Overview of In Search of a Black Utopia — Snap Classic
This episode (hosted and reported by Adiza Egan for Snap Judgment) investigates a recent movement of Black Americans relocating, vacationing, or spending extended time in Tulum and other parts of Mexico. What begins as a search for respite, safety, and community—what some describe as a “Black utopia”—unfolds into a nuanced look at history, privilege, tourism-driven change, local inequities, and the limits of escape.
Narrative summary
- Trigger: In 2020, amid the pandemic and intense racial unrest in the U.S. (e.g., George Floyd), many Black Americans began traveling to and relocating in parts of Mexico—especially Tulum—seeking relief, healing, and community.
- On-the-ground reporting: Adiza travels to Tulum, joins “Welcome Wednesday” events and a Facebook group called Black in Tulum, meets a mix of recent arrivals and longer-term residents, and records conversations about reasons for leaving the U.S. and what Tulum offers.
- Motivations vary: interviewees cite mental health, safety from policing, economic opportunity (U.S. dollars/remote work), cultural affirmation, and the desire for “a better life” for themselves and their children.
- Visibility and boom: celebrity visits and viral videos (e.g., Megan Thee Stallion in Tulum) amplified interest, producing a rapid influx of tourists and newcomers.
- Tensions discovered: the tourism boom has exacerbated environmental stress, infrastructure failures (sewage), rapid development (planned airport), and social friction—both between newcomers and locals and within the Black visitor/resident community.
- Local context and critique: Afro-Mexican advocates and long-term Black residents (e.g., Patricia Talley, Nubia Young) urge solidarity with Afro-Mexicans, caution against extractive behaviors, and point out that U.S. passports/dollars create advantages not available to local Black communities.
- Tragic reminder: the death of Victoria Esperanza Salazar (a Salvadoran refugee) in Tulum underscored that xenophobia, violence, and police abuse are present in Mexico—and that escape is not absolute protection.
- Conclusion: Tulum can offer rest, community, and a different state of mind for some, but it’s not a one-size answer; freedom looks different for different people, and relocation raises ethical and practical complexities.
Key themes and takeaways
- Push and pull: Pandemic trauma, police violence, and systemic racism in the U.S. pushed many Black Americans away; Tulum’s vibe, perceived affordability, and community pulled them in.
- Community-building: Online groups (notably Black in Tulum) acted as social infrastructure, rapidly creating meetups, brunches, and networks that helped newcomers feel welcomed.
- Privilege and protection: U.S. passports and U.S. dollars provide newcomers with safety nets and purchasing power that local communities don’t have—this shapes experiences and creates disparities.
- Colonial and environmental concerns: Rapid tourism-driven development risks cultural erasure, infrastructure collapse (sewage/clean water), and environmental damage.
- Diaspora complexity: Historical ties (19th-century refugees, artists like Audre Lorde) show a long lineage of Black people seeking refuge and affirmation abroad. Modern moves are part of that continuum, but require humility and engagement with local Afro-descendant communities.
- No universal utopia: Relocation can bring relief and space to breathe, but it doesn’t automatically solve interpersonal, structural, or emotional issues.
Notable quotes / insights
- “For African-Americans, the American dream is a nightmare.” — cited perspective reflecting why people leave.
- “Freedom is a state of mind and being able to do things without barriers and to be judged by your character versus your color.” — Patricia Talley
- Reporter reflection: seeing Tulum as both a place of healing and a place where the same social problems (racial tensions, inequalities) can reappear.
People featured / interviewed
- Adiza Egan — reporter (former Snap Judgment staffer)
- Nubia Young — founder of the Facebook group Black in Tulum; expat coach
- Patricia Talley — long-term resident, academic/researcher, entrepreneur, Afro-Mexican advocate
- Residents/newcomers (an assortment of Black Americans including photographers, remote workers, and social organizers)
- Mentioned events/figures: Megan Thee Stallion (viral footage), celebrities whose visits increased visibility
Local and historical context
- Mexico abolished slavery in 1829; Black people historically sought refuge in Mexico across centuries.
- Tulum: formerly a small fishing town with Mayan heritage; became an international tourism hotspot in the 2010s and then exploded during the pandemic.
- Infrastructure and environment: population and tourist growth have outpaced infrastructure (sewage, water), and planned developments (like a new airport) threaten further change.
Conflicts and ethical considerations
- Gentrification and extraction: newcomers enjoying luxury can drive up prices, consume scarce resources, and displace locals.
- Relationship with Afro-Mexicans: calls for newcomers to support and partner with local Afro-descendant communities rather than ignore or overshadow them.
- Safety and inequality: U.S. citizenship/dollars shield some visitors from the risks faced by local migrants and residents; this creates unequal experiences of safety.
- Cultural assumptions: debates over respectability, how freedom is expressed, and who gets to define what “peace” or “utopia” looks like.
Practical recommendations / takeaways for listeners
- If considering long-term travel or relocation: research local history, Afro-descendant communities, and environmental impacts; avoid extractive behavior.
- Support local businesses and initiatives that are led by or benefit Afro-Mexicans and residents.
- Be mindful that personal respite doesn’t erase systemic issues—engage in solidarity rather than consumption-only tourism.
- Understand that relocation is a personal strategy and not a universal solution—context, privilege, and local dynamics matter.
Content warning
The episode includes frank, real-world language and racial slurs in interview excerpts (including the N-word). Listener discretion advised.
Production credits (brief)
- Reporter/Producer: Adiza Egan
- Editors: Kate Osborne, James T. Green (with Annie Oviles, Stephanie Karayuki)
- Original score: Kyle Murdoch
- Show: Snap Judgment (PRX)
If you only take away three things:
- Tulum became a refuge for many Black Americans seeking mental and physical safety during 2020–21—but it’s not a universal solution.
- The influx raised serious environmental, infrastructural, and social equity issues that affect locals and migrants differently.
- Ethical relocation requires solidarity with Afro-Mexican communities, research, and attention to local consequences.