• Home
  • About
  • Travel With Me
  • Work With Me
  • Solo Travel Tips & Resources
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • YouTube
  • Archives

    • May 2023
    • April 2023
    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • October 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
  • Categories

    • Africa
    • Airbnb
    • BLAXIT
    • BLAXIT BREAK
    • Blog Posts
    • branded product
    • COVID-19
    • Credit Cards
    • Dakar Senegal
    • Election 2020
    • Female Solo Travel over 40
    • Financing Relocation Abroad
    • Guadelajara
    • Hostile Work Environment Escape Strategy
    • Human Resources (HR) Tips
    • iPhone Security
    • Italy
    • Lake Chapala
    • Lifestyle
    • Lisbon, Portugal
    • Living with Intention
    • Mazatlan
    • Merida
    • Mexico
    • Mindfulness
    • Mindset
    • Nairobi Kenya
    • Oaxaca
    • Playa del Carmen
    • Portugal
    • Puerto Vallarta
    • Queretaro
    • Racism at Work
    • Racism at Work
    • Relocation Abroad
    • Retirement Abroad
    • Safe Solo Travel
    • San Miguel de Allende
    • Solo Female Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Solo Travel Tips
    • Travel
    • Travel Planning
    • Travel Planning
    • Travel Safety & Security
    • Tulum
    • Uncategorized
    • YouTube
    • Zanzibar
  • Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org
  • About Me

    Anne Marie
    Black women of every age and income bracket can and should consider solo traveling and living abroad either permanently or semi-permanently.

  • Home
  • About
  • Travel With Me
  • Work With Me
  • Solo Travel Tips & Resources
  • Blogs
  • shop
  • YouTube

America is a Gilded Cage

November 7, 2020

It is Saturday, November 7, 2020, and my social media is filled with posts of jubilation at the projected win of Joseph “Joe” Biden as the 46th president of the United States. 

But I don’t feel much joy. I feel a great deal of pride to see an accomplished Black Woman rise to be Vice President of the United States of America considering that Black Women clearly delivered this victory to Joe Biden. But frankly, if things were really fair and equal, it is Kamala Harris who would be elected President today.

I actually feel a sense of sadness. Why? Because so many people, specifically Black people, think something is different about America today, but nothing has in fact changed. Even though Joe Biden has apparently won the election it was extremely close. Razor-thin margins. In most of the states where he pulled it out, he did it by a few thousand votes. Under 50,000 votes in most cases. What does that tell you about the soul of America? What does it tell you about the majority of White Americans who are still 80% of our population?

More than 50% of white Americans voted for Donald Trump an open virulent racist and liar from his first day in the presidency until his last. 70 million people voted for him. Let that sink in – 70 million people. 

Exit polls reflect that Donald Trump received over 5 million votes more in the 2020 election than he did in 2016 and made significant inroads into minority populations. Some may claim that this is due to overall higher voter turnout. But I think it’s due to something else. There’s something dark at the heart of America. And that thing is white supremacy. It is a cancer eating away the soul of the nation. And America refuses to address it in any real substantive way. And I have no indication that Biden will do more to address it than Barak Obama did. This issue is bigger than who occupies the White House. 

America also refuses to address its gun problem. When you marry white supremacy and unfettered access to guns in a society what you have is a bomb that will continue to explode over and over in multiple ways. And right now we have a great deal of angry white racists with guns who believe that this election was stolen from Donald Trump. Rational people know this is not true but we are not talking about rational people. There is nothing rational about the hateful, racist that Donald Trump unleashed out of their dark holes into the light of day. And just because he has to go away doesn’t mean they will. My fear is that the next Donald Trump will come in a much shiner and nicer package. The dark elements in America never go away, they just evolve and repackage their racism to make it seem less threatening. 

America’s economic inequality is also staggering. COVID-19 has exposed how wide that chasm is and how much we need essential workers and how little we value them. A disproportionate number of our essential workers are black and brown people. We need them to pick our vegetables, process our meat, clean our homes, cut our lawns, stock our grocery stores and drive us around in Uber.   But so many were and are willing to sacrifice their health and well-being to “re-open the economy” prematurely. We don’t pay them a fair and living wage and we are now promoting the idea of a “gig economy“ which no one can retire on, no one can live on and no one can earn a decent salary working just on one “gig” job. America is a gilded cage. 

