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If you're worried about your safety while traveling, these 10 countries should give you some peace of mind.
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0:00
Did you know that 38% of black travelers
0:02
have reported feeling unsafe or
0:04
discriminated against while traveling
0:06
abroad? That's according to a 2020 study
0:08
by MMGY Global's The Black Traveler
0:11
insights, opportunities, and priorities
0:13
report. If you're in that 38%, drop me a
0:16
comment about where you've traveled to
0:18
and what your experience was like. In
0:20
today's video, we're diving deep into a
0:22
list of the top 10 safest countries for
0:24
black travelers. Places where culture,
0:27
community, and security converge to
0:29
create a truly welcoming experience.
0:31
Whether you're planning your next
0:32
adventure or dreaming of new horizons,
0:34
stay tuned as we break down why these
0:36
destinations stand out in safety,
0:38
inclusivity, and rich local heritage.
0:41
Hi, my name is Jared and welcome to
0:42
Black Excellence, where we celebrate all
0:44
the ways black people pursue excellence
0:46
in their everyday lives. If you're
0:48
searching for ways to fuel your own
0:49
journey of excellence with content on
0:51
where to live, where to travel,
0:53
lifestyle trends, and unconventional
0:55
ways to do it all, hit that subscribe
0:57
button and join the circle of
0:58
excellence. We put this list together
1:00
after researching what black travelers
1:02
have said online about their experiences
1:04
and other statistics like the Global
1:06
Peace Index, also known as the GPI. This
1:09
evaluates peace using 23 indicators
1:12
across three main domains. Ongoing
1:14
domestic and internal conflict, social
1:16
safety and security, and militarization.
1:19
I personally been to one of these
1:20
countries, and I'll share my experience
1:22
there, too. If you're dying to get to
1:24
this list, so am I. But I have to
1:26
address one thing first. There are no
1:28
African countries on this list, and that
1:30
is because of many factors. One of them
1:33
being that no African country ranks very
1:35
high on the global peace index. that can
1:37
be due to violent crime or political
1:39
instability. Another reason why there
1:41
are no African countries on this list is
1:43
due to the experience of many black
1:45
travelers we have read about. The
1:47
reviews on even the more popular
1:49
countries like Ghana, South Africa,
1:51
Egypt, and Morocco are extremely mixed.
1:54
Although there is an immense amount of
1:56
belonging and joy a lot of
1:58
African-American travelers report when
2:00
traveling through Africa, other
2:01
travelers also complain about the petty
2:03
theft and being hustled. So, if the list
2:06
was about the best destinations or the
2:08
most culturally fulfilling or unique or
2:11
other qualifying factors, there would be
2:13
plenty of African countries on this
2:15
list. I should add here that the US
2:18
ranks 128 out of 163 countries on the
2:22
Global Peace Index, and there are plenty
2:24
of African countries that rank way
2:26
higher than the US, meaning they're more
2:28
peaceful. But this list is about the
2:30
most peaceful countries in the world. So
2:32
neither the US or the African countries
2:34
that rank higher than the US would make
2:36
this list. Now onto our list, starting
2:39
with Iceland. Iceland consistently holds
2:42
the title of the most peaceful country
2:44
in the world according to the Global
2:46
Peace Index, also known again as the
2:48
GPI, with a 2024 score of 1.112.
2:53
That's on a scale of 1.00
2:57
to 5.00 000 with the lower end being the
3:00
most peaceful. A score of 1.112
3:04
means Iceland is extremely peaceful.
3:06
Violent crime is virtually non-existent.
