Dismantling Racism by Fixing How We Eat & Travel
Travel connects communities, fosters compassion, and builds empathy across different cultures and traditions. Can travel and immersion help America heal the wounds of systemic and institutional racism?
I think it can.
Traveling alone will not solve racism. The levels of oppression and association by inaction continues to cause detrimental effects on Black Americans. In terms of every economic metric, Black people in America are marginalized, oppressed, and victims of hundreds of years of continuous racism. And that has never ended.
Reinvesting our time, compassion, and dollars in our Black communities will help build understanding, trust, and equity.
It’s about investing in the existing communities.
Not gentrification.
Not a wave of opportunistic white investors looking for the next trendy block.
For many, gentrification causes a visceral reaction. It is disturbing how families are forced out of their homes when rent soars because trendy restaurants, Whole Foods, and other white businesses open in these neighborhoods. A hoard of White and Asian millennials wreaks havoc on Black communities.
I feel guilty for the role I have played in gentrification as a biracial Asian American living in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Most of what I will highlight are things I ashamed to be guilty of as well. In recognizing our biases and shortcomings, we can take action and create change.
I’ll stop and ask you to consider your racial biases and their impact.
Have you taken the time to analyze how you are contributing to systemic racism when you travel?
When you visit a new city, do you research which neighborhoods, blocks, or intersections to avoid?
Why should you avoid those areas?
What makes them worse?
Or, are they merely impoverished and predominately Black.
Do you look at the Bon Appetit restaurant guides for your destinations?
Have you ever considered who gets to included in that selection procession?
And who doesn’t have that opportunity?
The travel and restaurant industry has worked to prop up trendy gentrified areas at the expense of Black communities, and the intersection point is food.
A growing reason why people travel is for culinary experiences. Food connects communities worldwide, which is demonstrated by the popularity of travel documentarians like the late Anthony Bourdain or Andrew Zimmerman. The Food Network built an empire on culinary tourism. Even Netflix joins in with shows like Chefs Table and Ugly Delicious.
As a result, the concept of culinary tourism has exploded over the past two decades. In 1998 Foods of New York Tours toured about 5,000 people a year. By 2017 that number grew by 800% — over 42% growth year over year. Today there are dozens of other food tour companies in New York City alone.
Its not only tour groups and television. Magazines like Bon Appetit, Eater, Thrillist, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, and many more promote restaurants and bars in cities around the world. They continuously create filtered lists of “The Best Restaurants in the [insert city].”
The world blew up at Bon Appetite a few weeks ago. A plethora of systemic racist policies, hiring practices, and a racist Editor in Chief have put the food magazine and Youtube giant under the racial injustice spotlight.
I’ve seen people make comments like,
“Only time will tell what happens with BA.”
“We’ll see if they actually change anything.”
As Americans, we have gotten accustomed to relying on businesses and corporate interests to resolve our problems. BA has to solve its problems. There is nothing we can do; just hope the spotlight is enough to induce change.
We can change, and we can make them (BA) and the other media companies, tourism groups, and Instagram influences change.
Do your research when you travel.
Find Influencers or travel guides who are more inclusive.
Support Black restaurants, shops, and communities when you visit new cities.
It’s naive to think this is a Bon Appetite/Conde Nest problem alone.
How often are black chefs celebrated?
How many Central American, Caribbean, or African restaurants top the lists of best restaurants?
Critically acclaimed restaurants and bars provide more than meals. They are nestled into neighborhoods and support the local community. Customers travel from around the US and world to capture Instagram posts at trendy restaurants. They find Airbnbs nearby to reduce costs and their environmental impact, making it easy to knock off as many restaurants and bars as possible. And its very effective at bringing in revenue at the local level.
In a study, Airbnb found that “guests spend one out of every three dollars in their local neighborhood.”
That is impactful. It’s where we create change.
Let’s say you have a $1000 travel budget. If you spend one in three dollars, then $333 is spent in the local neighborhood. For ease, we’ll estimate that local or city sales taxes are 10%. That means $33 will be going to local infrastructure. It seems minor, but it’s not.
In 2019, Americans went on 1.9 billion personal trips. If you assume the conditions above, local taxes will collect $62.7 billion, which benefits infrastructure, education, and public health.
Taxes are a substantial way our purchasing decisions can shift the balance. Beyond taxes, we can further expand the impact of our spending decisions to increasing income levels, the obtainment of wealth and homeownership, affordable and accessible higher-level education options, and improved quality of life and life expectancy.
As individuals, this is when we begin to doubt if we can help. The small ripple has gotten so vast that the solution is too far out of sight. Our goals are too big, and as a result, we lose hope in the solution. We no longer see our actions as relevant.
I’m begging you to keep making small actions. Changing the way you currently travel is something you can accomplish. Stand up for what you believe in regardless of where in the world you are standing.
Stop and imagine a world where Bon Appetit, Chefs Table, and Instragam influencers promoted Black restaurants.
Imagine a world where travel advisor web sites indicated safe neighborhoods by crime rates, instead of racial makeup.
Imagine if travelers focused on supporting Black communities.
If we convert dollars away from trendy, gentrified areas and reinvest in our Black neighborhoods nationwide, we’ll create a ripple effect that will foster change.
Corporate interests will have to adapt to the new world order. Increased tax revenue will help lift neighborhoods out of poverty, investing in sustainable infrastructure. As a result, public health and education will improve. America can be better, but it takes everyone playing their role to help make a difference.
You are one person, but remember, there were 1.9 billion personal trips last year. The cumulative impact is far more significant than one ripple.
New travel habits will not happen today, or tomorrow. Traveling in 2020 is looking more elusive. But take this time to reconsider your travel habits. Look at Airbnbs in Black communities, research Black-owned restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops, create an itinerary where you explore the world outside of your gentrified norm.
