Have you ever experienced dreams like this?
traveling
abroad or leaving the
United States
entirely? Versatile business mogul and globetrotter
Nubia Younge
Once dreamed of venturing out into the world and gaining profound insights about herself. Today, she shares her knowledge by enabling other African American women to embark on their own journeys abroad, teaching them how to embrace life as expatriates with confidence and free from hesitation or uncertainty.
Younge defied the odds, transitioning from a single mom of two growing up in Boston’s inner city who only got her first passport at age 32, to visiting more than 40 nations and residing for extended periods in both Mexico and Thailand. She stands as vivid evidence that African American women have the potential to flourish overseas, magnificently, while also discovering their tribe. “Community,” Younge explains, “is about visibility and representation. Once I ventured outside the U.S., I began encountering individuals who resembled me, which made everything feel like coming back home—like belonging somewhere regardless of my location worldwide. That sensation of happiness—it’s one many unfortunately do not experience regularly within our country.”
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Younger’s path to becoming an expatriate began due to burnout, similar to many Black women. “In 2017, I finally lost my job in corporate America. By then, honestly, I was exhausted—I was just fed up with feeling drained,” she recounts. She was nearing her 39th birthday when she decided enough was enough: “‘At this stage,’ I told myself, ‘I won’t waste time proving my value during yet another interview process—no more.’ Around that period, my older child went away to college, and my younger kid was approaching graduation from high school. So, after withdrawing money from my retirement savings account, I purchased a one-way flight to Chiang Mai, Thailand, and arranged for my teenage son to stay with his father through his final year of high school. This marked the start of what I refer to as my quest—a search for everything life could offer including joy, liberty, affection, among others—to discover new horizons. It felt very much akin to having embarked upon a personal ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ adventure.”
Her travels overseas inspired her to establish Black In Tulum, Black In Travel, and Black in Tulum. These groundbreaking platforms enable black travelers and digital nomads to bond, prosper, and build a strong sense of community. Her latest endeavor, Ori Table—a lifestyle brand—centers around Yoruba traditions, signifying “divine alignment” as well as symbolizing the head.
These retreats will be quite exclusive, typically limited to eight participants, held in lavish locations across the globe where you can focus on self-improvement, relaxation, and environmental preservation,” she says regarding her sustainable vision. “We might also include one or two workshops during these retreats aimed at helping attendees achieve their personal ‘more.’ For instance, if someone’s ‘more’ involves becoming an entrepreneur or growing their business, then we’ll cover such topics. As women who frequently dedicate our best efforts to others, it’s essential for us to prioritize our own needs.
She goes on, “The Ori Table concept emerged from realizing that Black women deserve rest, prosperity, and harmony—everything they aspire for. It became clear to me that I must embody this lifestyle myself as much as advocating it for others. So we decided to create small, exclusive events. These gatherings would be limited to fewer than ten participants, offering bespoke lodging, wellness treatments, spa services, cultural explorations, sister circles, along with discussions and workshops focused on self-care. My aim is for those attending my retreats to feel secure knowing they can openly share their stories.”
When she started her travel group, Black In Tulum, it stemmed from noticing an increase in Black visitors in Tulum, Mexico, along with her wish to build a genuine community. She saw a few other Black tourists around and thought about hosting a complimentary beachside brunch for everyone. Given that at the time not many Black individuals lived in Tulum and there wasn’t much of a local Black social scene, this event became quite popular through word-of-mouth. It took place during my first attempt organizing such an activity without charge; soon after, I launched a Facebook page titled “Black in Tulum.” Within merely four years, membership skyrocketed from 25 initial members to over 28,000 people.
“Even though I have absolutely no professional experience in traveling, I’ve always been passionate about hospitality and connecting with others,” states the ex-administrative assistant and corporate event coordinator who, within the past half-decade, witnessed “Black In Tulum” become such a sensation that it sparked similar unaffiliated ‘Black In’ initiatives across numerous nations globally—from Thailand to Portugal—prompting her to ultimately secure a trademark for it. She recounts how being quarantined in Tulum during the pandemic led her to observe a handful of fellow Black travelers, prompting her to organize a complimentary beachside brunch for them. Given that at the time there were very few Blacks residing in the area and virtually no established Black social networks, this inaugural gathering proved popular and news circulated rapidly. On that day, she founded a Facebook page titled “Black in Tulum.” The community surged from an initial count of 25 members to a robust base of 28,000 individuals in merely four years.
The business approach, designed to unite Black individuals via travel, took off rapidly and soon blossomed into her inaugural comprehensive venture. Between 2020 and 2023, Black in Tulum became an essential platform for African-American tourists, linking Tulum with Playa del Carmen, which has since become one of the globe’s premier locations for black American expats.
Currently, through her luxurious getaways, she aims to elevate the standards for Black female travelers, giving them a chance to enjoy transformative experiences overseas, much like Younge herself. Today, Younge spends as many as 200 days annually traveling internationally, allowing ample time to immerse herself in various cultures. Her preference leans towards deeper, more meaningful journeys rather than rapid-fire visits. Nonetheless, she acknowledges that numerous Black women lack this privilege yet encourages them to overcome certain barriers if these obstacles weigh heavily upon them. “Family, fear, and finances—the trifecta of constraints—can hinder your progress in life if you let them,” asserts Younge. “It isn’t necessarily due to negativity; it’s simply how we’re accustomed to living.”
She goes on, “I’m becoming quite emotional here because let me tell you—I never fully grasped the extent of our struggle as Black women until I left this place. Many evenings, tears would stream down my face due to an overwhelming sense of isolation. It’s like everything you believed was real starts crumbling away, and suddenly, you come to terms with being misled throughout your entire life. Because society tells us certain areas are off-limits since they’re ‘dangerous.’ Yet once you venture out into those spaces, you find acceptance instead. The produce is ripe, and the atmosphere feels pure. Life can be perceived from numerous angles, and everyone seems genuinely content.”
For Younge, flourishing and gaining recognition is crucial because she experienced a lack of acceptance and value during her time in America due to feeling unseen. She shared with me that she self-identifies as queer and finds greater understanding elsewhere. “Thrive means finding joy; it’s about connections,” she explains. “It’s hard to keep going without acknowledgment. Thriving isn’t defined by my actions but rather by recognizing my inherent worth as an individual. Joy and contentment are where I truly flourish. Seeing happy expressions on our Black men brings me delight. Observing our LGBTQ+ community expressing pride also fills me with warmth.”
She continues, “My experiences stem from growing up in the ’90s when coming out meant rarely encountering portrayals of queer black women anywhere.”
Younge goes on to say, “This path I’ve taken, ever since I stuffed my belongings into sacks and departed, has led me back to who I truly am. It was essential for me to discover self-love. I needed to understand how to flourish and move through life independently, yet not feel isolated.”
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