Black and abroad: African-American expats ponder the future amid volatile politics back home and in Europe

Aaliyah Bilal, Brian Ingram Aaliyah Bilal, of Ft. Washington, Maryland, right, and Brian Ingram, of Los Angels, CA, react as they watch live TV coverage showing the victory of Democratic presidential candidate President Barack Obama for his re-election Wednesday Nov. 7, 2012 in Shanghai, China. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) (Eugene Hoshiko/AP) As the United States sits on the precipice of yet another election that could ‘determine the fate of democracy’ (cue dramatic music), many Black Americans, myself included, have started to veer away from the question of, “Who are we voting for?’ and toward, “Where are we moving?” In the years following the heavily documented rise in police brutality, killings, and assaults against Black people, coupled with the polarizing political environment, more and more Black Americans have grown tired of the status quo and are considering options elsewhere as we await the outcome of the upcoming election and what it could mean for our future in the States. But this isn’t a new story. For decades, Black people have sought an escape from ever-present racism, discrimination, and oppression in the United States. Notable figures throughout history – artists, musicians, and free thinkers like James Baldwin, Josephine Baker, and W.E.B DuBois all...