Tourism
Why Black American Women Are Choosing Mexico City Over the U.S. in Search of a New Dream
On a bright afternoon in Mexico’s sprawling capital, a group of Black American women sit at a street-side café, shifting easily between English and Spanish as they discuss everyday life — health care costs, dating, and where to find the city’s best pastries. For them, this is no vacation. It is home.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Mexico City has become an unexpected destination for Americans seeking opportunity outside the United States. Among those leading this quiet migration are Black women who say the promise of safety, affordability and dignity has been harder to secure back home.
For many, the move is deeply personal. Retirees, single mothers, teachers and wellness professionals describe leaving the U.S. after years of political tension, racial stress and economic uncertainty. Mexico City, with its layered history, cultural depth and comparatively lower cost of living, offered something they felt was increasingly out of reach in the United States: the freedom to live without constant scrutiny.
“Here, I feel like a person first,” said Sara Wright, a retired paralegal who relocated from California and is now pursuing permanent residency. “In the U.S., being Black often comes with assumptions. Here, it doesn’t.”
The shift gained momentum during the pandemic, when remote work untethered many professionals from physical offices. According to Mexico’s Migration Policy Unit, applications and renewals for U.S. residency visas in Mexico rose sharply between 2019 and 2022, reflecting a broader movement of Americans settling south of the border.
Yet these women reject the popular label “expat.” Instead, they insist on being called immigrants — a deliberate choice that reflects both their long-term intentions and their awareness of global inequality.
“We’re not here to pass through,” said Zakiya Harris, a wellness coach from Oakland who moved to Mexico City with her teenage daughter during the height of pandemic lockdowns. “We came with legal residency to build a life.”
Safety is a recurring theme. While Mexico is often portrayed internationally as dangerous, many of the women say daily life in Mexico City feels calmer than in U.S. cities shaped by gun violence and racial profiling. Mothers, in particular, speak of the relief of raising children in an environment where curiosity outweighs fear.
At the same time, their presence exists within a growing debate about gentrification. Protests have erupted in parts of Mexico City over rising rents and the displacement of local families, with activists accusing foreign newcomers of driving up housing costs. In neighbourhoods such as Condesa and Roma Norte, rents have surged since 2020.
The women acknowledge the tension but argue their experiences differ from wealthier foreign arrivals. Many live in less fashionable districts, rent modest apartments, share housing and prioritise local businesses. They speak openly about their privilege as Americans — even as Black women — and the responsibility that comes with it.
For a Ghanaian and African audience, the story resonates beyond borders. It reflects a global pattern of Black diaspora movement, where people of African descent are reassessing where they feel most valued and secure. Much like return-to-Africa conversations among African-Americans, the Mexico City migration is rooted in agency, choice and the search for belonging.
“It’s about dignity,” said one woman who left the U.S. after decades of working in public education. “Not struggling to prove your humanity every day.”
Mexico City is not without contradictions. Violence against women remains a serious national issue, and economic inequality is stark. But for these Black American women, the city offers room to breathe — to slow down, to engage with culture, and to imagine a future not defined by survival.
In a world where mobility is increasingly global, their journey underscores a shifting truth: the dream once sold as uniquely American is now being re-imagined — and sometimes realised — far from U.S. shores.
In the bustling coastal markets of Cape Coast and the historic streets of Elmina, a peculiar roll call echoes through the ages.
You will hear names like Blankson, Ferguson, and Bates—surnames that sound more like the streets of London or Liverpool than the central coast of Ghana.
While many post-colonial nations have sought to strip away the nomenclature of their former occupiers, for the Fante people, these European names have become an indelible, complex part of their cultural DNA.
The story of the “English-named” Fante is not merely one of colonial imposition; it is a fascinating case study in trade, social climbing, and the fluid nature of identity.
The Trade Desk and the Baptismal Font
The roots of this naming convention stretch back centuries to when the Fante were the primary intermediaries between the European powers and the interior of the Gold Coast.
Living along the coast in places like Takoradi and Sekondi, the Fante were the first to engage in the intensive exchange of textiles, metals, and alcohol.
Over decades of close contact, the lines between business and personal identity began to blur. A local man working for a British trader named Bates might eventually adopt the name for professional convenience.
When the waves of Christian missionaries followed the traders, the process accelerated. To be baptized was to be “civilized” in the eyes of the Church, and baptism often required an English name.
These names were easier for the British to pronounce and, more importantly, they signaled a high level of association with the ruling power.
For a Fante father in the 1800s, naming his son “Jason Kwame Bates” wasn’t seen as an abandonment of his heritage, but rather as equipping his child with a “passport” to better opportunities.
When Association Becomes Status
As the decades passed, what began as a tool for trade evolved into a marker of prestige. English names became tied to high social status.
