Donate NowAfter a lifetime of fighting for freedom, equality, and justice on behalf of Black Americans, NAACP founder W.E.B. Du Bois moved to Ghana at the age of 93. He died in Ghana on the eve of the historic 1963 March on Washington.
Today, many African Americans are following in Du Bois’ footsteps and are leaving America to live in Ghana. Living while Black in America has become difficult as many feel marginalized and face daily inequalities.
This project looks at why four Black Americans left the United States to live permanently in Ghana. They call themselves repatriates instead of expatriates, because they believe they are returning to their ancestral home.
The story looks at the upside of living in Ghana for these Black Americans—lower cost of living, fresh food, tailor-made clothes and most of all, freedom to be unapologetically themselves. But there are challenges as well including lack of job opportunities, a less than modern healthcare system and language barriers.
But overall the Black Americans who move to Ghana say they feel a sense of freedom not having to think about race.
