As a black woman in Europe I have been mistaken for a prostitute more times than I can remember. En route to Morocco, I decided to stop over for a few days in Barcelona. One of my friends from the States was on a round the world tour and we happened to be in the city for a few days. Looking for any excuse for a party, he also convinced another mutual friend to meet us.
So there I was in the beautiful Barcelona with two white dudes from California. While strolling down a busy promenade all three of us playfully had our arms linked. I was in the middle, naturally: enjoying the warm night air and the company of two friends while laughing my head off. We were interrupted by a stout man holding four cans of beer. I stepped back and took a minute to observe my surroundings. As I looked around my eyes met the faces of other black women, and when I looked beyond those faces I saw more black women in the distance, on the benches, up against buildings, all having exchanges with men.
My friend wanted to go to the club our last night in Paris. I, absolutely exhausted, HATE night clubs and told him so. I eventually agree to go for only one hour. That hour turned into to two and he had met some Algerian woman so I took off down the street.
Nope, the guy just stood there waiting for me to get my food. I took a chance power walking down a dark alley to a street full of people that lead me no where near to where I was staying.
I finally screamed at him with my loudest voice then he backed off. I then take more alternative routes to my place, looking back the entire time. As an exotic woman living in Norway, i am often faced with this kind of dilemma , even when pushing my baby in a stroller. While trying to check in for a flight to Copenhagen, a young Danish counter agent took a vested interest into my traveling habits.
