I love traveling. It provides the opportunity to learn about different cultures and the rich history that they store. I have visited four places this past year. I went to California in February, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico in August, and I am currently typing this up in Mexico during November going into December. I have always been interested in learning why and how things work, which is why I vowed to myself that for my New Year's resolutions I would travel more. And I have! The biggest difference I’ve noticed when analyzing how I was treated while on my trips is the status of who I traveled with.

Some trips I went with family, some with friends, and one by myself. While with others I was not confronted as much, but while by myself people were bolder with their interactions with me. I could not walk anywhere without being harassed. I understand that women deal with harassment everywhere, but as a Black woman, the fetishization that is unwarranted is appalling. There is the common behavior of people staring and wanting to touch your hair, but it is amplified exponentially.

While on my solo trip I was stopped by a family to ask to get a picture. It wasn't to take a picture of them, but with them because they were amazed by me. They said they never saw anyone like me in person as if I were some zoo animal. Another day I walked on the beach and every head turned my way and watched me walk down the strip. Men pointing and women whispering, all eyes tracing my steps. I had sanctioned comments like “I've never been with a Black woman before” or “I didn’t know people like you did have big butts” and other perverted comments. I couldn't simply exist because most people wanted to come up and ask me questions about my physique or things attributing to my sexuality. 

Never had I been more uncomfortable. I was in Mexico meeting people from Albania, Israel, Canada, Colombia, Italy, Russia and more but all they wanted to know was if they had a chance to sleep with me. I am disturbed. I’ve been sexualized in America but never was it to the extent I experienced it. I felt objectified. I wasn’t even a person to them.

The problem is that Black women are hyper-sexualized as a result of slavery. Black women were not viewed as people; they were property. Enslaved Black women did work and were forced to bear more kids. It was because of this they were viewed as machines— valued by their ‘womanly’ features. Their physique was not the common body type that nonBlack people had so many would fetishize and take advantage of them. These sentiments carry today and result in the objectification of Black women globally.

It is important to recognize the historical context of behaviors that exist now. The sexualization of any group of people is not okay. It is supported by the rampant history of sexism and sexual violence in society. Remember that no one is entitled nor deserving to engage in sexual relations with another person. Harassment and assault are very serious matters that can come in many forms. If you have experienced sexual violence or harassment in any way there are resources to support you.