This subject hasn’t gotten much attention, but Black people have been talking about it for years. With all the news about why women of colour are trying to leave the U.S., I didn’t want to miss the chance to speak up for some of the beautiful people I’ve met who have made the full transition. The thing is, many of their beliefs and reasons can be misunderstood or even fit into other people’s beliefs, but you’ll find that they’re looking for something unique and real.
Here are some of the most important reasons why Black women are leaving the U.S. and going back to Africa:
The Right To Use Natural Resources
A lot of Black women who want to move to Africa just want to live in a more natural way. They want to simplify everything about their lives, from what they eat to how they talk to others.
It’s no secret that most of our natural foods and goods come from abroad and the motherland, so why not fully immerse yourself in a place that gives you exactly that?
Changing the View
Yes, some Black women have said in no uncertain terms that they needed to leave America. But who could blame them? With all that is going on, like violence against Black people, classism, racism, money, social structures, and the environment, who wouldn’t want to press pause and live somewhere comfortable, familiar, and warm?
It gave a lot of women abroad peace of mind that money just couldn’t buy.
An Investigation of Oneself
Some other Black women thought they needed a change to help them see how lucky they were to live in the United States. When you have something and someone takes it away, you have to rely on your own thoughts, ideas, works, and ways of doing things in the world.
A feeling of belonging
Black women said that being in Africa, a place where everyone looks like you and there are no masks, is just different.
Some of the most down-to-earth people live in Africa. No code flipping, no “faking it until you make it,” and no bias. Don’t get me wrong, colorism and classism are still problems in Africa, but there is a feeling that “if you can do it, I can do it too, because we’re all the same here.”
To save money and go on trips
America is kind of far away from all the other countries, if you haven’t noticed. If you look closely, you can see that a small piece of the Mediterranean Sea links more than 100 countries to Africa.
This gives you the freedom to visit a lot of different countries and places for half the price and in half the time. Not to add that the USD is worth much more in Rand than it is in USD, and the cost of living is much lower. You can not only make your money go further, but it’s also a lot easier to put money into the house.
A Link Between Cultures
Last but not least, almost all Black women who have made the change want to learn more about their country and how they are connected to it through their ancestors.
As Americans, we often guess and romanticise about what life is really like in Africa. Some people may think it’s made up of “shithole” countries, while others may think it’s made up of royalty, but who knows for sure until you’ve been there and seen it for yourself?
Many women, including myself, long for something real that will bring us back to the place where we came from. Being there, among the people, and a part of these groups will satisfy something in us that is already there.
Tia Muhammad, BlackDoctor.org