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10 REASONS FOR
AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS
TO STUDY ABROAD
African-Americans have been traveling abroad to
expand their horizons for decades. During the 1940s, many prominent
African-Americans traveled to Europe. The legendary writers James
Baldwin (Go Tell It On The Mountain, 1953) and Richard Wright
(Native Son, 1941) are two examples of African-Americans who
flourished in Paris after World War II.
Fighting a war against
discrimination overseas presented some irony to African-Americans
living in an unjust and segregated America. Traveling abroad gave
these writers a fresh perspective on their own society and of their
potential as individuals across the globe.
 With the globalization of our world, the number of African-American
students studying abroad is on the rise. Whether you decide on Paris
or Pretoria, Beijing or Berlin, Guatemala or Ghana, there are
countless reasons why you should participate in a study abroad
program. Here are the top ten…
1. See the world and broaden your experience
There are so many amazing things to experience around the world. You
can see different natural landscapes and climates that do not exist
in America. There are historical landmarks in every country that
helped shape the history of the globe. You can expand your knowledge
of the world by actually being there, seeing it, touching it, and
experiencing it. Pictures in text books simply do not do justice to
standing under the Eiffel Tower or on the Great Wall of China. Is
there a place or landmark you have always wanted to see? This is how
you can understand the world in a direct, all-encompassing way.
2. Gain a new perspective on your own country
In 1949, James Baldwin wrote in Notes of a Native Son, “From the
vantage point of Europe [the American student] discovers his own
country.” Learning about your own country by living abroad remains
extremely relevant today as we continue to further our understanding
of other cultures. Of course, studying abroad isn’t limited to
Europe - you have the opportunity to study in just about every
corner of the globe. In Botswana or Tanzania, Italy or Thailand, you
will learn about the U.S. from a new and different perspective. As a
college student, there is no better time to see the world and be
exposed to new things. These experiences will shape the rest of your
life.
3. Explore your heritage
Getting in touch with your family’s heritage can be another strong
motivation to study abroad. Many minority students, particularly
African-Americans, report tremendous educational and personal
benefits from exploring countries where their families have roots.
Studying abroad can provide you with an opportunity to learn about
your own ethnicity and to explore your own identity. Many well-known
African-Americans have traveled to Africa extensively to get in
touch with their heritage. Author and activist Alice Walker (The
Color Purple, 1982) spent time in Uganda as a foreign exchange
student during her college career. The renowned poet and author Maya
Angelou (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1970), as well as
influential celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, have also spent
significant time in Africa exploring their heritage and teaching
others about the importance of spending time in Africa.
 4. Improve your professional and financial potential
International experience is a critical and impressive part of any
resume. In addition to the personal growth you’ll undergo while
overseas, the international and cross-cultural skills you’ll develop
will certainly expand your employment opportunities and,
consequently, your income potential. Globally-minded employees are
in high demand. Many companies seek out individuals with
multi-lingual and multi-cultural experience and skills.
Additionally, students can also take advantage of internships while
they study abroad for an international work experience that is
valued among U.S. employers. Your newly acquired skills will
strengthen your resume in America’s increasingly ethnically and
culturally diverse workforce.
5. Become a full-time learner
While studying abroad you will have the opportunity to truly become
a full-time student. Traveling outside the United States will be an
education in itself. Many students who go abroad report that in
addition to enjoying and learning in their classes during the week,
they learn some of the most valuable lessons outside of the
classroom. Weekend excursions to museums and cultural sites also add
to your academic and personal growth. You learn to interact with
people who may not necessarily think or communicate like you. While
in a foreign country, even mundane activities – like shopping for
groceries –become educational experiences.
6. Gain new insights and outlooks through new
relationships
The relationships formed while studying abroad might become some of
the deepest friendships you will ever develop. You will have the
opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds and cultures,
and some of these people may even become life-long friends. Study
abroad returnees often report meeting others with whom they expected
to have no common ground, and then discovering that, despite being
from different parts of the globe, they have much in common and much
to learn from one another. These relationships, insights, and
outlooks are a critical part of the study abroad experience.
 7. Fight stereotypes by educating others
There is a distinct challenge African-Americans face abroad. Many
other cultures only have experience with African-Americans through
the American media (i.e. news, sports, music, and movies).
African-American students may become frustrated when the same
stereotypes from home follow them overseas. However, this is also a
unique opportunity to educate others about who you are as an
individual and as a group. You can illustrate your own experiences
in the United States in comparison to what others see and hear. This
is your chance to be an individual, as well as a representative of
your culture, and to encourage positive understanding of global
diversity.
8. Dispel your own stereotypes
Frederick Douglass, the renowned abolitionist of the 19th century,
once said “Men who travel should leave their prejudices at home.” In
addition to serving as a cultural ambassador to dispel other’s
misconceptions, studying abroad gives you a chance to break down
some of your own stereotypes about other countries and peoples. Not
only will you have the chance to immerse yourself in another
culture, you will also meet people from different backgrounds and
make personal connections with people whom you may have never
expected.
9. Take control of your future
During your time abroad, you will be exposed to countless different
experiences that may influence the rest of your life. Some students
even end up changing their major or career path as a result of the new things they
learn from being abroad. Others discover a newfound passion for
travel, decide they want to work abroad, or desire to learn a new
language The vast majority of study abroad students report feeling
more independent, self-confident, and knowledgeable of the world
 around them. After studying abroad, you may find your travels have
had a profound influence on your career or personal goals. If you
wish to continue with your higher education into either a masters or
a doctorate, study abroad experience will give an edge on the
competition. Graduate programs, law schools, and med schools all
look favorably on such global experience. You never know who may be
impressed by your travels.
10. See what influenced these great African-Americans
A number of African-Americans were strongly shaped by their
international experiences, including:
Ernest Coleman, physicist and recipient of the
Distinguished Service Award of the American Association of Physics
Teachers, spent a year in Hamburg, Germany.
W.E.B. DuBois, writer and civil rights spokesman of the 19th
century, spent two years studying at the University of Berlin in
Germany.
Ernest Everett Just, Zoologist, Biologist and Physiologist, known
for his work with cell development and physiology, studied in
Berlin, Germany.
James Lesure, star of television's Las
Vegas on NBC, studied abroad for one year at the University of
Kent in England.Norbert Rillieux, Chemist and inventor of a device that
revolutionized the sugar industry, received education in Paris,
France.
Paul Robeson, lawyer, actor, singer, activist. He traveled
extensively around the world to perform and promote cultural
understanding.
Sista Soulja, activist, novelist, actress, and hip-hop artist,
studied abroad as an undergraduate at the University of Salamanca in
Spain. While in college, she traveled extensively to England,
Finland, France, Portugal, Russia, and Spain.
Alice Walker, activist and author of The Color Purple, spent time in
Uganda.
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