I’m Moving to Spain, but Don’t Call it a “Blaxit”

Last month I announced here on the blog that I was moving to Spain with my family. But I want to be clear, my moving to Spain is not a Blaxit situation. First of all, my reasons for leaving the country have nothing to do with the current political circumstances in the United States. And more importantly, I’m too old and too Black to believe that I could go anywhere in this great big world where racism doesn’t exist.

I’m too old and too Black to believe that I could go anywhere in this great big world where racism doesn’t exist.

My “Why” for Moving to Spain

There are three main reasons el esposo and I decided to move to Spain. The biggest reason is that el esposo is yearning for home. He misses his family and his culture. The second reason why we’re moving to Spain is because we both want our children to experience their Spanish culture as natives, rather than as tourists. And finally, I want to move to Spain because it has been a lifelong dream to live abroad, to travel the world and make my living as a writer. A move to Spain will allow me to begin to check off those bucket list boxes. And while I will be the first to admit that the anti-Black encounters I’ve experienced in Spain pale in comparison to the systemic racism that exists in the United States, I have no rose-colored glasses to shield my eyes from the realities of racism abroad.

I May Be Moving to Spain, but it’s not a Blaxit

As I mentioned above, I’m too old, too Black and too learned to believe that there is somewhere in this world where racism, white supremacy or tribalism doesn’t rule the land. And I’m not the only one who thinks that. But there is this growing movement, that has been picked up by the mainstream media, that suggests that Black Americans are fleeing American racism and moving abroad in record numbers. And while I don’t know if the numbers truly support this idea – Black Americans have been fleeing the United States for decades – it is true that there is a growing numbers of podcasts, Facebook groups and articles in Black media outlets that are celebrating and coaching Black folks to get ready for their own personal Blaxit. And I feel sorry for anyone who truly believes that the grass is truly greener – or in this case, less racist – on the other side of the pond. Even in Black and brown countries, Black Americans will find that people find a way to separate themselves and create social hierarchies. And anti-Blackness, sadly, is a global phenomenon.

Black Expats Can Thrive Abroad with the Right Mindset

So, even though I just rained all over the Blaxit parade, I’m still a fan of the Black expat movement. I’m still a devotee of Josephine Baker, James Baldwin, W.E.B. Dubois, Maya Angelou and Langston Hughes. I still believe that Black Americans can thrive abroad, whether that is in Europe, Africa or Asia. Especially writers and artists. The key is to have the right mindset. If you think you’re going to escape racism by crossing an ocean, you’re going to be blindsided by your first experience with racism in your new country. On the other hand, if you know what to expect and focus on your “why,” then the inevitable microaggressions or straight up stank behavior won’t rattle you as much. In addition, if your why has nothing to do with escaping racism, and instead is about say, living in a country with affordable health care, where you can live within walking distance to the ocean, and be in a climate where you can grow your own fruits and vegetables for the entire year, then let’s go.

Inspiration from Today’s Black Expats

Let it be known, I still have to remind myself to stay focused on my why. I still slip into the Blaxit mindset where when I hear about yet another Black person being abused by the criminal justice system, I immediately think, ‘thank God I’m leaving.’ Or when I read an article about that despicable worm who formerly inhabited the White House and say to myself, ‘When we’re out of here, we won’t have to hear about his shady ass anymore.” Of course we will, Lori!  And of course there are going to be political, cultural and racial problems in Spain. So, what I do to keep myself focused is I listen to a lot of podcasts by Black expats who keep it real about surviving and thriving abroad. The hosts and their guests share their experiences and learnings about being Black and abroad and I take notes. Some of my favorite podcasts by Black American expats include, Chronicles Abroad, Picky Girl Travels the World and Flourish in the Foreign. And my go-to resource for all things Black life in Spain is Las Morenas de España, which recently changed their name to Master Your Move Abroad (perfect timing for me, right?!)

Managing Expectations Applies to All things Moving Abroad

So, this is how I’m thinking about my impending move. I’m trying to keep a level head and keep my expectations in the right place. And even though this post is specifically about managing my expectations about race and racism in Spain, I think it applies to all aspects of moving abroad. Everything isn’t just going to be better because it’s in a different language. (Ok, granted, maybe the cheese and bread and seafood will be better, but that’s a topic to discuss in a different post.) I’m moving to Spain because I want to, not because I’m ready for a Blaxit. I’m remembering my why and finding joy in the journey.

What are your thoughts about the term Blaxit? How do you think it might impair expectations? Or maybe you like the term. I’d love to hear what people think. You know I’m listening.