# where do Black Americans vacation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 16, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824 "2010-11-16T03:42:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mo50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@mo50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mo50)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/21 "2010-11-16T15:53:59Z")
Just anecdotally, the times I’ve visited Virginia Beach there seemed to be a pretty equal mix of black & white people. As mentioned before, Martha’s Vineyard, particularly the town of Oak Bluffs, is traditionally a pretty well established vacation spot for black people, I’m guessing a little more the well off. In having a fair number of black co-workers, I’d agree it seems like going “down south” to see family is a pretty common way to spend holidays/vacations. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/22 "2010-11-16T15:57:27Z")
> [@marieq](#): > > we never see many other race/ethnic groups at say , an Irish festival What about the Black Irish?😃 ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/23 "2010-11-16T17:34:31Z")
I think hotels/resorts mostly. There is a timeshare resort in my rural area with an indoor & outdoor swimming pool, restaurant, game room, horseback riding, mini-golf, etc that I see plenty of black folks at. But overall there aren’t as many black people in the US as popular media would have you believe. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/24 "2010-11-16T17:41:07Z")
Well, there aren’t that many black people in, you know, _North Dakota_, no. Plenty of places have plenty of black folks, and they take vacation days same as me. Now, maybe because when you travel you’re more “thrown into the mix” of the nation and see different percentages of people because all those white people travel too, but please be aware that 12% is not at all the percentage everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/25 "2010-11-16T18:01:05Z")
I’ve seen black people vacationing all over. As an interesting historical note, I recently learned about how extraordinarily difficult it used to be for black folks to take a vacation. You could literally take your life in your hands driving anywhere, navigating the landmines of “Sundown Towns” and hotels that would not accept black people, and gas stations that wouldn’t even sell them gas. This lead to the publication of special books like the “Green Guide” listing black-friendly hotels and businesses. [http://kiratianatravels.com/2010/08/23/meet-the-first-black-travel-guide-the-negro-motorits-green-guide/](http://kiratianatravels.com/2010/08/23/meet-the-first-black-travel-guide-the-negro-motorits-green-guide/) In fact, according to James Loewen’s book _Sundown Towns_, some people refused to travel at all. I suspect that many of the prejudices that made the Green Guide necessary are still present and active, albeit to a lesser degree. It was so bad that one resort in Michigan, Idlewild, was a resort specifically catering to blacks, I suspect from the Detroit area, simply because they didn’t have too many choices for vacation spots. > [@](#): > > The community of Idlewild continues to be recognized as one of the oldest, most famous, and most memorable African American resort communities in contemporary United States history. Idlewild was founded over ninety six years ago in 1912. Recognized as an intellectual center for African Americans, Idlewild was and continues to be an oasis for black economic success and community development. > > … > > During the second decade of the twentieth century, a small yet clearly distinguishable African American middle class largely composed of professionals and small businessmen and women had been established in several urban centers. Like many urbanites, they wanted the opportunity for recreational pursuits in a setting removed far from racism and discrimination in the cities. In this time period of strict racial segregation, such an escape was nowhere to be found in the midwest for African Americans. > **[Idlewild, Michigan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idlewild,_Michigan)** > > Idlewild is an unincorporated community in Yates Township, located just east of Baldwin in southeast Lake County, a rural part of northwestern lower Michigan. During the first half of the 20th century, it was one of the few resorts in the country where African-Americans were allowed to vacation and purchase property, before discrimination was outlawed through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The surrounding area is within Manistee National Forest. The community encompasses Lake Idlewild, and the ... I find the need for Idlewild a scary thing in the ostensibly free U.S. One hopeful note is that the resort declined through greater acceptance of black tourists elsewhere (good for blacks, not so good for the resort). Apparently it’s now become a retirement community and nostalgic retreat. ---
**Author:** ![hibernicus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hibernicus/32/2802_2.png) [@hibernicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hibernicus)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/26 "2010-11-16T18:17:07Z")
> [@GiantRat](#): > > Thinking of my friends and colleagues are (or were black - meaning they’re no longer my colleagues, not that they’re no longer black 😃 ), one often trips to the Caribbean, one went to Sweden a lot (of course, he married a Swede) You were a professional golfer? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/27 "2010-11-16T18:42:33Z")
I go to Disney World often, and though it never occured to me to do a count, I don’t recall ever noticing an underrepresentation of black people there. Like Wilbo, I’m curious to know how you’d describe “only handfuls.” What percentages would you expect? Among several of my black co-workers, offhand I can think of one woman who also goes to Disney a lot, one who goes on cruises at least once a year, one who takes his family on various road trips to national parks and resort towns. Pretty much ordinary vacation-y stuff if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/28 "2010-11-16T19:38:20Z")
