I’m a Black Man Who Travels And Not a Passport Bro; Here’s Why…

I’m a so-called Black man who travels. At the time of this writing, Homeboy has lived outside of the United States for over six years. This includes Brazil, Asia (China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Hong Kong), Tanzania, and Mexico.

Homeboy’s been Audi since 2010.

However, in the wake of COVID-19 and the death of social media influencer Kevin Samuels, there has been intense focus on the Black travel movement known as The Passport Bros. Using talking points of the late great Black manosphere giant, many of these Black men who travel are looking for romantic relationships abroad.

I can’t front; I agree with many of the Passport Bros’ views on dating in America. However, as someone with experience living abroad, traveling without a vision is a bad idea.

I’m a Black man who travels and not a Passport Bro, here’s why…

The first time anyone ever mentioned travel and the world’s wonders, I was experiencing Atlanta. I was a native New Yorker who became an ATLien while pursuing six figures in the late 90s while working in information technology.

A former acquaintance from trade school sent some photos of some cinnamon buns to me and a friend working at an operations center in Norcross.

The brown buns in the photos were Brazilian. I didn’t think anything of them at the time. I was in Atlanta, and Holly Berry and Adina Howard were on almost every corner. Well, that’s what it felt like. You had the finest women in the country converging on one major city.

I thought I knew what was going on in life, and my female friends here or there, plus the wonders of Magic City, had me under the spell of American Black women. There was no need to travel. In the late 90s, Atlanta was a country that didn’t require a passport.

An interest in traveling outside the United States came twenty years ago when Lebron entered the league. Right around this time, I saw a film that helped me appreciate that there was a world I was missing out on. City of God is considered by many to be one of the best films ever made. The Brazilian film is based on the book by writer Paulo Lins.

The film takes hold of the viewer with a compelling story, brilliant cinematography, good acting, great directing, and a magnificent soundtrack.

There were Black people on the other side of the planet who spoke a beautiful language, were passionate about life, and were part of a new, vibrant world.

Right around the time, Lebron was getting his rookie buckets, my buddy Rick came to my apartment, sharing tales of his Brazil journey.

We always had girlfriends or were always dating, but when he returned from a week in Rio de Janeiro, I vividly remember him telling me he was done with American women.

Months later, he was back in Brazil.

Don’t get it twisted; I was interested. Like any man with a working penis, after hearing Rick’s stories about how carefree and beautiful the women were, my nose was open. However, I didn’t want to visit the City of God. I wanted to live there.

It took me seven years, but after changing my life, leaving Information Technology, and finding my purpose in life, Brazil revealed itself to me. My journey’s juicier and more reflective parts are shared in my upcoming travel book, Homeboy and the Pyramids: A Travel Guide For The So-Callled Black Man.

Living in Rio was not an ongoing vacation as I imagined. The years that followed, when I pursued my treasure in Asia, solidified my stance on the difficulties of traveling.

I don’t label myself a Passport, Bro, because placing a woman before your life goals or purpose is unfocused travel, which ultimately will lead to disaster.

Before Asia, I made a woman the focus of my life and ran right into a brick wall. I had to learn the hard way that a woman should be an accessory to your life, not your focus, and definitely not your purpose.

Living abroad is hard work.

My first six months in Rio de Janeiro were filled with difficulties. Sure, I had fun, but overall, it was extremely difficult to survive in a foreign culture.

Don’t get it twisted; a romantic relationship abroad can be a positive element of your journey. I’ve also had bad relationships (shout out to Ho Chi Minh City) while on the road, and these incidents can ruin or impede progress in a new city or country.

Picture this: you’re a Passport Bro and developed a relationship with a foreign woman here in the States. Perhaps online or while visiting a foreign country. Like any woman, your future wifey tells you she’s interested in marriage. She puts it on you, and your nose is open. You move to her country, and after six months, like any other relationship — things fall apart.

Now what? You’re assed out in a foreign country with no woman, in a country and culture that you probably don’t care for.

I’m not a Passport Bro because I encourage brothers to put their goals first; their women will be there.

Are you interested in studying with a master martial arts teacher in Japan for a year? Don’t worry, your lady will be there. If you want to make Spanish an investment for the future and have a country in mind, your girlfriend will be there if your energy and mind are right.

Living abroad is difficult enough. Making a woman the focus of your life journey will ultimately lead to disaster.

Like I said, I’ve already been through it.

I f*ck with the Passport Bros because I like to see brothers win and have options; however, traveling and living abroad is no joke. Put yourself and your purpose first when you travel.

Your lady is there waiting for you.

Clarke Illmatical is a writer from Queens, NY. His travel memoir HOMEBOY AND THE PYRAMIDS will finally be done in 2024.