Going on a trip to Portugal with family, how will they treat me?
I’m black and never been outside of the states. I know a bit of portuguese but would like to improve it while am in portugal. Are the portuguese friendly and accepting of foreigners, or are they usually cold and stick to their own kind? Do they even like black people?
October 2nd, 2009 at 1:44 am
the whole of Europe is very cosmopolitan … we have people from all sorts of backgrounds here (some of them have lived here for many generations) and many foreign visitors … people with some African ancestry are a very common sight
Portugal has a thriving tourism industry and welcomes visitors from all over the world … I doubt very much that anyone would find a black person at all unusual … the only thing they might find a little unusual is an African American (that is, if they can tell the difference between an African American or an Afro-Caribbean or a Ghanaian) and they might mistake you for British, and also that you’ve taken the trouble to learn the language (which will give you a massive PLUS in anyone’s estimation)
just relax and go enjoy your holiday
October 2nd, 2009 at 2:18 am
it depends on where you go…yes im Portuguese and from where i from in Portugal everyone is friendly…
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:06 am
it depends how you treat them. If you go with a open mind that Portugal is different from the US and they are allowed to be happy the way they want and like, then you would be fine. Sometimes Americans don’t understand that we don’t have to live the same way they live, we are different. if you understand that you will have the best vacations, now if you speak or try to speak Portuguese then you will be treated well. being black doesn’t make a difference, or at least not more then the US. Bad people are all over the world and Portugal is no exception unfortunately. Have a great time.
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:49 am
Of Course not!
Portugal’s top industry is tourism, and because of that, you are going to be very well treated.
And the thing about skin colour, don’t worry about that. Portuguese are not racist, and a significant part of the population in Portugal, including imigrants, are african and afro-portuguese.
If there are racism in Portugal, believe me, is economic and not based in the colour of your skin. (when i was 19y i had a black gf and NOBODY of my catholic-conservative family oppose to that. Neither in her family, by the way…)
I’ve benn abroad several times (never in USA…), and i can say that i see more multiracial families in Portugal, than in other european countries.
PS – Europeans like americans, despite what the media tells you… (well, maybe some a**-h***’s communists don’t…)
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:15 am
Don’t worry, people in Portugal are friendly just avoid going into “uncharted territory” if you catch my drift. If it makes you more comfortable talk to someone in the tourism office about such areas.
Generally speaking people are friendly and helpful.
Enjoy your stay…
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:39 am
I have travel in Portugal and found them to be very friendly to foreigners English is taught as a second language, so it is easy to communicate with the locals. I think you will have a great trip. Try the port and try the seafood.
October 2nd, 2009 at 4:57 am
there are a lot of black people in portugal and they are very well accepted one of my best friends is black and nowone gives a shit about it here in portugal people care more about what you dress how you dress and how you think then your skin colour if that´s your only concern don´t worrie
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:37 am
ya there’s a lot of black people in portugal
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:31 am
In terms of race: I’m part Portuguese, part African and if you stay within city limits, you should be fine. There are plenty of black Portuguese people living in Lisbon. Things can get a little hazier once you travel into the countryside, like Santarem, the Alentejo etc. But the same can be said for the states.
Portugal is a beautiful country and you should have a great time visiting. The fact that you’re attempting to speak Portuguese will help you be warmly received. Please, do not make the mistake of trying to speak Spanish to Portuguese people. Nothing pisses us off more!
October 2nd, 2009 at 6:58 am
People will be friendly there, theres minimal crime and the large cities are much cleaner. They might act nice but they probably wont like you because your black but thats not just portugal thats all of europe.