> [@hibernicus](#): > > You were a professional golfer? No, sadly… I worked for the Big Four (accountancy). ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/29 "2010-11-16T19:44:42Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > Well, there aren’t that many black people in, you know, _North Dakota_, no. Plenty of places have plenty of black folks, and they take vacation days same as me. Now, maybe because when you travel you’re more “thrown into the mix” of the nation and see different percentages of people because all those white people travel too, but please be aware that 12% is not at all the percentage everywhere. Yes but DisneyWorld and cruiselines attract people from all across the country, not just Philadelphia. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/30 "2010-11-16T19:53:25Z")
There are two places black people like to go, and that’s Walmart and Six Flags. _Black!_ ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/31 "2010-11-16T20:01:27Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Everyone knows that black folks can’t swim, so of course you wouldn’t see them on cruises. There is a long history of cruises that went horribly wrong for black people. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/32 "2010-11-16T20:08:05Z")
Psst - post 19. ---
**Author:** ![marieq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@marieq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marieq)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/33 "2010-11-16T20:41:12Z")
> [@Wilbo523](#): > > Curious what % of the people on the cruise or at DisneyWorld, does the OP expect to be black? Any amount over 12% would be unreasonable, based upon the current demographics of the US. well that is a good point. but I certainly saw a heck of a lot less than 12%. we like to watch crowds & for hours we not see ONE black person in disneyworld. & on a cruise ship, ok, you got 3000 pax that would mean, 300+ average. the cruises I have been on you would best see 1%. since diz etc are a big vacation draw, I just wondered what else the black society were going to! ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/34 "2010-11-16T22:15:55Z")
I’ve always seen my share of black folks on any vacation I’ve taken–well, except for western Nebraska, but hey. Theme parks, historic sites and museums, touristy parts of San Francisco or Washington DC (and, yes, there were black tourists in addition to black workers). Then again, I’m poor and can’t really afford cruises or DisneyWorld. Neither can a lot of my friends–or at least they don’t talk about it. Even my better-off friends tend to go to Europe and such rather than touristy places. I imagine it’s a similar dynamic: many or most black folks don’t have the fundage to take expensive touristy vacations, and even the better-off black folks don’t hear about these sorts of things all that often, so they opt for other destinations. ETA: **Cal** , I think you’re probably closer than I am. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/35 "2010-11-16T22:24:51Z")
One place I’ve been as a tourist where I didn’t see a single black person, tourist or resident - Salt Lake City. Wow. I mean, I’m white, but those people were _white._ ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/36 "2010-11-16T22:34:04Z")
there used to be a lot of resorts owned and operated by blacks. They catered to upper middle class black families. Sadly most didn’t survive integration. There wasn’t a need for them anymore. I read this book a few years ago. There’s a lot of good information about the upper black middle class and the business that they frequented. It’s very interesting. > [@](#): > > ‘By the 1890’s, you had a middle-class black community who had the resources to come for a weekend vacation,’’ said Robert C. Hayden, a black historian and co-author of the book ‘‘African-Americans on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket’’ (Select Publications, 1999). ‘‘Unlike other black resorts, this one grew alongside the white community.’’ > **[HAVENS; Shifting Sands At a Historic Black Enclave (Published 2003)](https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/25/travel/havens-shifting-sands-at-a-historic-black-enclave.html)** > > Article on changes that are taking place in town of Oak Bluffs, African-American resort on northern tip of Martha's Vineyard; black-owned shops and restaurants have closed and many older black families are selling homes to newcomers, most of whom are... ---
**Author:** ![Yarster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/7c8e57/32.png) [@Yarster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yarster)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/37 "2010-11-16T23:29:39Z")
I can definitely say that I see a black representation about equal to the population as a whole at Disneyland, but until this thread, it never occurred to me that I almost never see anyone black on cruise ships. Every other race seems pretty well represented, however. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/38 "2010-11-17T01:09:25Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > One place I’ve been as a tourist where I didn’t see a single black person, tourist or resident - Salt Lake City. Wow. I mean, I’m white, but those people were _white._ You won’t find the residents there being black either. I had two kids in my entire high school that were black, and they were siblings. Racial diversity is measured by what shade your sandy blonde hair is\* \*only partially kidding. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/39 "2010-11-17T01:20:27Z")
We did see ONE black person the whole trip. Crazy shirtless homeless dude with a shopping cart. I could have kissed him, it was so home-like. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824/40 "2010-11-17T01:29:59Z")
Some Black Americans vacation in a particular place in America, just like some White Americans do. Other Black Americans vacation in some other part of the Universe, just like some White Americans do. The real question is, where do the Other Colors of Americans vacation? Those places are probably avoided by Black and White Americans alike. I think All Real Americans should vacation in the same place at the same time so we can keep an eye on each other. We should all go to Canada. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-do-black-americans-vacation/560824.md?page=3)