible to those who do not experience it.
White travellers often express disbelief when Black travellers share their experiences of discrimination. They might say, "I've never seen that happen," or "That can't be true in today's world." But as sociologist Robin DiAngelo explains in White Fragility, "The most effective adaptation of racism over time is the idea that racism is conscious bias held by mean people." In reality, racism is deeply ingrained in policies, behaviours, and economic structures, affecting who gets to move freely and who does not.
The truth is, while travel is marketed as a liberating experience, it is not equally liberating for everyone. For some, it is a reminder that no matter where they go, they will always be seen as 'the other.' And that is the brutal truth.
The Systemic Rigging
The world is built on structures that were historically designed to benefit white people, particularly in Western nations. These systems extend to travel, where visas, border controls, and economic disparities make it easier for some to move while others are scrutinised at every checkpoint. A white traveler is often assumed to be a tourist, an adventurer, someone who brings wealth. Meanwhile, a Black traveler is too often assumed to be a threat, an outsider, or someone whose presence needs to be justified.
In many parts of the world, police harassment, border interrogations, and assumptions about financial status make traveling more stressful for people of colour. It’s no coincidence that white travellers can backpack freely through certain countries while locals might face discrimination in their own homelands. The system has been engineered for white ease and Black struggle.
Racism in the Travel Industry
Money speaks, but race determines how loud your dollar is. One of the most striking disparities in travel is how people of different races are treated based on assumptions about their financial worth. White tourists are often welcomed with open arms, seen as high-value guests, while Black travellers must fight against perceptions that they are less wealthy or even less trustworthy.
From hotels and restaurants to taxis and tour guides, the difference in treatment is undeniable. Black travellers often report being ignored in favour of white patrons, receiving subpar service, or being overcharged simply because they aren’t perceived as the ideal tourist. In extreme cases, people of colour are refused service altogether or met with outright hostility.
Even within communities that rely on tourism, there exists a complex and often painful racial hierarchy. In some places, local populations internalise colonial mentalities, treating white tourists as superior while looking down upon darker-skinned visitors. The effects of this are felt not just by travellers but also by the local workers and communities who are judged by these same racial standards.
Conclusion
Travel is often romanticised as a form of freedom—an escape, an adventure, a chance to see the world. But the reality is that freedom in travel is not granted equally. The colour of your skin, your nationality, and your economic background shape the way the world receives you. While some can move across borders with ease, others are met with suspicion, discrimination, and systemic barriers that have been centuries in the making.
Privilege in travel is not just about money—it’s about perception. A white traveler is often seen as a welcome guest, a harmless wanderer, an explorer. A Black or brown traveler, however, must constantly prove that they belong, that they are not a threat, that they have the right to move freely. From visa restrictions to racial profiling in airports, from over-policing in certain destinations to exclusion in the hospitality industry, racism is embedded in the very structure of global travel.
Yet, to acknowledge this reality is not to say that people of colour should stop traveling. On the contrary, travel remains one of the most powerful acts of resistance and self-empowerment. It allows individuals to reclaim space, challenge stereotypes, and share stories that break down the false narratives imposed by history. As James Baldwin once said, “I met a lot of people in Europe. I even encountered myself.” Travel can be an awakening, but only if we confront the ugly truths along the way.
For those with privilege, the responsibility is to listen, learn, and use their advantages to push for a more just and equitable world. It means questioning the biases in the tourism industry, advocating for fair treatment, and amplifying the voices of travellers who experience discrimination. It means understanding that racism does not disappear when you step on a plane—it follows people, woven into the systems that govern movement, safety, and access.
In the end, travel should be about more than just taking pictures or ticking destinations off a list. It should be about seeing the world for what it is—not just its beauty, but also its injustices. And if we truly believe in the transformative power of travel, then we must also believe in the need to change the system that makes it unequal. Because the road will remain rough until the day a traveler’s skin colour, wealth, culture, and all other differences no longer matter. Only then will we truly walk on a path of equality.
Moving Forward
During my travels, I've had experiences that pushed me to confront the truths of our world. I've taught about the history of the slave trade as a lesson in Uruguay, engaged in heated debates with Nazis in Switzerland, and called out privileged, slurring United Statesians in Mexico. I don’t feel guilty about the past, but I do rebel against the system that continues to perpetuate it. As a white boy from a broken home, I've spent years resisting an unjust system. But imagine the generational pain and anger of being a Black man, raised in a system designed not just to oppress you but to erase your very identity and humanity.
This blog isn’t about trying to be a do-gooder or a saviour. It’s about expressing the hidden truths, those uncomfortable truths, that often go unspoken. It's about being mindful of the privileges I carry as white European, coming from imperial power that shaped the world. It's about making others aware that we can no longer hide from the facts and the truth that exists, especially in the travel industry.
Racism doesn’t just disappear when we stop talking about it; it festers in silence, perpetuated by ignorance and complacency. We must acknowledge the systems that exist, call them out, and work together to dismantle them. This journey is not easy, but it’s necessary. It’s about breaking the cycles that perpetuate inequality and creating spaces where everyone can move freely, without fear, prejudice, or assumption.
We, as travellers, must do more than just explore. We must question the systems we encounter, challenge the status quo, and never stop asking ourselves: Who benefits, and who gets left behind?
Below is a quote from a very special man who is loved all over the world and not because of his status, skin colour, or origins, but because of the truth in his words:
"Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war. And until there are no longer first-class and second-class citizens of any nation; until the colour of a man's skin is of no more significance than the colour of his eyes; and until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all without regard to race—until that day, the dream of lasting peace and world citizenship will remain but a fleeting illusion." - Bob Marley
Paul
Wandering Monkey
No Travel No Life™
A Quick Reminder: My Book, A Traveler’s Guide to Life
Before you go, don’t forget to check out my upcoming book, A Traveler’s Guide to Life. It’s more than just about travel—it’s about embracing the journey of life itself. Drawing from my personal experiences on the road, this book will guide you through the challenges and joys of exploring both new places and the depths of your own potential. Stay tuned for more!
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