I know on this site I mainly do a lot of humour and piss taking about where I’ve been, who I’ve been with and who I am, I will proceed with this in due course, especially when the lockdown ban is fully removed and we can get back to a hopefully renewed society. I’m going to talk about Black Lives Matter and how travelling as a black gay man has a different connotation in these times. Firstly If you’re squeamish about talking about race, sexuality and any type of diversity you can speak to me or anyone you have no Direct comparison to.
Secondly if you’re clueless and want nothing to do with it, why are you on a gay black man’s travel blog site, move it!
Anyway let’s proceed, in December 2019, the first reported case of Corona (COVID19) was reported and had spiralled out from there killing and harming others. The world had to stop and band together to stop this virus, it didn’t care who you were, colour, sex, religion, viruses don’t care it needs a host, it needs to feed and kill, you are nothing to it. No Matter who you were you needed to stay safe and keep the world going. This disease is still going. During this time, Chinese people were attacked and submitted to racial hate for a virus, most for a virus they have no knowledge of and they were not even in the country. Spring 2020 a string of murders and racist beatings were committed by locals and police squads in the US and ignored by Governing officials.
During this time we’ve been told to locked up in our houses for our safety and minimise social interaction
Yet a black police officer was killed in her own bed, a black man had his neck kneeled on for 8 minutes, a young black boy was shot while going for a run.
I will ask this question and I hope you guys have the best answer
“Why can we band together to stop a killer virus but band together to stop racism?”
I’ll be honest, it’s taken me 40 mins to write the above paragraphs, as I’ve had to research and rewatch some of the videos linked to the racist atrocities and senseless brutalities and can’t stop crying. I’ve been to America and other countries where this stuff happens and I selfishly worry that, that could have been me, one wrong street, one wrong cop, no bad intentions and I could be dead. It wouldn’t have mattered if I was from the UK and a traveller, my pigmentation could have had me profiled and killed.
My blog should technically be redundant but due to society and where ethnics stand in that realm. IF you say it’s been alright since movements in 70s, maybe 50s you’re still wrong, things have not been right since that first negro was taken from west Africa. This has literally been centuries of injustice and cruelty built up. Black people, loved ones and allies have HAD ENOUGH!
I also worry it could happen to my relatives or friends who live and travel through the states, my sister went to university in Nevada, she’s now a doctor who is working on the cover testing kits and will do future projects. She’s smart and forthright, she’s kinda heading her team to get this done efficiently, a doctor trying help test and cure everyone could have died for just being there.
This all brings me to my point, I have this site to guide EVERYONE on travel but especially if you are similar to me, so a person of colour or from the LGBTQ community will know where they should feel comfortable. Which bring me on to my next point, I feel like I shouldn’t have to worn? People to where to go because you have a passport, you paid to get there and you have the RIGHT to be there.
One way I can demonstrate how it feels travelling is how my friends responded to me starting this journey.
White Friends “Oh wow that’s fantastic, you’ll have a great time, write a blog”
Black friends and Friends “Oh great, where are you going, are you sure you’re going to be ok there, are black people allowed there?”
That lack of confidence and unprivileged status knowledge about travel limitations as a black person is showing and I know it’s still relevant to this day.it’s the same for being part of the LGBTQ, if you need to read up in FCO website and stonewall if it’s ok to even fly or get a visa to a certin country or legal to be who you are, there’s somehting seriously wrong.
Until the world heals physically, medically, emotionally and racially, I advise people to travel wherever you want. The planet is a beautiful wet marble which EVERYONE should have access to. However I say this genuinely, travel wisely, smartly and safely. I have this blog for you to laugh and think and my only other advice is be careful in America if you choose to travel there . Sad to say it but I have little trust in that place at the moment. It’s overwhelmed with tension, bigotry and confusion. Reading my Australia blog, I would say the same for there too.
ODE TO BLACK LIVES MATTER POEM
In honour of the black people who died not only recently but to all those lost to hatred over the years, here’s a poem for you.
Even in darkness, we show a light
Noir and blanc, in a twisted fight
Touch my hair, my heart, my soul
Ignore me, you dig my final hole
We will stand tall, let no one fall
Hear me scream, heed this frightful call
Lay me on a bed, of black roses
taken away in my sleeping poses
Through the shadows, in the park
Struck Down, he’s armless yet dark
You’re meant to help, serve and protect
Crying, pleading, collapsing the neck
Please see us without the hate and fear
With love, I’m your friend, I am here.
At times we run for our lives
At time we run from our lives
With Truth & bravery, we protest day and night
Even in darkness, we show a light
THANK YOU XX
Anyway, I’m now going to watch the Childish Gambino “This is America” video for the 308th time and fantasise about him!
