Roots tourism: a second wave of Double Consciousness for African Americans

Abstract

The African diaspora’s ‘re‐migration’ to presumed homelands in Africa has been steadily gaining popularity. In fact, with the recent emergence of the Black Travel Movement, including organizations and companies that cater specifically towards Black travelers, the industry has seen a surge in travelers wanting to ‘go back home’. This idea of returning to the homeland is permeated with symbolism and meaning, including a longing to regain a sense of social and cultural repatriation that was lost hundreds of years ago during the initial slave trade from Africa’s West coast, one of the most notable countries, being Ghana. Ghana has received quite a bit of attention in academic literature, however, few have analyzed the extent to which this type of roots travel can be connected to the identities of African-Americans and their search for social justice. In order to address this gap, this study will explore the lived experiences of African-American roots travelers on a trip Ghana. Using an ethnographic case study approach, data was collected before, during and after the trip. Findings reveal a form of ‘Double Consciousness’ and a sense of heightened civic commitment to social justice as a result of the travel experience.

Keywords:

• Africa
• Double Consciousness
• Ghana
• roots tourism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data for this case study is primary qualitative data and is available in the raw format of transcribed focus groups and interviews if requested.

Notes

1 The term Black and African-American is used interchangeably to refer to people with African ancestry.

2 Sharecropping is a form of agriculture where landowners allow farmers to farm their land in exchange for a share of the crop.

3 Jim Crow laws were laws to enforce legal racial segregation in the United States of America.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alana Dillette

Alana K. Dillette , Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the L. Robert Payne School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at San Diego State University. Originally from the Island Nation of The Bahamas, her research interests include how issues related to diversity and inclusion affect equity in the tourism realm. She explores the the intersection between tourism, race, gender & ethnicity. Currently, she is working on research to gain a better understanding of the African-American travel experience.