This psychological shift was famously critiqued by the revered Ghanaian filmmaker Kwaw Ansah in his masterpiece, Heritage Africa.
In the film, the protagonist, Kwesi Atta Bosomefi, chooses to reinvent himself as “Quincy Arthur Bosumfield.” While the change sounds creative, the narrative serves as a cautionary tale: in his desperate bid to climb the colonial social ladder by changing his name and ideals, he ultimately loses his sense of self.
It was a poignant reflection of a reality for many: the fear that in adopting the world of the “other,” one might inadvertently erase their own.
Living in Both Worlds
Today, the presence of these names in Ghana is no longer viewed through the narrow lens of colonial submission. Instead, it represents a unique synthesis of history. The modern Fante perspective suggests a form of dual citizenship of the soul.
The lesson hidden in this naming history is profound: one can be “Kofi” and “Joseph” simultaneously. Having a European surname does not negate one’s Ghanaian essence.
The challenge, as the history of the coast teaches us, is to move freely between both worlds without ever forgetting which one truly belongs to you.
Tourism
Five Stranded Cruise Ships Safely Exit Arabian Gulf Through Strait of Hormuz Before Iran Reimposes Closure
Five major cruise ships that had been stranded in the Arabian Gulf since the outbreak of the Iran conflict successfully transited the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, April 17, just hours before Iran announced it was closing the vital waterway again.
The ships — Celestyal Discovery, Celestyal Journey, MSC Euribia, Mein Schiff 4, and Mein Schiff 5 (TUI Cruises) — took advantage of a brief window when Iran declared the strait open to commercial vessels following a two-week US-Iran ceasefire announced on April 7. Celestyal Discovery was the first to pass through on Friday evening, with the others following closely behind.
According to Marine Traffic data, all five vessels cleared the strait before Iran reversed its decision on Saturday, citing the continued US blockade on Iranian ports.
The ships are now safely en route to their next destinations.
MSC Cruises confirmed that MSC Euribia has safely transited the strait and is heading to Northern Europe. The ship will resume its summer season earlier than expected, with a cruise departing from Kiel, Germany, on May 16. Guests affected by earlier cancellations have been offered the opportunity to join this sailing.
Celestyal Cruises, whose two ships were also among those repositioned, is preparing to restart Mediterranean operations in early May. The line’s next scheduled departures include a three-night Iconic Greek Islands cruise on Celestyal Discovery on May 1 and a seven-night Heavenly Greece, Italy and Croatia sailing on Celestyal Journey on May 2.
The successful transit brings relief to thousands of passengers and crew members who had been stuck for weeks due to the regional conflict and shipping disruptions in the Gulf.
Nestled in the breathtaking Kwahu-Nkwatia mountains, this luxury destination blends bold design, world-class amenities, and rapid expansion
Eastern Region, Ghana – Perched dramatically amid the scenic Kwahu-Nkwatia mountains, Rock City Hotel stands as one of Ghana’s most ambitious and visually striking hospitality projects. Opened in 2019, the resort has quickly emerged as a leading destination for both leisure and business travelers seeking luxury in a mountainous setting.
What truly sets Rock City apart is its distinctive architecture, crafted by talented Black female architects. This design excellence gives the property a unique contemporary African aesthetic that harmonizes with the surrounding natural landscape.
A Growing Giant in African Hospitality
Currently featuring hundreds of meticulously designed rooms, Rock City Hotel is undergoing significant expansion. Once complete, it is projected to boast over 2,000 rooms (with some projections reaching 2,700), making it Africa’s largest hotel. The development includes a wide array of recreational and entertainment facilities such as:
- State-of-the-art conference and meeting spaces
- Outdoor pools and leisure areas
- Adventure offerings including paragliding and canopy walkways
- Plans for additional attractions like a water park, aquarium, zoo, and golf courses
The hotel has already become a vibrant entertainment hub during peak periods such as Easter and other holidays, drawing visitors from across Ghana and the diaspora who come to celebrate in style against the stunning mountain backdrop.
More Than Just a Hotel
Rock City Hotel caters to both leisure guests seeking relaxation and mountain adventures and business travelers needing modern conference facilities. Its strategic location in the Eastern Region positions it as an ideal gateway to explore Kwahu’s rich cultural heritage, scenic hiking trails, and vibrant local festivals.
As the resort continues to expand, it symbolizes Ghana’s rising profile in the global hospitality industry and its growing confidence in delivering large-scale, high-quality tourism infrastructure.
Whether you’re looking for a luxurious mountain getaway, world-class events, or simply breathtaking views, Rock City Hotel offers an unforgettable African hospitality experience.
For more information, visit rockcityhotelgh.com.
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