3:09
Police officers typically don't carry
3:11
guns and public trust in law enforcement
3:13
is at an all-time high. And what truly
3:15
sets Iceland apart is the ease at which
3:18
black travelers feel at home. Travelers
3:20
frequently mentioned that they felt
3:22
safer walking alone at night in Reavik
3:25
than they do in some US suburbs. The
3:28
society is small, trusting, and largely
3:30
inclusive. While the black population,
3:32
of course, is minimal. The estimation is
3:34
less than 1% of Iceland's population is
3:37
black, the Icelandic people's curiosity
3:40
often turns into warm, welcoming
3:42
exchanges rather than suspicion or
3:44
exclusion. At least that's what most
3:46
black travelers have said online. And I
3:49
didn't even get to how beautiful this
3:51
country is. It's often said that Iceland
3:53
is like one huge national park. Next up,
3:56
we have Japan. Japan ranked ninth on the
3:59
GPI. It has an impressively low violent
4:02
crime rate of around 0.39 incidences per
4:07
1,000 people. The country is famous for
4:10
its safety. From impeccably clean
4:12
streets to an unmatched culture of
4:14
honesty. Leave a phone in a cafe and
4:17
there's a good chance it will be
4:18
returned untouched. But safety here is
4:21
more than statistical. Black travelers,
4:23
including myself, describe Japan as a
4:26
place of deep respect. While there can
4:28
be moments of cultural curiosity,
4:30
especially in rural areas, they often
4:32
stem from genuin interest and not
4:35
malice. A black American woman living in
4:37
Tokyo shared that she often walks home
4:40
late at night and feels completely safe.
4:42
A sentiment echoed across countless
4:44
vlogs and blogs. And in case you haven't
4:47
guessed it, this is the country that I
4:49
have actually been to myself. And I can
4:52
attest to all of this. Going to Japan is
4:54
one of the most cultural eyeopening
4:56
experiences of my life that I will never
4:59
forget. Yeah, at first you feel a little
5:01
awkward because you're like one of the
5:02
only black people surrounded by so many
5:05
Japanese. But it's crazy. After a while,
5:07
you almost don't even feel like a fish
5:09
out of water. I expected people to be
5:11
staring at me. You hear rumors about a
5:13
black person sitting next to a Japanese
5:15
person and a Japanese person getting up
5:17
and walking away. That didn't happen at
5:19
all. every single person and I went to
5:22
three separate cities in completely
5:24
three different areas and everybody was
5:26
kind. I walked at night in all three of
5:29
these cities and I saw women walking
5:31
alone and it didn't seem like anybody
5:33
felt like they were in danger. I will
5:34
say tourists are starting to push their
5:36
luck. So, I'm sure Japanese are going to
5:38
start pushing back against that. As of
5:40
now, this has been one of the best
5:42
experiences of my life. I think as a
5:44
world we should all come together and
5:46
say we're not going to put any tariffs
5:48
on this country. We're not ever going to
5:50
go to war with this country again unless
5:52
they decide to attack, which I don't see
5:54
that happening again because this is
5:55
probably one of the greatest countries
5:57
on earth. I I just have to say it. It's
5:59
it honestly it has to be one of the top
6:02
ranking countries in the world from the
6:03
way that they do everything. They're
6:05
just a level above the rest of the
6:07
world. I'm I'm pretty sure I love this
6:09
country. I recommend everybody goes. At
6:11
number three, we have Canada. Oh,
6:12
Canada. Our nice cousin up north that we
6:15
have recently treated like garbage.
6:18
Anyway, Canada ranks around 11th on the
6:20
GPI. Its cities like Toronto, Montreal,
6:23
and Vancouver offer vibrant
6:25
multicultural environments where black
6:28
travelers often feel right at home.
6:30
Canada surprisingly has a good amount of
6:32
diversity in its large cities. The
6:34
country's multiculturalism policy paired
6:37
with visible African and Caribbean
6:39
communities means you'll find everything
6:42
from blackowned bookstores to
6:43
AfroCaribbean food festivals. While
6:46
occasional microaggressions exist, they
6:48
are notably rare, especially compared to
6:50
the US. For many African-Americans,
6:52
Canada feels like the US with the volume
6:55
turned down. And compared to a lot of
6:57
our large cities, like turned probably
6:59
all the way down, like to zero.
