Comedian Dave Chapelle recently recounted a conversation with a friend from South Africa. Chapelle asked his friend what happened right before apartheid ended, to which his friend responded “chaos.”
Indeed, there were riots and protests, but the amount of people who showed they cared hit a critical mass — and there was nothing anyone could do to stop it.
Critical mass. That is what we have to hit. Once enough of us care, the momentum will be in our favor, and we will see change happen.
I am hopeful that the U.S. is on its way to this regarding issues surrounding race. For most of my life, I have dealt with race inwardly. I grew up in predominantly white spaces where racial issues were not really discussed, and I did not feel like there were safe spaces to process things I felt or that happened to me.
There is something many Black people do as we navigate communities that are not filled with much diversity. It’s part coping mechanism, and part survival tactic: We make sure you are comfortable with us.
There are plenty of conferences where I am the only Black person, and as I rack my brain trying to think of suppliers, tour operators or destination management companies that I have personally interacted with that are Black-owned and/or -operated, the number is embarrassingly low.
Many times, I chose to be the silent Black girl so that I would not be viewed as the angry Black woman.
But here we are in this unique moment in history, where there has been a profound shift. People are pausing to say something is not right — and we need to listen. Something is not right — and we want to truly understand much more than we do. Something is not right — and we want to be the generation to change it. I know that within my lifetime, this is the most awareness I have ever felt coming from outside the Black community.
First and foremost, this is an inside job, and I am sure you know that. We need a change in heart way more than we need performative action that does not lead anywhere. But if we are ready for this, and I pray that we are, let's start with our sphere of influence.
Diversity in the Travel Industry — or a Lack Thereof
The travel industry is not diverse at all. I think we all know that. I am one of a few Black travel advisors. There are plenty of conferences where I am the only Black person, and as I rack my brain trying to think of suppliers, tour operators or destination management companies that I have personally interacted with that are Black-owned and/or -operated, the number is embarrassingly low.
There are rarely people of color in marketing from travel brands, specifically in the luxury space. In fact, over the years, I have chosen to avoid using marketing collateral from suppliers, consortia or brands.
How odd would it be for me, a Black advisor, to advertise a type of travel experience that isn’t inclusive of me in any way? No thanks.
I want to pause and highlight something about that fact: Representation matters in a way you may not understand if you have never had to struggle to find someone who looks like you, doing something you aspire to do. Marketing has the opportunity to either show what is, or what you hope it to be — and when it comes to most travel marketing, we are given the same unfortunate messages: This is who travel is for, this is who we want to attract, and this is who matters.
How odd would it be for me, a Black advisor, to advertise a type of travel experience that isn’t inclusive of me in any way? No thanks.
So, what comes next? The truth is, if this is the first time you have honestly thought about race or talked about race, you have been passively benefiting from these systems for your entire life. The personal work is on you, but I am hopeful you are having hard conversations, educating yourself and widening your scope appropriately to expand your perspective.
Collectively, we can make sure that our beloved industry does better. On so many levels, the travel space is white, on white, on white. I think that has been made abundantly clear as of late. I, for one, wish it were different.
Can we start by holding businesses accountable? If they need our support and our business, we need to make sure that our values are in alignment. If they exist to support us, then let us make sure we are represented in a way that values all of us.
Diversity matters. When there are diverse and unique voices at the table, decisions are made that reflect all of us and we are better for it. This is how it should be. I truly believe that enough of us care, and that we have hit that critical mass. Momentum will be in our favor, and we will see change happen.
The Details
Milk + Honey Travels
www.milkandhoneytravels.com