There are some topics you just want to avoid

American travelers are always going to deal with some ridiculous questions. While this is quite jingoistic, the fact is, with the USA having so much media and news that is ubiquitous throughout the globe, awareness of our culture, history and happenings is pretty widely known.

With that being said, and with the U.S. seemingly having their hands in a lot of other people’s business, many people you meet while traveling, local or traveler alike will want to give you their two cents on just about all things American. While talking about politics, gun control, Friends and Family Guy, or education can be obnoxious, race has quickly become my least favorite topic to broach with people around the world.

While it is no secret that race issues exist in the U.S., what I've come to realize traveling is that in much of the U.S., we are actually going about issues of race in a pretty solid fashion, compared to many places around the world. With socio-economic status, access to good education, as well as abundance of opportunity still falling heavily on racial lines, I wouldn't venture to say the U.S. is anywhere near a post-racial existence. With that being said though, after having a look at racial issues in other western nations, I do think the U.S. is doing something right. Talking with other travelers from all over the world, has also led me to believe that there is a reason to have some hope in forward progress in the U.S.

With a little bit of pride fostering in my American heritage on this issue, what I have had the most trouble with personally is broaching the topic of the N-word while abroad. The fact is, the derogatory phrase has a layers and history to it that other cultures don’t completely understand. While our nation struggles with its presence, people from around the world hear it used in music or in movies, and think it is a fine word to use when talking about concepts from black and African-American culture. While in direct conversation I’m able to start a conversation around the word, many travelers have used it in passing, as well as quoting music and films. This, now, has created an issue I’m not entirely sure how to face.

Photo courtesy of American Progress