7:01
Familiar, but less fraud. Plus, it's
7:04
close with plenty of cheap flights. And
7:06
you don't have to worry about learning
7:08
too much about the culture before
7:09
traveling there. You know, it's the same
7:11
but different. At number four, we have
7:13
New Zealand. With a GPI score of 1.323
7:17
and ranking fourth globally, New Zealand
7:19
shines as a bastion of peace. Its
7:22
violent crime rates are low and the
7:24
community offers strong protections for
7:26
minority rights. What's particularly
7:28
appealing for black travelers is the
7:30
country's communal spirit and emphasis
7:32
on equality. Families from the US often
7:35
rave about how comfortable they felt
7:37
letting their kids roam around beaches
7:39
or explore city centers without any
7:41
worry. That's another thing about Japan,
7:43
too. You can tell how safe it is cuz
7:45
you're watching all these little kids
7:47
cross streets and go home by themselves.
7:49
And I swear they must be like four or
7:52
five. Though the black population is
7:53
small, travelers report few if any
7:56
racially charged experiences. New
7:58
Zealanders are just laidback. And that
8:01
ease extends to how they treat guests of
8:04
all backgrounds. At number five, we have
8:06
the next place I swear that I'm going to
8:09
is Portugal. Portugal ranks seventh on
8:11
the GPI with a 2024 score of 1.372,
8:16
which makes it both peaceful and
8:18
increasingly progressive. Violent crime
8:20
is minimal, especially in urban centers
8:22
like Lesbian and Porto. But what makes
8:25
Portugal stand out for African-Americans
8:27
is its embrace of Afropport culture.
8:30
Lesbian has a growing number of
8:32
blackowned businesses, and the influence
8:34
of Cape Verdine, Angolan, and Brazilian
8:37
communities is deeply felt. Music, art,
8:39
and food all reflect this mix. Travelers
8:42
say they felt more celebrated than
8:44
scrutinized. A refreshing departure from
8:46
the norm. And I can't tell you how many
8:48
times Portugal comes up when we talk
8:50
about black travel because there is a
8:52
strong black expat community there,
8:54
especially in Lesbian. I honestly, I'm
8:57
serious. I cannot wait to visit this
8:59
place myself. I'm actually considering
9:01
with everything going on that I might
9:03
want to move there one day. At number
9:04
six, we have Switzerland. Switzerland
9:06
ranks sixth on the GPI and is renowned
9:09
for its social stability and
9:11
transparency. Violent crime is extremely
9:13
rare and the country offers clean,
9:16
orderly cities where rules are followed
9:18
and respect is mutual. For black
9:20
travelers, Switzerland offers an
9:22
experience that is both tranquil and
9:24
empowering. While the diversity in
9:26
smaller towns may be limited, major
9:28
cities like Zurich and Geneva provide
9:31
multicultural environments where
9:33
travelers feel more included. And though
9:35
Switzerland is expensive, many agree
9:38
that the peace of mind it offers is well
9:40
worth the price. At number seven, we
9:42
have Norway. With a GPI score of 1.382,
9:46
Norway ranks in the global top 10 for
9:48
safety. The country's violent crime rate
9:50
is among the lowest in Europe, less than
9:52
one homicide per 100,000 residents
9:55
annually. Oslo and Bergen in particular
9:58
have growing communities of African and
10:00
Caribbean descent. Public infrastructure
10:02
is strong and the culture leans heavily
10:04
towards everybody being treated fairly.
10:06
Travelers often remark on the genuine
10:08
kindness of Norwegians and how
10:10
nonchalantly they treat their
10:12
differences. Norway may be chilly in
10:14
climate, but it's warm in spirit. Aw. At
10:17
number eight, we have Singapore.
