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Hi @KCarole and welcome! I would say absolutely none at all.I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
Very possibly, but the question was put without qualification, and answers have been provided as such.I think that it's probably difficult for a person of European descent to be sure that there is absolutely no racial discrimination on the Camino.
Hello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
I have been to Spain a few times in the past and have never experienced any discrimination. I will also be starting around the same time 1st or 2nd of April and the thought never entered my mind. Not to say that people don't have their personal prejudices, especially with so many people from varied backgrounds, but I think you wont have any problems with that. After all we are walking the way of Saint James I hope everyone is or will be tolerant and kind. There might be one rotten apple but we cant let it spoil the brunch Buen Camino! hope to see you.Hello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
Hello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
I would hope zero. But hard for a white male to really know. I thought we had zero in Australia but my wife (Asian) tells a very different story sadly.
But I’ll still bet on zero for a Camino
Exactly. This is not a question a Caucasian can personally answer, folks.
Hello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
Spain is (unfortunately) a fairly ethnically homogeneous country, especially in rural areas. This means that you will stand out a bit more than your average Caucasian pilgrim. This does not mean that you will encounter racism but that you may feel a bit more oberserved by the locals - If anything I would call it curiosity; however, this also depends on your own perception. Best of luck and Buen CaminoHello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
I have walked with pilgrims of all races, colours and creeds and never heard a one complain about discrimination from other pilgrims, albergue owners or people in the street. The only person I ever heard abusing a pilgrim, me, was a con man trying to part me from my money. He was nice until he realised he was getting nothingHello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
Well, it's a question for the heart, for all of us to investigate honestly in our day to day lives. We may not like what we see, but that's what makes for positive change and communal harmony.This whole thread has caused me to go deeper than the original question and to re-examine some of my attitudes towards others who are unlike me in skin color, nationality, politics, social/economic status, etc. Are my attitudes based on prejudice or stereotype? Is there a difference? Is one more benign? Perhaps this is a question for another venue.
Probably.Perhaps this is a question for another venue.
One part of my way back from my last Camino, mostly hitching but with about an extra 200-250 K hiking, involved walking through the entirety of the Arab quarter of Marseilles (about a 3 hour walk) -- the racist attitudes directed towards me were palpable, including some looks of outright overt hatred.
Don't make the mistake that white folks are never the victims of it.
Never saw any indication of discrimination. I would hope this would never be the case.Hello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
Sorry to hear of your experience. I am looking forward to starting my first Camino in April and honestly I have no worries about racism. There is always fear with what some don’t understand. As you can see my skin color is light, I am mixed race born in Jamica now living in the US. I have seen racism from all sides. I travel in Europe extensively and if it’s there I don't notice it because I know who I am consider their reaction to be their problem not mine. As long as the actions are not in my face I ignore stupidity. This might sound simplistic but If I encounter blatant hatred, I confront it but do so in an intelligent manner. Some people cannot help who they are or what they feel and we can only control how we react to them and the situation. They fear what they do not know and fear turn to hate and distain. My best advise is to ignore and walk your walk. To find love is a blessing so my best wishes to you both and I hope you continue to cherish each other. In my opinion those who act in hatred are missing love in their own life. Love is indeed patient and kind. They forget they walk in the footsteps of many pligrims who came before and also walk in the footsteps of St. James. Dont let their hatred change you and Forgive them because they know not what they do.I have been in a mixed race relationship that actually started on the Camino three years ago. I honestly never gave the issue much thought because I rarely came face to face with it in my daily life.
Now racism is a prominent part of my life. I saw the first signs of it on the Camino. Two pilgrims who were very talkative and friendly from SJPP to Pamplona suddenly became more than subtlety hostile after I started walking with a woman of color. Thankfully my partner is a strong woman filled with grace.
Racism has no common identity. We have encountered it from men and women. Blacks and whites. Young and old. Conservatives and liberals. We have encountered it in Germany, Spain, Portugal, Iceland, the Netherlands, and the United States. It takes many forms. Most is subtle but on a few occasions it has been outright outrageous.
Each incident takes takes a piece of my heart.
I think its ok to respond and also agree no need to be defensive because her question is specific to her needs and fears. I believe it is valid for her to ask. Being of mixed race I believe racism shows no boundaries. Ignorance is ignorance white, black, purple, yellow or brown.No question about it.
