Unfortunately, in spite of the rapid spread of tolerance for fellow peoples throughout the world, rampant racism still compels us at Insider Monkey to compile a list of the best countries to raise a black family.
White supremacy has been around for a long while and we have constantly witnessed evidence of the deeply ingrained beliefs of the whites that they are the symbol of civilization and that people of color are sub-human. As such, colonialism and the so-called “white man’s burden” are deeply intertwined, and we see history littered with atrocities committed by white people against the blacks, including, but certainly not limited to, the scramble for Africa and the Atlantic slave trade. Other indigenous peoples were also subjugated, such as the Native Americans and the Indians. These virulent and inherently unjust attitudes took a long time to eliminate, and we still aren’t completely rid of them. This suggests that it is an absolute imperative for black people to distinguish the African American friendly countries from the rest before they travel.
The biggest concern for black people who wish to move to another country is the safety from racial crimes, acceptance in the community, and the opportunity to integrate into society as intellectual equals. Though crimes against people of color are observed in many developed nations, it is nonetheless pleasing to see that tolerance is certainly on the rise. That makes it possible for black people to settle and to raise families in an urban and educated society that affords excellent opportunities to their children. (Unless of course, the Head of State (read: President of the United States of America) is himself/herself a bigot and refuses to condemn the groups responsible for gross acts of domestic terrorism (read: Charlottesville incident) happening under his/her very nose.) If you’re looking for the safest places in the world to move to, look no further than our well-researched article on the 15 Safest Countries For Expats. By referring to both this article and that one, you can also safely determine the best countries for black expats.
To compile our list we selected the countries that love black people from the World Values’ Survey that proceeded to ask people who they would not want as neighbours. As the respondents selected people from a variety of races, the economists were able to determine their country’s racial attitudes. Thereafter, we ranked those countries according to their quality of life as determined by USNews.
Now that we’ve gotten the tedious research bits out of the way, let’s peruse the list of the best countries for black families to live. The places on below can also be safely seen as the best countries for black tourists. (If you’re interested in the other extreme, i.e. the worst countries for black tourists, you can check them out our article on 11 Worst Countries For Black People to Travel.)
Starting with number 10 these are the best countries to raise a black family.
10. Argentina
Quality of Life Rank: 50
Argentina, the land of tango and frost-covered mountains and nineteenth century architecture, is more than just a popular vacationing spot: it is also highly tolerant of black people and has several anti-discrimination laws in place to ensure that its citizens treat them well.
9. Uruguay
Quality of Life Rank: 47
The Oriental Republic of Uruguay, also a South American nation like its predecessor, boasts a land free of discrimination for all its citizens. The government has put numerous laws in place in a bid to clean the country of color prejudice, a notable instance of which is the Affirmative Action Act implemented in 2013.
8. Latvia
Quality of Life Rank: 44
The next country on our list of the best countries to raise a black family hails from Northern Europe. Latvia too has a rigorous legal framework that checks racism and keeps it in place, the most significant element of which is Article 91 of the Latvian constitution.
7. United States of America
Quality of Life Rank: 18
In spite of the hate crimes that take place in America and make headlines all over the world, it would be unfair to class the entire country as a hub of white supremacism. The average white American generally perceives his black counterpart as an equal and former President Barrack Obama enjoyed high approval ratings during his time in office.
6. United Kingdom
Quality of Life Rank: 12
The United Kingdom may be going through some EU troubles at this time, but it’s still an excellent place to live in. An educated and tolerant society means that black-skinned folks will be seen as equal in all spheres of life.
5. New Zealand
Quality of Life Rank: 9
The land of the Maoris is not only mesmerizing and beautiful, but also houses an amalgamation of people from various racial backgrounds. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the country’s law enforces tolerance towards others and that New Zealanders treat one another with love and respect.
4. Norway
Quality of Life Rank: 5
The Kingdom of Norway cements itself on the fourth spot, demanding praise both for an exceptionally good quality of life for the average citizen and for the high rate of racial tolerance amongst its citizens.
3. Australia
Quality of Life Rank: 4
It’s no secret that Australians are amiable and hospitable towards people from all areas, cultures and races, and that the country is an excellent one to immigrate to in terms of the quality of life it offers its citizens, hence it most definitely deserves the third spot on our list of best countries to raise a black family.
2. Sweden
Quality of Life Rank: 2
This Scandinavian nation is also taking the lead in promoting equality amongst its citizens: its well-enforced Anti-Discrimination laws are a testament to that. It also bags the prestigious spot of number 2 on the Quality of Life rank. Moreover, it is the best country to raise a family in 2017, according to US News.
1. Canada
Quality of Life Rank: 1
Finally, our list of the 10 best countries to raise a black family culminates in the much stereotyped and universally loved state of Canada, also the best country for children’s education! Perceived as the very image of diversity and united under the symbol of progressive values in the shape of a much adored Prime Minister, Canada is undoubtedly the quintessential utopia – or at least the closest thing to it that our world can offer today. Perhaps we can help out our American readers who aren’t happy with how things in the United States are at the moment: do refer to our article on How to Move To Canada with No Money: Requirements for US Citizens.