I write a lot about solo female road trips but I wanted to write a post that is specific to women of color, specifically for Black women. I wish I could say that the color of my skin doesn’t make a difference when I am on the road. That sadly isn’t the case. I have been taking road trips for about 5 years and I want to share my experiences in order to help other women of color hit the road and explore the country around them. Here are a couple of tips for solo female road trips for Black women.
Road Trips for Black Women
There are few topics that I want to cover in this post. These things include:
- Places that are best for road trips
- The ongoing battle with hair
- Micro-aggressions and racism
- Basic safety tips
- What you for sure need to pack
Where you need to go
I can’t say that there is any particular place in America that would suck for a road trip but I can give you a couple of tips depending on where you want to go. If you are looking for more tips on how to plan a road trip or making geographical decisions, then you can check out my post on road trip planning right here.
If you are looking for Outdoor Adventure
There are are a few places that you will find are great for adventure. You can try the north east which has great hiking trails and skiing/ winter activities in the colder months. Of course you have the obvious west coast that will provide a variety of water activities. There is great hiking in the Utah and Colorado area if that is what you are trying to accomplish.
Big City Adventures
You can always go to NYC or Los Angeles but have you ever thought of a city like Houston? It is one of the most diverse cities in the country and also affordable when it comes to lodging. You can try Denver which is a good combination or art, adventure, and good food. Cities like Detroit and Chicago can provide a lot of cultural diversity and make for great day or weekend trips.
The Ongoing Hair Battles
For most of the places that you will end up going to, you won’t have much of an issue with hair. You may have the occasional white person who wants to touch it, but we will cover this in the next section. There are always ways to get your hair done. If you aren’t taking your own hair products, or end up running out, you can always stop at a Sally’s or Walmart in a pinch.
If you are like me, then you order your products online on one of the various beauty supply shops. You can typically find something in the most surprising of areas. I was able to once find braiding hair in the middle of Colorado.
I always suggest a protective hair style. I’ve been blessed to be able to do my own hair but that isn’t always the case. I’m not going to lie, if you are traveling through South Dakota then I wouldn’t hold out much hope to find hair products but you should be able to find what you need, or some type of substitute, to get through the rest of your trip.
Racism and Micro Aggression
This is probably the section that most people are looking for. I have been through some of the most diverse states and also some of the whitest states that America has to offer. In 99 out of 100 different interactions I would say that blatant racism has never happened. What typically happens is different micro aggressions that are more annoying than dangerous.
What I mean by micro aggressions are behavior that could or could not be racist but are mostly happening because of underlying stereotypes. This typically will show in people constantly asking you what you are doing, asking you if you need help when you obviously do not, saying things like “you obviously aren’t from around here,” and other little moments that might make you feel as if you aren’t welcome.
I have never allowed these things to bother me. Frankly, people are ignorant and they can often be ignorant to their own ignorance. This is especially the case when you are in super white states like Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, and a number of other states where diversity is not one of their selling points.
I think that many women of color fear that they will be harassed or physically threatened if not full blown assaulted because of the color of their skin. In almost all of my interactions this hasn’t been the case. People are usually kind and want to show the best of their state. When I get a stupid question or someone that is out of pocket I try to still be kind. I will also professionally read someone and let them know they can catch these hands if the moment warrants. I’m saved, not soft.
Basic Safety Tips
I have several posts about how to stay safe when traveling. I even have one that is specific to Black women. If you think about safety on the road then you have to think about what happens when you are driving and then also safety risks while you are walking around and at your hotel.
When you are driving you want to make sure that you have insurance and if you can afford it, I would also get AAA insurance. This way you will be covered no matter what state you are in. You want to make sure that you get an oil change and get your tires checked before you hit the road. If you go for a basic check on your car, then you will have a heads up before a small issue with your car becomes a big issue.
When you are checking into a hotel, or an Airbnb there are a few things that you want to check out for. First, you want to check out your lodging for bed bugs. Those little suckers love to travel and you don’t want to bring them home with you. You can check out my bed bug guide right here. In addition to that, you want to make sure that you are checking locks, asking who has a key to your airbnb, and also looking for hidden cameras.
For general safety, I always suggest that you watch your drinks. I personally don’t really drink alcohol but I still don’t accept drinks from strangers or leave my drinks unattended. My biggest safety tips is that I also have a check in buddy no matter where I go. No matter what, I have a person that knows my schedule and who expects to hear from me at certain times. If they don’t hear from me, then they know to alert the authorities.
What You Need to Pack
I have an extended pack list that you can find right here. The items that I think you for sure need to have include the following:
- I never leave home without a portable charger.
- You should pack paper maps if you don’t already have them. You can pick up a free map from the visitor center
- Don’t forget your travel snacks
- I always have clorox/ lysol wipes for messes
- Always pack some cash money for tolls or places that you don’t want to use your card.
- I always have water in my car. Getting dehydrated is one way to get in big trouble while out on the road.
There you have it! There are some tips for a solo female road trips for Black women. If you are looking for tips on how to plan a road trip, you can find that here.