THE LITTLE BOOK OF BIG CASE STUDIES.
ERASMUS
SCENARIO.
Melissa is a middle-aged academic of Black British heritage. She is a practicing artist who has been working at UAL for 15 years as an hourly paid lecturer teaching on art and design based courses. Recently Melissa had attended a presentation by Erasmus participants who spoke to a group of lecturers about opportunities to travel while working at the university. Unfortunately, Melissa has always been hesitant about travel because of racist experiences in the past.
Melissa did not relate to all the positive experiences that her white colleagues were talking about. At one point a person presenting ended their presentation by saying “Apply it’s such an amazing opportunity you will not regret it” .
As the presentation progressed Melissa recounted at least 4 situations in which she had experienced overt racism while travelling. As a result, Melissa never travelled alone and would not travel to isolated places where for example people may not have seen a black person before. When travelling Melissa felt more comfortable in cities or as part of a group. Something that Erasmus had not considered in their presentation. At the Erasmus presentation, there had been no mention about the difficulty that some people may have when travelling to different countries regarding Racism.
The Erasmus panel participants were all white and Melissa did not feel that they were able to relate or even acknowledge her experiences as a woman of colour.
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I hate travelling as I have had so many negative experiences with regard to my colour. Even when I have travelled with my white friends I have been stopped at customs. I was the only black person in the group and the only one stopped, it was so humiliating. So when the Erasmus panel presented I thought oh yes, of course this is an opportunity. But as a person of colour I have to be careful about which countries I visit. I have suffered many micro-aggressions from being constantly stared at to being mistaken for a prostitute by local people.
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WHAT DO FACULTIES
RUNNING ERASMUS SCHEMES NEED TO UNDERSTAND
ABOUT TRAVELLING FOR STUDENTS AND ACADEMICS OF COLOUR?
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Good practice would be to research or have an awareness about how various locations deal with r ace before a participant gets there.
Realise that it is often better for many people of colour particularly women not to travel alone.
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People of colour often have to deal with staring and unsolicited touching.
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Having unauthorised pictures taken by strangers.
Many POC are often stopped at immigration
Many Women of colour have experienced being mistaken as prostitutes in some countries.
Please note that this information is rarely discussed in public because it is often too embarrassing and humiliating for the victim to discuss.
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HOW CAN ERASMUS HELP ITS STUDENTS AND ACADEMICS OF COLOUR TO FEEL SAFE WHILE TRAVELLING?
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Acknowledge and recognise that this is a very real problem for POC.
Allow students and academics of colour to travel in groups or at least pairs if they wish.
Recognise that even when travelling in a group a student or academic of colour may experience micro-aggressions when travelling that can be difficult for the individual to cope with.
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ARE THERE ANY ORGANISATIONS, WEBSITES OR ONLINE RESOURCES THAT I CAN RECOMMEND TO POC THAT COULD OFFER SOME SUPPORT WHEN PREPARING TO TRAVEL?
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LGBT Foreign Travel Advice.
Government guidance and advice for LGBT tourists travelling abroad.
www.gov.uk/guidance/lesbian-gay-bisexual-andtransgender-foreign-travel-advice
Travel Noire.
An online global community of Black Travellers. Describes itself as the ultimate resource on black travel travelnoire.com/traveling-black/?hvid=6acZem
Nomadness Travel – Tribe.
The Tribe, created by Evita Robinson and stemming from her travel series Nomadness TV, is an urban, travel, online social community of over 15,000 members. We’re the edgy, under represented demo in the international travel industry, and we’ve formed our own Tribe. In the platform, we share stories, advice, photos and conversation about our personal experiences around the world. We are the new age travel movement! Must have at least one passport stamp to join. Get it, and welcome to the family!
www.nomadnesstv.com/blog/2016/12/21/travel-to-thecenter-of-yourself-spiritual-growth-through-travel
Black Tokyo Website.
Black Tokyo (BT) was created in 1999 to provide a voice and a network for Black people living in Japan.
www.blacktokyo.com
Pathfinders.
The Travel Magazine for People of Colour pathfinderstravel.com
Black Girl In Berlin.
blackgirlinberlin.com/home/response-to-germany-being-theworst-country-for-black-people-to-visit/
Atlanta Black Star
blackgirlinberlin.com/home/response-to-germany-being-theworst-country-for-black-people-to-visit/
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Mike Tends To Travel
https://miketendstotravel.com/2013/05/12/poland-stopstaring-at-me/
BlackGirlFly
BlackGirlFly is a travel group of 5,000 melanin covered, amazing, globe trotting women. The group began in June of 2015 and has since grown into a movement, a sisterhood and it all began because of common passion: TRAVELING!
blackgirlfly.com/about-blackgirlfly/
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