Patrika Hug’s friends were already called “Bedouins”. While she had visited dozens of countries (at the last census, at least 60), by 2012, she was eager for a community of black colleagues whose experiences could share with travel.
It was when the Bedouin travel tribe, a Facebook group, is now with 37,000 members.
She said, “I literally found my tribe.”
Hogue and thousands of other black travelers built societies – online and outside – focused on Globetrotting. While sharing the recommendations of restaurants and images that stimulate envy, many members say that the groups have installed permanent friendships and led to marriages. In the worst cases, groups spread to work in times of crisis. In essence, groups encourage more blacks in the world’s experience – only 49 % of black Americans traveled abroad, compared to 75 % of white Americans, according to 2021 data from the Pew Research Center.
The symbol tribe Founder, Evita Robinson, She traveled to about 40 countries, she launched the group in 2011 with only 100 members to meet its own need to find a black travel community – and quickly grew. In addition to communicating as an online community for travelers, Nomadness and others often coordinate smaller collective trips outside their online communities.
“It was nice to see these people, especially black and brown travelers, somewhat gather in an online house and then an adventure to something that lived in a non -communication mode,” said Robinson, who is 40 years old and lives in Newark, New Jersey.
Cultural Awakening
Hug said that joining had a “great influence on my life.”
After she temporarily lived in South Korea, Hug returned to her original city, New Orleans, in 2013 and felt “such fish from water” after years of travel. Since joining Nomadness, she traveled with members of five group trips, including a trip to India in March 2015, one of her preferences. The members were given Saris dedicated, visited Taj Mahal and attended HollyHindu festival celebrates love and childbirth.
“Finding this community online from his fellow travelers and people who had a curiosity almost uncomfortable to the world,” said 43 -year -old.
Robinson said it launched the Bedouins to help break the racist, social, economic and religious barriers in front of global travel. She said that before social media, international travel was carefully seen as luxury, and many blacks grew up with feelings like “blacks don’t go there.” She said that the appearance of companies like Lyft and Airbnb made travel available for more people.
One of the ways to make Robinson make its trips accessible to passengers is to provide payment plans. On average flights cost between $ 2000 to $ 3500, before flights.
She said that Hug’s 2015 trip to India with the Bedouins cost $ 410, which included accommodation, meals and many activities. Hug said the organization’s prices at reasonable prices allowed it to visit places such as Bali, Costa Rica and South Africa.
In the Nomadness group, members share flight delays and flight recommendations. They also publish pictures of foods, trips, and even updates about the new countries in which they live. Members also ask each other about advice about the countries that they travel to; Currently, members of Japan, Portugal and South Africa prefer.
In 2016, Regi Kamings, a member of The National Brotherhood of Skens, He went on the ski journey in Japan. “While the group expected more than 12 people, about 180 people attended, which led to” the best week in my life. “Shortly after that, he started the” Black Travel Movement “, which has now ended 539,000 members on Facebook.
“The platform was created so that we can tell our story and hear stories from other cultures,” Kamings said. His last participation in the Black Travel Movement Group is an access to members who travel to Havana with the organization. Other members of the group often share pictures of their favorite international travel destinations and ask for a restaurant restaurant recommendations inside the United States.
The Kamings said that the black travel flights ranged from $ 2,500 to $ 4,500, depending on the destination. Some popular places include Ghana, which was celebrated by the “Year of Return” in 2019 400 years since the first group of African slaves arrived in Virginia. Throughout the year, the program encouraged many African Americans to visit; It was very common that some travelers moved to Ghana.
In terms of trips, Robinson said, “It is all about cultural indulgence” for black travelers, especially those who travel to Africa. Visitors eat local restaurants and shopping in local stores, all of which help support the local community.
“I think this is the reason that Africa is Bubin,” Robinson said, because people realize … Not everything on safari here the way we have made our entire life. “There are parties. There are arts. There is a collective. There are ways to return and volunteer. All this is in the scope of our interest as travelers. ”
Community power
In their fair share, Bedouins suffered from unexpected challenges abroad. But when bad things happen, “we appear when ST is hitting the fan, literally,” Robinson said.
In 2015, a group of Bedouins participated in an area outside the city of Panama in a car accident. Many people were injured, and two members died. Within four days, Bedouin members raised tens of thousands of dollars to help pay hospital bills to the injured members and help others return to the United States.
Robinson said that society “met unlike anything I saw at all.” While the journey was not hosted by the symbols, Robinson flew to Panama with other two members because “these were our people and they needed to help us.”
“We show each other,” Robinson said. “This is not just a social thing I have seen on social media. We are tangible in real life.”
“You will be amazed at the number of times we saved each other during difficult times. Not only is dealing with racism, but also, as you know, whether someone has lost a passport [or] I was stolen. ”
Over the past five years, the annual Nomadness Festival has hosted up to 600 travelers of colors, discussing a variety of topics, including LGBTQ travel and access to it. Two main concentration of the group this year is the narration of the stories Data collection For travelers of color.
Hug said: “The Bedouins have been the root of many friendships, relationships, marriage and companies.” She added that this is an example of black joy.