However this question was from an African Ancestored person about walking the Camino. No need to feel defensive. As white persons, we will never be able to specifically respond to this question or to answer it for other black persons.
Let's not kid ourselves that all pilgrims are free of idiotic prejudice please...
Even when intolerance and discrimination are coming from fear, they still suck when you're on the receiving end. And in this context, denial is not our friend. So I am very glad that you have brought this into the open and that we are talking about it, @KCarole - thank you.Some people cannot help who they are or what they feel and we can only control how we react to them and the situation. They fear what they do not know and fear turns to hate and distain.
That albergue owner have a personal problem himself.Unfortunately,I did experience an episode of racial discrimination in a municipal albergue in a small town. It had a small bar attached. I waited an hour for the bar owner/albergue manager to be ready to check me in. It was very hot so I sat there with a cold drink. A young Asian 20 plus man came and asked her for a bed and she told him the albergue was full. She pointed to her skin when he was gone speaking in Spanish. When I eventually was allowed to go upstairs I found the albergue to be empty with about 12 beds. Later that evening a woman came who spoke both english and Spanish. I asked her to ask the albergue manager why she pointed to her skin. She perceived the colour of this young man's skin to be dirty and it would attract bedbugs.
I met people from all over the world and this was the only example I encountered. The rest of my encounters were welcoming of everyone.
Unfortunately,I did experience an episode of racial discrimination in a municipal albergue in a small town. It had a small bar attached. I waited an hour for the bar owner/albergue manager to be ready to check me in. It was very hot so I sat there with a cold drink. A young Asian 20 plus man came and asked her for a bed and she told him the albergue was full. She pointed to her skin when he was gone speaking in Spanish. When I eventually was allowed to go upstairs I found the albergue to be empty with about 12 beds. Later that evening a woman came who spoke both english and Spanish. I asked her to ask the albergue manager why she pointed to her skin. She perceived the colour of this young man's skin to be dirty and it would attract bedbugs.
I met people from all over the world and this was the only example I encountered. The rest of my encounters were welcoming of everyone.
Hello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
Since I speak Spanish, at that point I would have immediately told her off and demanded a refund. If I did not, as soon as I was aware she lied, I would have taken the same action. Then I would have demanded an "Hoja de Reclamación." If she were to refuse either, I would call the Guardia Civil.… she told him the albergue was full. She pointed to her skin when he was gone speaking in Spanish. When I eventually was allowed to go upstairs I found the albergue to be empty with about 12 beds.
What if it really was about bed bugs? Lots of hospitaleros reject pilgrims they suspect of having them. Just sayin’. More information might be useful at times before going postal...Since I speak Spanish, at that point I would have immediately told her off and demanded a refund. If I did not, as soon as I was aware she lied, I would have taken the same action. Then I would have demanded an "Hoja de Reclamación." If she were to refuse either, I would call the Guardia Civil.
Suspecting bedbugs on the basis of skin color? Nope, I will not cooperate with that.What if it really was about bed bugs? Lots of hospitaleros reject pilgrims they suspect of having them. Just sayin’. More information might be useful at times before going postal...
the best things I love about the Camino is meeting people from all over the world and learning about life in their country. From my experience there is absolutely no racial discrimination on any of the Caminos. You will love the Camino......Hello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
Unfortunately if one pilgrim is white and the other black some will manufacture differences and then treat them differently. The OP is wondering about how many will do this, what differences might be made and what treatment might result from this.One can be a billionaire and walk side by side with someone who just survives day to day and one could not tell the difference between them.
KCarole,
This is the type of question women pose about safely walking camino alone. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred I say, yes it is safe to do so and buen camino. Initially, I was going to give a pat answer: No prejudice and buen camino. But, sometimes a little more exposition is okay too.
Answer, is there prejudice on camino: Yes. On my first camino I had so many time constraints, I walked quickly, shepherded my mom, and experienced so many camino angels and miracles that was pretty much it. No time for reflection or much else. My schedule was: eat, walk, sleep, camino miracle repeat.
However camino number two was the most miraculous and fun of my five times on pilgrimage. My time was my own. I was a sola peregrina. But....
