In honor of Black History Month, we want to highlight famous Black study abroad alumni. These influential individuals’ unique experiences abroad have changed their lives and perspectives. You, too, can broaden your global perspective and take on an amazing challenge.
Tia Mowry – Florence, Italy
You may have seen her on Sister, Sister or even Twitches or more recently, on Netflix’s Family Reunion! In 2001, Tia Mowry spent the summer studying in Florence at Pepperdine University’s Italian campus.
Amanda Gorman – Madrid, Spain
The youngest inaugural poet in U.S. History has studied abroad! Amanda Gorman studied in Madrid, Spain with IES Abroad.
James Meredith – Ibadan, Nigeria
James Meredith is an American civil rights activist and writer. He was the first African American to attend the University of Mississippi in 1962. After graduating, he attended the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.
Alice Walker – Uganda
Alice Walker is the author of The Color Purple. She attended Spelman College in Georgia and Sarah Lawrence College in New York City. She studied abroad as an exchange student for a summer in Uganda after her junior year in college.
Marian Wright Edelman – France, Switzerland, & the Soviet Union
Marian Wright Edelman is the founder of the Children’s Defense Fund. She attended Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. During her time at Spelman, she received study abroad scholarships that funded her experience in France, Switzerland, and the Soviet Union.
To learn more about studying abroad, click here. If you want to learn more about being Black and abroad, check out these resources below:
Black & Abroad – https://www.blackandabroad.com/
Travel Noire – https://www.instagram.com/travelnoire
Diversity Abroad – https://www.diversityabroad.com/
Curvy Girl Travels – https://www.instagram.com/curvygirltravels/