I took the train from central Illinois to a small town in eastern Colorado. It was very different from the kind of trips I usually take abroad. And although I’m pretty sure that I’ll never make this particular trip again, I did learn and experience some things that I’d like to share while traversing the heartland of the old U. S. of A.

As a Black American, I think it’s normal for us to be on guard about how people will treat us traveling while black. Our experience in the US has left us with a perspective tinged with a hyper-awareness of race and a suspicion of others’ motives/actions. But there are things to consider and other factors at work.