I travel a lot for work, probably about 85% of the year because my work is fighting oppression, and unfortunately, oppression is everywhere. I wanted to share a series of travel tips that are related to oppression. And obviously, the act of being able to travel itself is a privilege.
If you do happen to do any of these because of gender, health, or body reasons, then you already know, this isn’t about you, it’s about everyone else. This will be a series because there are so many examples.
The first example of travel and oppression. When you go through airport security, and you put your belongings in the trays, there are two types of people: those who stack their trays at the end, and those who leave their trays for others to stack for them (this applies to when the tray system is the one where you are supposed to stack it of course).
If you are part of the latter group, know you are SUPPOSED to stack them, and don’t, then you are living the most white supremacist, capitalist version of yourself. It is white supremacy and capitalism that make you believe that everyone else is your servant.
Travel is about community and interdependence. Not individualism.
To some degree, not even being aware and not looking for signage, making the assumption without looking to see what is happening around you, can also be white supremacist and capitalist.
Travel, even when traveling solo, is never just about you. Your travel impacts hundreds, no thousands, no matter where you are.
Remember that always and dismantle the white supremacist, capitalist, imperialist ways of thinking.
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