One day I was walking with three white American guys. They entered a store in one of Spain's many small towns. I waited outside soaking up the sun. After exiting the store guys asked me did I experience prejudice on the way. I asked: why ask? Apparently the proprietor gave them flack for walking with a morena. And, twice kids hollered Negra to me. Quite often locals smiled and told me I was a beautiful morena. Just threw that in for a feel good moment.
When I first volunteered as a hospitalera occasionally I'd hear remarks. One time a pilgrim told my fellows the albergue would lose customers due to my presence. Said pilgrim, said, pilgrims would look at me and keep right on walking. Even though that conversation was in Spanish I understood completely. All those years of Junior high, High school, and college Spanish stood me well.
While enjoying the sun, Brazilian pilgrim jokingly told me to get out of the sun because I was already too Black. His joke. My response: tight-lipped.
I could cite a few more examples but you get the gist.
Now, was my perma-tan a barrier to albergue admittance: no. Did my dark skin preclude wonderful friendships formed: no. Nothing about being an African-American woman seemed to stand between me and a glorious experience I've sought five times over from 2001-2014. And praying to repeat as often as time and money will allow.
When I volunteered a second time a young Black guy from Chicago was shocked to see me working as a hospitalera. There's just not that many Blacks on camino.
And, on that note. One of the three white guys with whom I was walking, on camino number two, wondered aloud how come so many pilgrims knew my name and gave me hugs and kisses after only a few days trek from SJPP. I laughed. Then we all laughed. I am quite gregaroius... but my personality is not.... Again, there just aren't that many Blacks of any nationality on camino.
A lifetime of being African is all the prep you'll need for any and all "interesting" moments on the way.
Buen camino.
Unfortunately if one pilgrim is white and the other black some will manufacture differences and then treat them differently. The OP is wondering about how many will do this, what differences might be made and what treatment might result from this.
Many replies have been made that there will be no differences in treatment found due to race but people who would likely experience these differences have responded that that is not the case.
I hope that @KCarole will decide that the benefits of the Camino will be significant enough to take the walk.
Indeed. And we who may be unwittingly doing it may also not have any idea of the impact of what we're saying or doing.It is the only inkling I have of how this subtle racism takes place and how it must be perceived by the recipient, day after day. These small things can be so small that we, who they are not aimed at, may not notice. Just saying.
No doubt there are many things I wouldn't notice in the way my black friends are treated, but I certainly would have noticed that one! On the other hand, is it possible the waiter is unfamiliar with Brits and brought what he/she assumed you would want? Which as stereotyping, is still wrong but not really racism. In Spain, I am always given one or two bags of sugar with my cafe con leche even if I say in advance that I don't need it. In Korea, I cannot get coffee with cream or milk even I I say it twice while ordering (have to say "latte" which means foam that I also don't like). In Rhode Island, coffee always came with sugar and cream already in it unless I took pains to communicate otherwise in advance.The waiter apparently treated us exactly the same, but when the tea came I noticed that his was served with a saucer and a tea spoon and a small biscuit on the side whereas I received just a cup, and the waiter walked away. I….
It is the only inkling I have of how this subtle racism takes place and how it must be perceived by the recipient, day after day. These small things can be so small that we, who they are not aimed at, may not notice. Just saying.
My wife and I were baby-sitting for an extremely dark friend of ours, and took the baby in his stroller to a market. No problem in general, but one lady who saw us showed unmistakeably on her face that she was very angry at the sight of two whites with a black baby. And two of my white friends were not allowed to adopt the black baby they had loved for years (after her mother was killed by her father) on the grounds that it would be "robbing her of her heritage." (What kind of "heritage" is an orphanage or series of foster parents?)Unfortunately if one pilgrim is white and the other black some will manufacture differences and then treat them differently. The OP is wondering about how many will do this, what differences might be made and what treatment might result from this.
it was part of a survey and the officer even stamped my Pilgrim Passport.
