Empowering Black Americans, One Passport at a Time
For many Black Americans, a passport is more than a ticket to international travel—it’s a gateway to opportunity, empowerment, and global cultural connections. Yet, only about 45% of Americans hold a passport, with the percentage even lower in the Black community at around 20%. This disparity is why Imani Bashir of She Is Imani B. is on a mission to help 100 Black families obtain their first passports.
As Imani shares in an Instagram post:
“A passport is life-changing. As a Black woman who has lived in multiple countries and traveled to countless others, seeing the world and being in the world has expanded so many opportunities for me and has been an extreme benefit to my quality of life.”
She goes on to explain how having a passport allowed her to seize a last-minute business opportunity, while a friend of hers was sadly left behind because she didn’t have a passport. This underscores an important point Imani makes: being prepared to seize opportunities that may spontaneously present themselves. It's always been incredibly hard for me.
The Benefits of Having a Passport
Owning a passport isn’t just for globetrotters—it’s a key to unlocking opportunities. Even if international travel isn’t on your radar just yet, there are still many ways a passport can be beneficial:
Study and Work Abroad: A passport can open doors to international Happy New Yearstudy programs, internships, and global job opportunities.
Emergency Opportunities: Life can be unpredictable. Having a passport ensures you’re ready for last-minute trips or international opportunities.
Reliable Identification: A passport serves as a secure, single form of government-issued ID that lasts for 10 years. It can be used in place of a driver’s license and Social Security card.
Future-Proofing: With potential barriers to obtaining passports in the future, it’s better to have one now and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Freedom to Explore: Owning a passport can spark a desire to see more of the world and embrace new adventures, making travel feel more accessible.
How You Can Help
Imani and Black in Travel are committed to removing barriers and empowering Black Americans by assisting 100 families in getting their first passports. You can be part of this transformative initiative by supporting her GiveSendGo campaign in the following ways:
Donate: $165 covers the cost of one 10-year passport, but any amount makes a difference.
Share: Spread the word by sharing this campaign across your social networks.
Follow: Stay up to date with the campaign’s progress on social media.
With your help, this campaign can change lives by creating new opportunities and connections for families who have yet to experience the freedom of global travel.
Join the movement. Donate today!
Follow Imani on Instagram at @sheisimanib, where she shares insights on travel, culture, and social justice through a lens of empowerment and connection.