It’s sad to say that out of the 54 countries on the continent of Africa, there’s really only one I feel comfortable living and thriving in as a Black Gay man. One. Do the math, it comes out to 1.85% of the whole continent. That country is South Africa. Unlike Uganda, Ghana and Nigeria there is no death penalty or lengthy prison sentences for being gay. South Africa hosts the World’s Pride in 2028.TheFreedomInLeaving.com

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My partner and I are in the middle of emigrating from the US to South Africa. So we’ve had to face the question head on: is South Africa safe for Black expats right now, with all these xenophobic-labeled protests aimed at immigrants? Let me tell you squarely, eye to eye. The answer is YES!! And we remain undeterred. Our plans haven’t slowed down one bit for 3 Distinct Reasons!!

The headlines are horrible. The protests violent. The looting and deaths very real. No need to sugarcoat it. The South African xenophobic attacks spanning the May to July 2026 protests were the worst since similar attacks occurred back in 2019 and 2008. However, I do strongly challenge the recent branding that South Africans are rabid, xenophobic people attacking poor innocent immigrants.TheFreedomInLeaving.comeliaswhitfield.substack.com