Traveling to Panama has been an eye-opener into my own culture as a Black American.
I came to Panama to see the Panama Canal, hangout on the beaches and to escape the cold weather we are experiencing in San Francisco (I know those stuck in #blizzard2016 are probably rolling their eyes right now). But really, the main reason I came to Panama is because I found a direct flight for $200 and it was too good to pass up.
Panama is rich with beautiful beaches and country sides, cute men and is crazy affordable. However, my most surprising discover on this trip to Panama is actually about Black Americans.
During our trip, one of my friends asked a woman at a cafe, “Donde esta los morenos (where are the Black people)?” The woman looked at us as we eagerly awaited her response with a look of confusion. She finally responded by saying, “That is an odd question to ask.”
Selfie with our new Panamanian friend who doesn’t see color
She went on to explain how in Panama they didn’t separate themselves based on the color of their skin. They are simply Panamanian and there is no difference for being a light or dark skinned Panamanian. Part of me wanted call B.S. and force her to take a lie detector test because that seemed too good to be true. But since I left my lie detector kit at home and didn’t know any way to prove her wrong, I took her word. Or at least I tried to accept her answer as truth.
Once I stopped obsessing over our new Panamanian friend’s response, I began to question why do Black Americans often seek out others that look “like us” when traveling internationally? Are Black Americans searching for a common bond of life not being as easy due to our darker skin tone? A sense of community that we all originated from Africa, aka “The Motherland?” Or is there something more to the reasoning of why Black Americans seek out others that look similar to us when traveling that I do not understand?
Isla Grande, Panama
I couldn’t come up with a definitive answer and Google failed to have one as well, so I decided to poll my friends traveling with me in Panama, whom also are Black Americans. One responded by stating, “Black Americans have assimilated in America and we don’t really have our own culture.” Thus, her reasoning for purposely looking for people of darker skin tone on international trips is to experience their culture due to the lack of our own culture as Black Americans.
I get this reasoning, but I respectful disagree that as Black Americans we do not have our own culture. Now does Black American culture have deep cultural roots like France or South Africa? Of course not, as America is still a young country compared to many other countries. That said, I would never say we as Black Americans lack culture.
I personally don’t actively seek out people who look like me when traveling. However, I won’t lie, it is nice when I do see other people of color, but I am not about to run up to them as if I found my long lost brother or sister. For me, I enjoy the sense of being part of a global community of people that have some shared ancestry. Yet, the main reason I travel internationally in the first place is to get a glimpse into all non-American culture and not only the culture of those who look similar to me. But what works for me, may not be enough for the next, and I respect that option.
Cover photo courtesy of: Yvette P.
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Interesting! When I went to the Dominican Republic a million years ago, we hung out with some of the guys that worked at our resort. I asked him if he considered himself to be black or Latino/Hispanic. I received that same look of confusion.
America is weird.
It is human nature to seek familiarity when in a foreign location.