America is a consumer society that requires the constant acquisition of things often putting its citizens in deeper and deeper debt. America’s economy runs on debt among many other things. Americans work longer hours than any other “civilized“ first world society. They take fewer vacations. So, while Americans have the corner on the acquisition of “things” what we lack is the acquisition of peace and happiness. America encourages and almost requires constant pursuit and acquisition of more. More dresses, more shoes, more cars, More. In the beginning, we don’t even understand why we want the things we want but it’s because we’re constantly bombarded on the television radio and now social media about the latest smartphone or gadget or designer this or that. And it’s necessary for capitalism to work. Endless Consumption is necessary. 

In America you are taught, especially as a person of color, that you get an education, usually by putting yourself in debt, start a business, or usually work for someone else for the best years of your life and then in the last years of your life you may be able to stop working. If you’re lucky maybe you can then travel and actually see somethings or some other places before you drop dead. 

So, you stick yourself on the American hamster wheel and you run as fast as you can for as long as you can. Most die before they can get off. At retirement most just transition to a part-time job and or a gig job, because they have no pension or retirement plan or they, must supplement their pension or retirement plan and the cost of living is so high that they must work until they die. Most Americans don’t even have a passport and have never been anywhere. America is a gilded cage.

This brings me back to the violence of America which is a cornerstone like White supremacy. There are more guns in America than there are people. The next big mass shooting is right around the corner. Who the victims will be is an open guess but it’s coming. The white terrorist militias have been mobilized by Trump and the Republican Party and now many of them are aggrieved because their candidate lost. That’s a recipe for violence sooner or later.

Police will continue to murder Black people at will. I just read an article where a white female Democratic politician is pushing back on talking about defunding the police claiming that Democrats can’t win elections with that message – despite the fact that they just won the Presidency, retained the majority in the House, and are very close to taking the Senate. But yet white American Democrats want to push the party to the center while Republicans push the country to the right.  White Democratic politicians are already set to abandon those who got them collectively elected to continue to pander to the White Americans who have rejected them over and over again for racists principles and economic principles that only advantage the richest among us. Something is fundamentally broken in American politics and Joe Biden’s apparent victory won’t change it. 

The fundamentals of America will not change. And for that reason, my decision to leave is unchanged. I will begin my Blaxit transition this summer. 

I will just be able to do it with a little less immediate anxiety And a little bit more leeway for planning. But my decision to go is rooted in the same things it always has been. For me it was never about Donald Trump. But it is about what Donald Trump has exposed about America that was always there. It is also about my desire to get off the hamster wheel and out of the cage. It’s a beautiful cage filled with pretty things but I don’t need any of those things. What I need is freedom peace and joy. And I have come to the conclusion that I can more easily have that outside of America. 

I love America or at least I love the idea of what it claims to be. But I know those claims are untrue. And I know as a black person I will never feel fully safe in America. Every four years my right to be an equal and a full human in this country will be on the ballot and my hard-fought rights can be taken away based on an election or a Supreme Court’s right-wing decision at any time. It’s exhausting and I just can’t do it anymore. I am leaving my happiness demands it. 

America is a gilded cage but I’m setting myself free.

AmericaAmerica is a Gilded Cageblaxitelection2020travel
Share

BLAXIT  / BLAXIT BREAK  / Blog Posts  / Election 2020

Anne Marie Archer
I am on a mission to make solo travel accessible and fun for everyone, especially Black Women over 40, and to dispel the myth that women over 50 can’t be fashionable, comfortable, and still travel #TeamCarryon.

You might also like

Let’s Meet Up in Zanzibar
April 17, 2023
Nungwi Beach, Zanzibar
February 27, 2023
My 2023 Travel Plans so Far!
December 29, 2022
  • About Me

    Anne Marie

    Hi I'm Anne Marie. I Quit my high six-figure income job, jumped off the hamster wheel, exited the American Rat Race, packed up my house and moved to Mexico in May 2021. Now I am embracing my love of solo travel while working as an HR consultant and connecting Black Women Coaches to those who need them via The BlackWomen Coach™ Directory (www.blackwomencoach.com). I have traveled to over 40 countries and I want Black Women over 40 to embrace solo travel! Stop waiting for your girlfriends, husband, boyfriend to get on the road. Go see the world and live your best authentic unapologetic and free life right now.

