To be dreading going to USA?

[AllisonAndColeAreBoring]

Going on USA road trip in 4 weeks.

I'm dreading it for two reasons - 1. I'm mixed race and have found out a lot of the places we're stopping off at are racist. Arizona especially. DH has booked us into a saloon motel thing in Death Valley and a few of the reviews state that it's popular with bikers and truckers and don't even consider staying there if you're not white, heterosexual American as you will stand out like a sore thumb and will not be welcome! Another place is flagstaff where the reviews state its a trump supporters haven and people of colour will stand out.

1. The driving. I'm not a confident driver but will need to share the driving out there. DH has set me up on GTA5 to practice driving on the right side of road and junctions etc but a game cannot be compared to real life can it?!

He thinks I'm purposely trying to cause drama and moaning about the hotel's to get my way on expensive accommodation and moaning about the driving so I don't have to do any.

Are my fears founded or am I indeed being a princess like he's making out?

I guess the bottom line for me is that no one* in my extended family & high school friends would hesitate to go to the places OP has mentioned -- if they wanted to go, they'd be there. (They live within driving distance.)

*includes Indian, Philipino, El Salvadoran, Korean, Chinese, Peruvian, gay female, African American, gay male, Mexican, white English, hippy dips, mixes of any of the previous....

Going to Death Valley in summer is ridiculous whatever colour you are.
It’s insanely hot.

You didn’t answer my question tornfromtheinside

With regard to the driving we found a sat-nav really helpful when it came to which lane etc, and also easier to find places.
The US is great, have a wonderful time.

You're over analysing things and worrying about nothing

You didn’t answer my question tornfromtheinside

No I didn't. My racial background has no bearing on the state of the USA. Nor will it change the lady's experience in the USA.

I have worked in the USA, with white, black, Indian and Russian colleagues, across multiple states. The experience is as mixed as the UK is. In my view, the US is no worse than Europe and the lady has nothing to fear.

You're surely not going to suggest my race is a factor are you?

Going to Death Valley in summer is ridiculous whatever colour you are.
It’s insanely hot.

It didn't get that moniker for nothing!
Definitely not a place to be for the inexperienced tourist.

The hottest temperature on record for Death Valley is 56.7 C. Today is much nicer, a mere 42 C.

No one with any sense tours Death Valley in the summer.

The comments on this thread will have put the OP off visiting the US for ever.

The USA has some of the most amazing landscapes.
The people can be a little 'OTT' by English standards, but that's just their way. They can also be so amazingly polite and welcoming and great great people.
It would be such a shame for someone to miss out or not fully enjoy their time in the US.
It's akin to telling an American not to come to the UK because we have UKIP, and we have areas of crime (London being one) and we have racists on the streets (including grandparents and middle class folk).
Is it even close to being enough to stop someone coming to the UK? of course it's not!

Why should it be any different when we visit the US?

I’m a white heterosexual American (who hasn’t lived in the US in many years) and honestly I don’t feel super comfortable there outside of major cities. Though most Americans are pretty friendly to tourists, because you’re interesting, as long as you steer to politically neutral topics.

The driving thing, you’ll likely be okay. Roads are big and wide. It freaks me out driving there too (and I drove there for 15 years), but you’ll adjust.

Hope you manage to enjoy your trip and come back grateful not to live there (I always do!).

My racial background has no bearing on the state of the USA

It has a bearing on your comments though. From a white person they’d come across as ignorant and patronising.

I'm white but my not white DH has had racist crap in the UK (as have I - yes, you can be racist to white people, it exists) but not in the US.

In the US they tend to leap on your accent and ask about electricity supply, kettles, politicians, ask if you have been to some obscure part of the country where they have relatives/have visited, and boggle over eurostar.

It has a bearing on your comments though. From a white person they’d come across as ignorant and patronising.

What's ignorant is making the assumption that from a white person it must be ignorant and the implication that a non white would be more informed.

Would a white person in the USA be less informed than black person in Nigeria?
As I've said the USA isn't perfect, neither is the UK.
I've.given my opinion based on working on the USA with colleagues from a over the world and of various ethnic backgrounds. The prejudice experienced was no worse than the UK.

Context is everything with racial issues as I’m sure you’re aware.

Comments that could be reassuring from a non-white speaking from direct personal experience, could equally be minimising and ignorant from someone who is not.

Would a white person in the USA be less informed than black person in Nigeria?

What a stupid question.

From a white person they’d come across as ignorant and patronising

Your words. Not mine.

We did a road trip and went through Arizona, too. I can’t comment on the racism side, as I’m white, but I found everyone friendly. To be fair, you also don’t see that many people...it’s not like driving through London.
In terms of driving, the roads are bloody massive and we’d go at least 30 minutes without passing anyone in parts of Arizona and New Mexico.
It will be AMAZING so block all those negative comments out, stop reading reviews (seriously, who goes on to write a review of anything unless they’re angry or have an agenda!?) and plan your road trip soundtrack, the places you will stop for food and the sights you will see. Enjoy!

Absolutely my words. (Never implied they were yours so not sure what the point of your post is).

seriously, who goes on to write a review of anything unless they’re angry or have an agenda!?

Bad experience?

Driving is a piece of cake unless you’re doing 6 lanes in Dallas, for example. Go slow, take your time til you’re more confident. I’ve done thousands of miles over there, length and breadth of the country, it’s piss easy unless you’re in a major city. Death Valley is especially easy, just read your insurance re off reading if you’re tempted to go to the out of the way places.

Given the amount of tourists you’ll be with in Death Valley, you will not be remarked upon, I promise. Keep hydrated there, it’s bonkers hot, 50 degrees last time I was there.

Absolutely my words. (Never implied they were yours so not sure what the point of your post is).

Because you said it was stupid to ask if a black person in Nigeria was more qualified to comment than a white American.
It was illustrating the absurdity of your sweeping generalisation that a white person commenting would sound ignorant and patronising.

It was a stupid question because a black person in the US would be much better qualified to comment on white racism there than a white one or a black person living in Nigeria.

Tatiana, that wasn't what you asked though.
You exemplified racism itself by stating that a white persons view would be seen as patronising. White people can have a view on racism. Some white people experience racism, even in the USA.
You were making a value judgment on skin colour alone, not experience. That's racism. Thats I pointed out to you that merely being black doesn't make someone more experienced in American racism.
You could have asked if was American. You didn't. You asked my racial background. You were itching to make a comment on it.

I made my view known. I consider the USA a safe place for tourists. It has like any nation does, but none so bad as to deter a tourist. Quite what my racial background has to do with being able to offer that opinion is beyond me.

TatianaLarina

seriously, who goes on to write a review of anything unless they’re angry or have an agenda!?

Bad experience?

Exactly. People who have a good time don’t waste time writing reviews, they just enjoy it.
Obviously there’s the people who have an ‘amazing’ time, who write the review while still on a high from the holiday.
The vast majority of people who have a good time do not write a review