10:19
Singapore is a marvel of urban safety
10:21
and efficiency. Ranked fifth on the GPI,
10:25
it boasts one of the lowest crime rates
10:27
in the world. For black travelers,
10:29
Singapore is a lesson in order and
10:31
multiculturalism. With English as an
10:33
official language and a blend of
10:35
Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Western
10:38
cultures, it's a city-state built on
10:40
efficiency and cleanliness. The rules
10:43
can be strict, but they create a culture
10:45
of mutual respect. Travelers frequently
10:47
note how safe they feel navigating the
10:49
city alone day or night. I think for
10:52
most of us that were born and raised in
10:54
the US, we think America is the most
10:56
advanced country in the world and the
10:58
best at everything. Then I talk to
10:59
people that travel to places like
11:00
Singapore and Dubai and they come back
11:02
and look at America like we live in the
11:04
20th century and talk about how dirty
11:07
and unsafe our cities are for being the
11:09
biggest economy in the world. From
11:11
personal experience, when you travel,
11:12
you look at America differently, the
11:14
good and the bad. There are also times
11:16
when people come back here and miss a
11:18
lot of things about the US. What did I
11:19
miss the most when I left? What I miss
11:21
most after coming back from Japan or
11:24
some of the other countries is the
11:25
feeling of living in a melting pot. Like
11:27
going and getting tacos, then Korean
11:29
barbecue, then getting sushi, then
11:32
getting like it's all on the same street
11:34
sometimes. At least living in
11:35
California. I haven't been to Portugal
11:37
yet. I heard that's a melting pot and
11:38
I'm sure Europe, Canada is a little bit
11:40
of a melting pot, but I don't think
11:42
anywhere for the time being until Trump
11:44
gets rid of everybody is a melting pot
11:46
like the US. The United States will
11:48
always be home. At number nine, we have
11:50
another place I need to get to because
11:51
I've heard so many good things is Costa
11:54
Rica. Costa Rica is often highlighted as
11:57
a safe and welcoming destination for
11:58
black travelers. And there are several
12:00
reasons why this is the case. It's a
12:02
country that generally prides itself on
12:04
its peaceful nature, democratic
12:06
traditions, and emphasis on pure vida,
12:09
also known as pure life. This term
12:12
encapsulates a laid-back, optimistic,
12:14
and welcoming approach to life. A
12:16
substantial portion of Costa Rica's
12:18
population, particularly on the
12:20
Caribbean coast, is AfroCaribbean
12:22
descent. Many are descendants of
12:24
Jamaican immigrants who came to work on
12:25
the railroad and banana plantations in
12:28
the late 19th and early 20th century.
12:30
Costa Rica actually abolished its army
12:33
in 1949, investing resources instead in
12:36
education, health care, and social
12:38
programs. This has contributed to a
12:40
remarkably peaceful and stable society,
12:43
a rarity in the region. Many black
12:45
travelers report a generally positive
12:47
experience with little to no overt
12:49
racism or discrimination compared to
12:51
some other parts of the world. Costa
12:53
Rica's GPI is 1.8, 8, making it a
12:56
solidly peaceful destination, ranking
12:59
number one in its region and among the
13:01
top 60 globally. And at number 10, a
13:04
country that I would have never thought
13:05
of is Ireland. Ireland ranks third on
13:08
the GPI with a peaceful society and low
13:11
violent crime. It's also one of the most
13:14
rapidly diversifying countries in
13:16
Western Europe. Black travelers often
13:18
describe Ireland as a place they least
13:20
expect to feel so welcome, and yet they
13:22
did. Whether it's the friendly locals,
13:24
the emerging African communities in
13:26
Dublin and Goway, or the warm pub
13:29
culture, Ireland opens its arms wide.
13:31
It's not unusual for a solo black
13:33
traveler to be invited into a
13:35
conversation, a home, or a celebration.
13:38
Now, listen, traveling while black comes
13:41
with its own unique set of
13:42
considerations. But these 10 countries
13:45
offer more than just low crime stats.
13:47
They provide peace of mind, cultural
13:50
respect, and even joy. From Iceland's
13:52
serene landscapes to Singapore's
13:54
seamless urban design, each destination
13:57
offers a different kind of welcome. And
13:59
for African-American travelers, that
14:01
kind of welcome is priceless. So, as
14:03
black people, don't be afraid to get out
14:05
there. From the countries I've been to,
14:07
even some of the ones that aren't on
14:09
this list, I've been treated with
14:10
respect. I've loved every minute of it,
14:13
and I encourage you all to get out
14:15
there. Anyway, that's it for this video.
14:17
Make sure to like and subscribe and I'll
14:19
see you guys on the next
#Discrimination & Identity Relations
#Human Rights & Liberties
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