    We each have this one precious life – you owe it to yourself to live your life to the fullest NOW!

  • Subscribe to My Newsletter

  • Tags

    Airbnb blackexpats BlackFemaleSoloTravel BlackTravel black women blackwomenabroad blackwomentravel blaxit digitalnomad Financing Your Relocation Abroad Gaslighting Hostile Work Places HowToMoveAbroad Howtomovetomexico HowToMovetoOaxacaMexico SoloFemale Italy Merida mexico Microaggressions MoveAbroad parentingabroad puerto vallarta Racism at Work RelocationAbroad RelocationMexico SanMigueldeAllende Sicily solo female travel solo travel SoloTravel travel Travel Hacks travel planning Travel Safe Travel Safety travel safety & security Travel Safety Tips TravelSmart Travel Tips TravelTips TraveltoMexico travelwithchildren TravelwithKids travelwithteens travelwithyoungkids
  • Instagram

    Instagram has returned empty data. Please authorize your Instagram account in the plugin settings .
  • FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK





  • Bald Girl will Travel

    The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical or legal advice. Readers should consult with a licensed professional to get advice for their individual situation. See the Disclaimer and Terms of Use for more information. Copyright BaldGirlWillTravel,LLC 2022. This website, Baldgirlwilltravel, LLC, And all trademarks and other intellectual property used herein are the property of MegEd Enterprises LLC.

  • Follow me on Instagram

    baldgirlwilltravel

    Over 50 I Solo Travel for self care you should too! 30+🌍 & counting✈️

    baldgirlwilltravel
    Have you grabbed your spot to meet up with me in Z Have you grabbed your spot to meet up with me in Zanzibar yet? 

This is a bucket list experience you don’t want to miss.

Meet up with me for an epic girls trip to beautiful Zanzibar island, Tanzania!

Trip itinerary and cost includes
Visits and stays in two locations filled with stellar excursions and experiences

📍STONETOWN

Spend 2 nights in the Historic Seaside Capital of StoneTown 

*5 star Hotel Accommodations Breakfast included daily 

📌 Welcome Dinner
📌 Feed the Turtles at Prison Island & visit Nakupenda
📌 Walking Tour of the Historic Stonetown 
📌Night Market Shopping at the Famous Fordahani Market 
📌Spice Farm Tour
📌 Lunch and photo op at the world famous Rock Restaurant

📍NUNGWI BEACH
Spend 5 nights in one of the most beautiful locations, in the World, Nungwi Beach

📌 4 star all-inclusive Hotel Accommodations 
📌 Mnemba Island Tour 
📌 Sunset Dhow Boat Cruise 
📌 Swim with Turtles Go Dolphin chasing 
📌 Sunday Group Brunch
📌 Dinner on the Beach 
📌 Happy Hour and Dancing 
📌 Farewell Dinner

single and double occupancy rooms available

If you’ve been dreaming of Zanzibar, this is your opportunity

$350 deposit with payment plans available.  Booking Closes October 1 2023

Grab your spot at the link in bio 

See you in the sun! 🌞🌞🌞 🎥 @osmanzanzibar  #zanzibar #zanzibar🇹🇿 #zanzibarisland #girlstrip #solo #solotravel #africa #bucketlist #visitzanzibar #travel #seesomeworld #seesomeafrica #blackwomentravel #melanin #melaninonthemap #melanatedwanderlust #traveler #grouptrips
    This is just some of the yummy food. I consumed on This is just some of the yummy food. I consumed on the island of Trinidad and Tobago. Not photographed is the numerous Julie mango that I consumed and the amazing food I ate during my day tour with @islandgirltourstt or the doubles I had on Arapita Avenue 😋😋😋 or that delicious fried chicken I had in the airport at Royal Castle! all I can tell you is I eat good for the entire time not a single bad meal. Not one. Trinidad and Tobago is food heaven. #iykyk #foodie #yummy #yummyfood #trinifood #trinidad #tobago #foodporn #goodeats
    Let’s Meet up for an Epic Galentines Girls Trip Let’s Meet up for an Epic Galentines Girls Trip to Negril Jamaica!