Hello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
I am a white woman in my late sixties, and have been asked by the Guardia for my ID. It was done very professionally, and they explained that they routinely do this and talk to pilgrims, perhaps they were collecting semi-random data. This was on the VDLP and later I talked to half a dozen pilgrims who had passed by the Guardia stopped by the path. Some were asked for ID, and some (including a Chinese) were not.one thing you may need to be aware of is that local officials are on the look out for ilegal immigrants from North Africa moving from the South of Spain heading North. Anyone of who is of "Colour" and travelling on foot or apparently hanging around towns may expect to be asked to produce ID documents. I have seen this happen in the South of Spain, but it was done professionally. Much of Europe requires adults to carry valid ID at all times.
That’s what I loved about my two Caminos..the equality. We are all tired, excited, dirty, joyful and EQUAL.This question actually surprised me when I read it.
Further, it is great to see how many readers have answered in a common voice of none being seen, heard etc...
My opinion is this is one of the many "beauties" of any Camino.
In 3 Camino trips I have NEVER witnessed, heard or been part of ANY form of discrimination.
On a Camino EVERYONE is (should be) equal. Equally sharing food, water as well as the discomforts that come along with walking so many miles in so many days.
One can be a billionaire and walk side by side with someone who just survives day to day and one could not tell the difference between them.
Hello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
As an older person I know that any racism comes from the individual and it comes from within. You may experience it but, my advice, just treat it with the disdain it deserves.
Hello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
Well said!Leave that brick at home, you will be carrying much weight already. Do you, and let others carry their own bricks.
I am excited to hear you are going on Camino. There was no racial discrimination anywhere that I walked.Hello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
You won’t find any racial discrimination on the Camino Frances.
I think it is naive to suggest that there is zero racial discrimination on the camino and in Spain. However, I don't think it is something that should discourage a potential pilgrim.
I was surprised and incredibly disappointed to find quite a lot of racism throughout the camino - never from locals, always from other pilgrims. It was an exhausting experience having to justify almost on a daily basis why as a person of colour I was walking the camino (these weren't general questions about walking, they were specifically race-based). I was regularly pointed at and spoken to rudely with racist comments. There were some just ignorant comments, but mostly it was blatant racism though luckily no-one was ever violent towards me. I met only a couple of other people along the way who had darker skin and they also had similar experiences. The Camino was still an amazing experience and I met some really wonderful pilgrims and locals along the Way - I don't want to put you off, but I guess just to say go into the experience expecting exactly the same kind of comments/ behaviour you get in 'normal' life.Hello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
This is a reasonable question. In the US racial discrimination is usually subtle but sometimes appaling. I urge you to see the movie Green Book. It chronicles the difficulties black Americans endured while traveling in the 1960s.Hello and big thanks to members of the forum for sharing. I have been reading posts religiously hoping not to have to bring this question up myself. I plan on hiking the Camino Frances solo starting April 1st. I am of African descent and black ; I wonder what level of racial discrimination I may come across during my Camino.
This will be my first Camino. I would appreciate if anyone has experience they can share or advice.
Hmmm? We don't do politics on this forum. Even the "correct" kind. Gender and gender perception don't really have much to do with Camino either. (Unless you want to revive the old "co-ed" showers topici have to say this is one of the strangest camino topics. now we have to do one about political correctness for transgender peregrinos
I would like to say there is none, I do believe it is very rare but twice I noticed discrimination once by a young fellow who made a derogatory comment about the amount of South Koreans on the Way, the other by a man in his 50's towards a German friend of mine. Generally Speaking though no, what happens in the real world is separate than what happens on the Camino as we are all walking along the same path facing the same challenges.Miss KCarole, welcome aboard, your first post! Racial discrimination? I would say ZERO. Good luck with the planning and execution of your camino, y que la luz de Dios alumbre su camino.
I don't think it is so strange for people in marginalized groups to wonder how inclusive and welcoming the camino is. I guess, for those of us who like to think that the camino is one of the more welcoming and inclusive spaces, it may seems strange. Of course it is! No one will have any problems! Some of the replies on this thread (including one from a few days ago) indicate that isn't the case and the question is reasonable. It is just our privilege that makes us so confident that it is a non-issue.i have to say this is one of the strangest camino topics. now we have to do one about political correctness for transgender peregrinos
i have to say this is one of the strangest camino topics. now we have to do one about political correctness for transgender peregrinos
I don't think anyone is saying otherwise.The concern of the OP was racial descrimination.
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