Italy for centuries was and, to a large degree, still is a homogenous culture. Add to that the fact that issues of race here are discussed so frankly and openly -- there's apparently no taboo to saying, in a loud voice, "That black guy over there. . . ." Moreover, the reality is that most people of African descent in Italy are working as street vendors, not bankers. All this may make travelers with darker skin feel -- correctly at times -- as if they're being singled out.
Pockets of racism do exist in Italy (stereotypically, Verona and most of the Veneto top the list), but on the whole, it is an extremely warm and racially tolerant country. As one Pakistani friend of mine put it, "They're just curious, that's all."
Black Travel Online (www.blacktravelonline.com) posts news on upcoming events and includes links to articles and travel-booking sites. Soul of America (www.soulofamerica.com) is a comprehensive website, with travel tips, event and family-reunion postings, and sections on historically black beach resorts and active vacations.
Agencies and organizations that provide resources for black travelers include: Rodgers Travel (tel. 800-825-1775; www.rodgerstravel.com); the African American Association of Innkeepers International (tel. 877-422-5777; www.africanamericaninns.com); and Henderson Travel & Tours (tel. 800-327-2309 or 301-650-5700; www.hendersontravel.com), which has specialized in trips to Africa since 1957.
Go Girl: The Black Woman's Guide to Travel & Adventure (Eighth Mountain Press) is a compilation of travel essays by writers including Jill Nelson and Audre Lorde. The African-American Travel Guide by Wayne C. Robinson (Hunter Publishing; www.hunterpublishing.com) was published in 1997, so it may be somewhat dated. Travel and Enjoy Magazine (tel. 866-266-6211; www.travelandenjoy.com) is a travel magazine and guide. The well-done Pathfinders Magazine (tel. 877-977-PATH; www.pathfinderstravel.com) includes articles on everything from Rio de Janeiro to Ghana to upcoming ski, diving, golf, and tennis trips.
