Jessica Nabongo's Radical Advice for Black Travelers

Jessica Nabongo has stood in every sovereign nation on Earth. She has lived in Japan, London, Senegal, and Italy, giving her a perspective that few writers can claim. In a recent interview with Travel + Leisure, she offered a piece of advice that might feel counterintuitive to those who have been told to be hyper-vigilant abroad. Her number one tip is not to make race the starting point of every interaction.

She urges travelers to resist the urge to lead with that identity before understanding the context of a moment. This is not a suggestion to ignore reality or deny the existence of bias. Nabongo is clear that racism does not disappear when you cross an international border. However, she argues that the way we process these encounters often distorts the actual experience of freedom that travel provides.

For many Black Americans, the world offers a kind of liberation that is difficult to find at home. Her philosophy invites us to look closer at the nuance of those moments. By shifting the lens from immediate threat assessment to contextual understanding, travelers can reclaim the joy of discovery. This approach honors both the reality of bias and the profound capacity of human connection.

The Weight of the First Impression

Traveling as a Black woman in a world that is still largely dominated by other narratives creates a specific mental load. Every glance can be interpreted as a threat. Every question can be seen as a probe. Nabongo recognizes this tension. She has seen it play out in countless cities from Yazd to Rome. The instinct to protect oneself is natural, but it can also trap you in a defensive posture that blocks out the rest of the experience.

When you start with race, you limit the scope of what you are willing to observe. It is a subtle shift in perspective. Instead of asking if this person is being racist, she suggests asking what is actually happening in this specific interaction. Is it curiosity? Is it surprise? Is it a cultural norm that looks different from what you are used to? By separating the intent from the identity, you open up a space for genuine connection.

This does not mean ignoring genuine harm. It means not letting one bad moment define an entire country in your mind. By pausing to assess the specific context of an interaction, you allow yourself to see the person in front of you rather than a projection of your fears. This mental clarity helps preserve the wonder of travel while still maintaining necessary boundaries for personal safety.

Beyond the Safety Lists

The travel industry often simplifies the Black experience into lists of safe and unsafe places. These lists are helpful, but they can also be limiting. They imply that the primary value of a destination is whether it will not cause you distress. Nabongo pushes back against this binary. She wants Black travelers to consider what they want to gain from a trip, not just what they want to avoid.

If you only go where you feel completely safe, you miss the places where the most profound growth happens. This is a challenging stance to take. It requires a level of confidence and self-awareness that is not always easy to find. But for those who are ready, it opens the door to a richer understanding of the world. It is about taking ownership of your narrative.

You are not a victim in search of a sanctuary. You are an explorer with a unique perspective that brings value to every place you visit. By moving beyond the binary of safety, you allow yourself to engage with the full complexity of a destination. This approach transforms travel from a defensive exercise into an active pursuit of knowledge and cultural immersion.

The Freedom of Being New

One of the most powerful things Nabongo points out is the freedom that comes from being a stranger. In the United States, Black Americans often carry the weight of history and systemic bias in their daily lives. Abroad, you are new. You are interesting. You are not defined by the same societal scripts. This can be a powerful equalizer.

It allows you to be seen for who you are in that moment, rather than who you are expected to be. This freedom is not just a mental state. It is a tangible experience. It shows up in the way people interact with you. It shows up in the opportunities you are given. It shows up in the way you are invited into spaces that you might not have access to at home.

By embracing this freedom, you can have a travel experience that is truly transformative. It is about letting the world surprise you, rather than trying to control it. When you step into a new environment, you are given a blank slate. This blank slate allows for new relationships and new ways of being perceived that are often more welcoming and less burdened by historical weight.

A Call for Nuance

Nabongo’s advice is not about being naive. It is about being precise. It is about recognizing the difference between a microaggression and a genuine attempt at communication. It is about understanding that not every negative interaction is an act of hate. Some are acts of ignorance. Some are acts of fear. But not all of them are acts of racism.

By making this distinction, you can navigate the world with greater clarity and less anxiety. This is a skill that can be learned. It takes practice, patience, and a willingness to listen. It requires you to set aside your assumptions and be open to the reality of the moment. It is not always easy. It is not always comfortable.

But it is the only way to truly understand the world. And for a traveler, that understanding is the ultimate reward. Developing this nuance allows you to respond to interactions with appropriate energy and emotion. It prevents the exhaustion of constant vigilance and frees up mental space for the genuine beauty and complexity of global culture.