Thanksgiving 2024 is behind us, and I’m still sitting in gratitude.
Now, let me be clear…I know the connotations behind the holiday. I actually hate that it exists.
But for me, the day is not about celebrating its gruesome origins—which are messy and rooted in colonization/genocide (that we should NEVER forget). It’s more about what we’ve been able to alchemize it into as a community.
Thanksgiving Hits Different for Black Folks.
For us, it’s understood as a time to gather and love on each other. F*ck them Pilgrims, and I say that with all due disrespect.
For us, it’s a day to reflect on survival and honor the resilience of our ancestors, because if they were slaughtering indigenous people, you know Black folks were apart of that number as well.
For us, it’s about taking something ugly and making it beautiful because that’s what we always do.
This year, our Friendsgiving crew here in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico showed up and showed out. Over 60 of us came together for a potluck that had everything: delicious food, laughter, storytelling, and that soul-filling kind of connection that makes you forget you’re miles away from your birth family. Every dish I tasted was a hit, and the conversations reminded me just how incredibly vibrant our community is.
Aaaand…we have so many folks who know how to throw down in the kitchen. Look at this cornucopia…
Holidays can be hard when you’re living abroad—especially if you’re used to celebrating with family back home. But there’s something so enriching about building your own traditions with people who get it. This year’s Friendsgiving was a reminder for me and so many others here that we’re not alone in this journey, nor are we crazy to making the choice to take it.
This is a great place to give Jotina a shout-out for being such a gracious host this year. Thanks sis!
Thank You For Your Support This Season
As we wrap up Season 1 of Black Expat Stories, I also want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to each of you who has joined us on this remarkable journey. Your support—through watching, sharing, and engaging—has meant everything.
This season, we celebrated our expat pioneers. We shared the journeys of the visionaries who not only took leaps of faith to build lives abroad but went further to create supportive spaces and thriving communities for other Black expats and immigrants.
We had the privilege of featuring:
B. Roberson's heart-warming food and community at B.'s Frito Pollo in Playa Del Carmen (a special, on-location episode)
…and more. If you haven’t caught up on all the episodes already, I created a special playlist for you to binge on YouTube on your holiday break.
What Season 1 proved, beyond doubt, is that even in times of global uncertainty, Black people thrive and are positive additions to any space where our feet tread. Our mission was to showcase the beauty we’ve found in our Blaxits, and these stories have done exactly that.
I'm more excited than ever to bring you even more intimate and inspiring conversations with Black expats and immigrants all around the world in Season 2.
So stay tuned! More Black Expat Stories and more personal reflections about it all are on the way.
-Courtney
Resources & More Ways to Stay Connected
Thinking about making a move abroad and want find our where your people are? Check out my curated guide: 14 Countries With THRIVING Black Expat Communities
Curious about what it’s really like to live abroad? Black Expat Stories brings you the unfiltered, inspiring, and unforgettable journeys of those pioneering America’s Next Great Migration: The Blaxit. We’re capturing some of the most riveting stories about international living—told by Black expats and immigrants. Click to watch now!
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