Meet Up with me and celebrate Valentines Day 2024 (or as I like to call it “Galentines Day”) in Negril Jamaica

We will be at the All inclusive Hotel Riu Negril for 5 nights and 6 days of FUNNNNNNN Jamaica Style!

We will be glass bottom boat riding, bar crawling and cliff jumping at Ricks! 

This is a Rich Auntie Girls Trip and this is NOT a retreat.

There will be no circles or chanting BUT 
there WILL Be Dancing & Day Drinking!!!!

Single and Double Occupancy Rooms available with garden and ocean views starting at $1372 pp. Book by May 29th and get $100 Off your package!  Deposits are only $119 per person and Payment Plan Options are available.

Get the details and grab your space at the link in bio.

Packages include:
Hotel Accommodations (all inclusive)
Airport Transfers
Travel Insurance
All the Excursions listed on itinerary

*Room rates subject to change until deposit is made!!!

Grab your spot at the Link in the Bio!!!

See you in the Sun! #jamaica #negril #valentines #galentinesday #letsgo #girlstrip #meetupwithme #meetup #grouptrips
    Save and Share Trinidad is mainly famous for Carn Save and Share

Trinidad is mainly famous for Carnival and steel pan but it has so much more to offer. The island and  its capital Port of Spain has a rich cultural history and it is a foodie paradise.

During my short but pleasant stay in Trinidad, I did a Port of Spain City Highlights and Maracas Bay Tour and boy am I glad I did! 

I did the tour with Los Exploradorestt Tours Ltd and my tour guide Jeffrey was amazing. We drove around Port of Spain and I got a proper history lesson about the city and many of its key historical figure.  But the highlight of the tour was stopping at The Roti Cafe and grabbing my first (but hopefully not my last) seafood roti to go and of course the outstanding Bake & Shark Sandwich I had when we got to Maracas Bay. 

If you are ever in Port of Spain I highly recommend this tour. You’re welcome!

Wanna visit Tobago with me? Details on my Mother’s Day 2024 meet up coming soon 

Subscribe to my website for details 

Don’t forget to grab your spot at one of my 2024 Fly 40+ girls trips! We are going to be doing dope ish all over the world!!!

📍Zanzibar Tanzania - January 8-15, 2024

📍Negril Jamaica - February 13-18, 2024

Just added! Who
📍Istanbul and Cappadocia, Turkiye (Turkey) - April 20-25, 2024 

and rumor has it Tuscany, and Sicily and some other dope spots are in the works ;)

Packages are inclusive of accommodations, transfers and excursions!

Grab your spot at the link in bio!

SEE YOU IN THE SUN🌞🌞🌴

#letsgo #visittobago #tobago #tobagosweet #grouptravel #grouptrip #Travel #visittrinidad #portofspain #maracasbay #roti #bakeandshark #zanzibar #flyageless #over40 #over50travel #letsgo #lewego #blackwomentravel #wegotoo #melanintravel #blackwomen #melanin #solotravel #girlstrip #meetup
    Choosing myself my peace and my happiness away fro Choosing myself my peace and my happiness away from America is the best decision I’ve ever made. Choose yourself.  Whatever that looks like for you - choose yourself. #free #chooseyourself #freeyourself #happinessisaninsidejob #travel #solotravel #tobago #visittobago
    For very long time Jamaica was my happy place. It For very long time Jamaica was my happy place. It was a place that I would go to over and over again when I wanted to get away or just have a really great time in a short period of time. My favorite place on the island has always been Negril.  And I have wanted to return for quite some time, and now I finally am. And I couldn’t think of a better time to be there than Valentine’s Day 

So I am planning a Galentine‘s day meet up  February 23-18 2024. I have planned some really cool and fun excursions. There will be day drinking. There will be dancing. There will be partying, but there will also be time for you to hang out with yourself and just chill around the beach and pool and do absolutely nothing. 
We will be at an all inclusive resort. Where all meals drinks including alcohol will be included because it is Jamaica after all.🤷🏾‍♀️🌴

So Join me for a Girls Trip to my favorite place in Jam Down - Negril!

We will hang out for five nights and six days and jam down and jam down #IYKYK

Packages start at $1372 single and double occupancy with garden and or ocean views available. Airport transfers to your hotel , travel insurance and excursions are all included in the quoted price. 

