What Black Americans Are Gaining by Living Overseas

“I think I have found and ultimately achieved the American dream outside the U.S.,” said Adalia Aborisade, who swapped life in Texas for Mexico City in 2017. Her sentiments are part of a swelling movement of Black Americans remaking what it is to live well and, most importantly, to live freely through emigration.

For some, the relocation is about more than scenery changes. It’s about a space where their color is not a stress or a reason to be suspicious. Darcel Duncan of Travel Noire explained this new reality as “a kind of oasis for them to really create the life that they dreamed of in a way that’s financially feasible, safe and a bit more inclusive than what they found in the United States.”

Black expats’ tales from Greece to Ghana uncover a disconcerting trend: elsewhere, they are first received as Americans, not merely as Black individuals. Jamal Robinson, who crossed over into Dubai, explained it this way: “As I’ve traveled around the world, I’m typically an American first. Quite often people are not as used to Black people traveling and being in whatever the space is. So it’s almost like you’re celebrated, and people will come up to you and they want to talk and engage with you,” he explained to CNBC Make It in January 2025.

And this isn’t to mean that racism ceases when crossing the border. In Spain or Japan, expats may also experience stares or uncomfortable situations, as Dr. Londí Cox shared with Business Insider. But as she explained, “The experiences of racism I’ve had overseas is different from racism in America. I’ve never feared for my life abroad.” For others, the lack of institutionalized racism and the constant threat of violence is a deal-breaker. Jewels Chambers, who is currently settled in Iceland, explained the effect on her mental well-being: “Shedding this idea that it always has to be about my skin color has helped.”

There is also a strong motivator: economic viability and work-life balance. In Mexico City, Costa Rica, Ghana, Greece, and the UAE, these are the Black expats’ hotspots, where their dollars go further and their days are less harried. Kema Ward-Hopper, who quit the United States and moved to Costa Rica, said, We’re still living pretty comfortably our money definitely goes further here than in the U.S. Her husband Nicholas contributed, “I’ve gained my family back. I’ve gained the opportunity to spend time with them and create more freedom in myself, but also freedom within our family to explore our dreams and our passions”.

Cost comparisons have Mexico City and Costa Rica particularly well-liked, however, because they are affordable and have thriving Black expat communities. Ghana’s “Year of Return“ initiative has opened it up even further, making it simpler for Black Americans to reconnect with heritage and invest in a friendly populace. In Greece, Cara West felt a peace of mind and sense of belonging she never experienced back home: “I’m not worried about someone following me around at the store or treating me differently because of my skin color. I’m just seen as an American here,” she said to CNBC Make It.

The movement isn’t about running from something bad it’s about running towards something greater. From new language skills to immersion in new traditions, expat living is full of cultural experiences and opportunities for personal growth. As West summarized, “The experiences that we’ve been able to have as a family abroad, just being able to see the world, to meet new people, to experience a new language, cultures, traditions, it’s just so special and something that we aren’t really exposed to enough in the United States.”

For those willing to take the plunge, a tide of community networks and resources from Facebook forums to podcasts such as “All Things Iceland” is facilitating connections, planning, and success overseas as never before. The road is not without its potholes, but for many, the reward is apparent: a life that is richer, freer, and happier than they ever dreamed it could be at home.