dgyoung

+3.2

As a black person should I avoid visiting the US?

I have 3 weeks off this August and would like to see the United States for the 1st time. I can get a visa but I am worried about hassles from immigration, the police, etc based on everything I see that happens there. It’s not a cheap trip and if there’s a chance it’s going to get ruined I’s rather go somewhere else even though I have always wanted to drive across America.

+3

PISTACH 9.6/10

When people talk about America, they speak as if it’s all one place but it’s actually different states all over so if you can imagine Texas can be Scotland and California is England. So what we see on the news doesn’t happen in every state as some states have a lot of mixed communities in comparison to others. So I guess you would be fine in general just be careful where you go.♥️

+3

HotMeatPie

I felt exactly the same as a mixed race guy with a few Arab country trips under my belt. It's a different situation, but immigration particularly worried me.
Then I went to Vegas and did a bit of a Harley Davison road trip. I found nothing but warm generosity from everyone I met along the way. As those above, people of all races went out of their way to be more kind and helpful than I've ever experienced at home.

+3

dgyoung

It's not as bad as it looks on tv! Black people are a hugely important part of American culture and the object of love and admiration across a lot of different sub cultures. The immigration and law enforcement officers you are talking about are very likely to be African American themselves.

Yes there are some places where the inner city conflicts with the suburbs and its surely a racial situation but that's an isolated phenomenon and is unlikely to come up on your trip.

Enjoy the states and if you are going to make it to Chicago hit me up :)

+2

Sleepylenin

I’m a white American leftist, and I’ve got my eye on social policy all over the place. Obviously America is reckoning with its generations-old, overt racist culture right now, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go see a gorgeous country. Wherever you go, the police will likely be 100% dogshit because that’s what police are. Absolute bottom line, I hope this post is old as fuck because PLEASE don’t travel, PLEASE don’t push these guidelines for COVID

+1

atp1916

The OP is comfortably pre-COVID.

+1

Kurt Rad

You should be fine, just avoid Washington and Oregon if possible. They aren't the most welcoming.

+1

bigbarz

You're not likely to get any hassles from immigration. As for the police, you should be OK. The precaution you'll have to take with them will be to a) avoid as discreetly as possible and, b) if they do engage you, cooperate at all times and never be argumentative in any way. If you have a legit problem with an American officer, take it up through legal channels AFTER the incident. Never during. That is a sure way to escalate.

Follow the rules above, and you'll be fine. Road trips highly recommended!

+1

Mystic11

From my experience at first police may be arms house,
No good cop bad cop both will be bad cop. But once they hear your accent and you tell them you ain’t no N****** but a black man from UK they will change and you be ok.

+1

MellowFellow

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Once the accent is evident and they know you are a tourist there should be no hassle, provided you are breaking no laws - also something to be careful with since laws vary from state to state. Smoke safe, smoke free.

+1

Toomanyjoes

It's not to that degree at all. Some may go out of their way to accommodate you out of shame.

+1

Quisp 9.8/10

You are more than welcome here, please come and enjoy your stay, foreign tourists are welcomed, we need the money!

+0.2

admiralBishop

Have an awesome time, in the south you will be the majority race in most situations (at least the fun ones).

Just remember when someone asks "how is your day going?" it means you should be reaching for a tip. ;)

+0

atp1916

Our media does not represent reality. Everyone is welcome over here!