The deposit to hold your spot is only $119* 

Please note that package prices are subject to change until you pay your deposit. 

So I suggest you book ASAP. 

I am already booked and set to go and I’ll see you guys there.

Grab your spot with your deposit at the link in bio  #girlstrip #jamaica #jamdown #galentinesday #meetup #letdgo #flyageless #40plus #blackwomen #wegotoo #melanin #blackwomentravel
    📍Nakupenda Beach, Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. Ju 📍Nakupenda Beach, Zanzibar Island, Tanzania. Just added as an excursion activity in my meet up in Zanzibar Tanzania, January 8-15,2024. We will stop here after we visit prison island. Because why not🌴🤷🏾‍♀️🙂 we still have some spots available for this trip. You make book at the link in bio.
Join my girls trip meet up to Zanzibar island, Tanzania!
Trip itinerary and cost includes
Visits and stays in two locations filled with stellar excursions and experiences

📍STONETOWN

Spend 2 nights in the Historic Seaside Capital of StoneTown 

*5 star Hotel Accommodations Breakfast included daily 

📌 Welcome Dinner
📌 Feed the Turtles at Prison Island & visit Nakupenda
📌 Walking Tour of the Historic Stonetown 
📌Night Market Shopping at the Famous Fordahani Market 
📌Spice Farm Tour
📌 Lunch and photo op at the world famous Rock Restaurant

📍NUNGWI BEACH
Spend 5 nights in one of the most beautiful locations, in the World, Nungwi Beach

📌 4 star all-inclusive Hotel Accommodations 
📌 Mnemba Island Tour 
📌 Sunset Dhow Boat Cruise 
📌 Swim with Turtles Go Dolphin chasing 
📌 Sunday Group Brunch
📌 Dinner on the Beach 
📌 Happy Hour and Dancing 
📌 Farewell Dinner

single and double occupancy rooms available

If you’ve been dreaming of Zanzibar, this is your opportunity

$350 deposit with payment plans available.  Booking Closes October 1 2023

Grab your spot at the link in bio 

See you in the sun! 🌞🌞🌞#zanzibar #zanzibar🇹🇿 #zanzibarisland #girlstrip #solo #solotravel #africa #bucketlist #visitzanzibar #travel #seesomeworld #seesomeafrica #blackwomentravel #melanin #melaninonthemap #melanatedwanderlust #traveler #grouptrips
    Let’s Meet up for an Epic Galentines Girls Trip Let’s Meet up for an Epic Galentines Girls Trip to Negril Jamaica

I’m going to Jamaica and I’d like you to come with me!

Join me for a Girls Trip to my favorite place in Jam Down - Negril!

We will spend 5 nights and 6 days lazing on the beach, drinking cocktails, with excursions that include a bar crawl, glass bottom boat cruise and a Valentines Day at the beach and Ricks Cafe (cliff jumping anyone?).

You will have plenty time for sun and fun on your own as well as with a small group of Fly 40+ women.

The deposit to hold your spot is only $119* 

Book right away at the link in Bio to guarantee your spot at the current rates. 

Double and Single Occupancy packages available starting at $1373 per person. 

Packages include an all inclusive stay at the Hotel Riu Negril, excursions and airport transfers. Book you flight and meet me in Jamaica for Valentines - ahem Galentines Day!

*Room rates subject to change until deposit is made!!!

Grab your spot at the link in the bio! #jamdown #negril #lewego #girlstrip #flyageless #fly40 #blackwomen #blackwomentravel #jamaica #visitnegril
    🎥 @osmanzanzibar This dreamy Hotel will be the 🎥 @osmanzanzibar  This dreamy Hotel will be the location of the first two days of my 7-day Zanzibar girls trip  January 8-15 2024. We still have spots available so grab yours at this link: https://bgwtadventures.squadtrip.com/trip/1814

Payment plan options available 🙂🌴 #visitzanzibar #zanzibar #girlstrip #meetup  #africa #seesomeworld #letsgo  #forsistersonly #flyageless #blackwomen #blackwomentravel #wegotoo #parkhyattzanzibar
    Load More Follow on Instagram
  • FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK



  • Subscription


2022 All Rights Reserved © BaldGirlWillTravel,LLC | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Return Policy

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT