Reflections on U.S. Race Relations

Did your study abroad opportunity influence your perceptions about the United States?

My study abroad experience made me more critical of the U.S. particularly with its race relations and its inadequate addressing of its oppressive past. Even though race relations are far from perfect in South Africa, I felt that they are more open about their history and take more initiatives to address their history of racism and oppression. For example South Africa has a museum of apartheid near their capital. Touring a museum that documented the atrocities that have been committed in that country made me realize that America has yet to create any national museum acknowledging chattel slavery. Cambodia has a museum honoring the victims of the Khmer Rouge genocide. Germany has erected a museum dedicated to Holocaust survivors, and the United States has several Holocaust museums throughout its largest cities though this atrocity never took place on its soil. Going to South Africa made me realize many similarities between our struggles as black Americans and black South Africans, however it also made me realize how difficult it is to be a statistical minority and how our oppression here in the US is silenced and completely disregarded. Studying abroad made me feel that the U.S. may be the most resistant and incompetent nation in the world when it comes to improving its race relations thus I became even more passionate about racial justice in my community upon my return.

Racial-Economic Landscape of South Africa

What perceptions did you have about South Africa prior to studying abroad?  What perceptions did you have about South Africa after your study abroad experience?

Photo provided by Nia

Prior to studying abroad I thought that I would have a transformative experience being the first of my bloodline in over 300 years to return to the continent of which we came. I thought that by studying in South Africa just 20 years after the end of apartheid, I would be amidst a revolutionary energy and learn lessons in racial struggle, political resistance and black power. Quickly after arriving in Cape Town my dreams were shattered. Though I did learn a lot about the African diaspora and how black South Africans resisted apartheid, I also witnessed how devastating the impacts of colonialism and apartheid have been in the racial-economic landscape of the region. I saw few black/African people in the airport. The Cape Town airport was majority white and most of the other black people were service workers checking their bags. This scene of black people in subservient/laborious jobs and working for white people was apparent throughout my entire study abroad. My study abroad experience in Cape Town was plagued by the racialized history of the country. What I saw was painfully familiar to what I have experienced in the U.S. (seeing black people living in ghettos while white children go to prep schools or being followed around stores while shopping etc.). I had hopeful expectations prior to studying abroad and my impression of South Africa (or Cape Town in particular) completely changed by the end of my trip.

Study Abroad Selection & Concerns

How did you select your study abroad program in South Africa?

As an African-American I was excited to take advantage of my school’s study abroad programs to return to the motherland. I chose South Africa specifically because I felt that considering our countries’ parallel histories, there were lessons in political resistance and black consciousness that I could learn.

What concerns did you have prior to or during your study abroad experience?

My most major concern was that I would be the only student of color, specifically black student, in the program of which I thankfully wasn’t.