Snap Judgment: "In Search of a Black Utopia - Snap Classic"

Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Glynn Washington
Producer/Reporter: Adizah Egan

Episode Overview

This episode interrogates the recent wave of Black Americans seeking refuge and a better life outside the United States, focusing on the migration to Tulum, Mexico. Through first-person narration, candid conversations, and cultural context, producer Adizah Egan uncovers whether a "Black utopia" is possible, what draws people to Tulum, and the layers of privilege, displacement, and community involved.

Main Themes & Purpose

• Exploration of why Black Americans are relocating abroad, especially to Tulum
• The search for freedom, safety, and respite from systemic racism in the U.S.
• The complexities of privilege, identity, and community for Black travelers and expats
• Historical and social context of the African diaspora in Mexico
• The impact of gentrification, tourism, and local realities on utopian dreams

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origin of the Search (01:23–04:50)

• Glynn Washington describes personal observations of friends and acquaintances leaving the U.S.:

  "It felt like all of a sudden, friends of mine... started looking in earnest to relocate away from the United States... somewhere they didn’t have to carry so heavy a burden of racism, of oppression, of fear, of economic insecurity." (01:23)

• Adizah Egan introduces the quest for a Black utopia, spurred by her sister’s viral encounter with Megan Thee Stallion in Tulum and the growing narrative of Black people migrating there during the pandemic.

2. The Emergence of Tulum as a Haven (04:50–08:25)

• Social media proliferates images of Black joy, luxury, and connection in Tulum:

  "Whatever they were doing, they were having a good time... I started to wonder, what did all these people know that maybe I didn’t? Why Tulum?" (05:43)

• The historical pattern of Black migration to Mexico is highlighted:

  “This is a continuum, right? Mexico has always been a place for Black people to seek refuge. Going back as far as the 19th century…” (08:21)

3. Conversations with Newcomers (12:15–15:12)

• At a taqueria, Egan meets Black Americans who left the U.S.:
  • Giselle: "I didn’t want to be in America. I never wanted to be in America." (12:15)
  • Faris: "America is a cult, and I want to be anywhere else." (12:35)
  • The dialogue emphasizes economic freedom in Mexico, “You can live lavish in Mexico off of [what you’re] struggling with back home.” (14:17)
• The group acknowledges the paradox of escaping the U.S. using American privilege—passports and dollars.

4. Digital Diaspora and the Rise of Black in Tulum (16:28–33:43)

• Kendrick, a photographer from Atlanta, recounts how the pandemic and the murder of George Floyd solidified his decision to stay:

  “I had no desire to leave this tranquility of Mexico to go back voluntarily to madness... Atlanta was on the news every day.” (16:53–17:29)

• Nubia Young, founder of the "Black in Tulum" Facebook group, catalyzes connections among newcomers:

  • Started with 25 members in July 2020; by March 2021, over 13,500 members. (31:46–32:14)
  • “It has grown organically through word of mouth.” (32:24)

• As Tulum’s reputation spreads, celebrity visits (Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Meek Mill, etc.) attract more tourists, changing the vibe and raising questions about respectability, intention, and community impact.

5. The Limits and Realities of 'Utopia' (21:09–41:42)

• Local infrastructure struggles with rapid tourism growth, with concerns of sustainability voiced:

  "We don’t have a good infrastructure in Tulum. There’s actually none, sadly. They keep on selling and building big buildings. And do we know where that dirty water is going?" (40:05)

• The experience of Victoria Salazar, a Salvadoran refugee killed by Tulum police, shatters notions of safety and exposes continuing issues of racism and xenophobia:

  “The murder of Victoria Salazar made it very clear that we couldn’t say there was no racism or xenophobia in Mexico.” (41:57)

• Egan observes that U.S. privilege shields newcomers from some of these realities but doesn’t guarantee happiness or community.

6. Connecting with Afro-Mexican Activism & Cross-Diaspora Dialogue (26:02–44:26)

• Patricia Talley, an African American living in Guerrero, advocates for support between Black Americans and Afro-Mexican communities:

  “I’m asking these African American communities, wherever they are, to be supportive of the Afro Mexican movement.” (26:58)

• Patricia urges a shift from a "U.S. mindset" to true partnership with local communities:

  “We would have to change our USA mindset, philosophical mindset, to truly be partnering.” (45:36)

7. The Personal Meaning of Freedom (46:40–51:06)

• Patricia describes her journey:

  "It was the first time she ever felt a sense of freedom as a Black woman." (46:40)

  • She reflects on privilege and respect given to her in Mexico as "Profesora Maestro Patty." (47:43)

• On whether she feels free:

  “I feel freer. I will never be free from the memories, but I have a pathway for me to live a more comfortable and satisfactory life. ... So freedom is a state of mind and being able to do things without barriers and to be able to be judged by your character versus your color of your skin. So I am closer to that freedom than I’ve ever been before.” (50:05)

• Egan concludes that the quest for a Black utopia is in fact a search for personal freedom—one that remains complex, incomplete, yet deeply meaningful.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Glynn Washington (01:23):
  "Instead of talking a big game about how they were gonna move someday, they just left, started scattering to foreign shores..."
• Giselle (12:15):
  "I didn’t want to be in America. I never wanted to be in America."
• Faris (12:35):
  "America is a cult and I want to be anywhere else."
• Patricia Talley (47:21):
  "Somebody told me for African Americans, the American dream is a nightmare. Whoa. That’s a powerful statement."
• Patricia Talley (50:05):
  “I feel freer. I will never be free from the memories, but I have a pathway for me to live a more comfortable and satisfactory life... So freedom is a state of mind.”
• Nubia Young (32:14):
  “We are over 4,000 people in the group... and here we are in March... over 13.5 thousand people Black in Tulum.”
• Ryan (36:44):
  "I see a lot of people trying to find something when they come here... They're trying to escape. They're trying to release, just like we were."
• Adizah Egan (37:00):
  “We all need to escape. We need freedom. We need to release. And when you start to judge how people who are coming here to escape release, then who are you saying is worthy of being free in the first place?”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:23–02:57 – Glynn Washington sets the scene for Black migration and the quest for utopia
• 04:06–08:25 – Adizah Egan recounts her journey and the historical context for Black migration to Mexico
• 12:15–15:12 – First encounters with Black Americans living in/visiting Tulum
• 16:28–17:39 – Kendrick’s story: pandemic, George Floyd, and deciding to stay in Mexico
• 31:46–32:14 – Nubia Young on the rapid growth of 'Black in Tulum'
• 40:05–41:42 – Local infrastructure and the impact of rapid tourism expansion
• 41:42–41:57 – The killing of Victoria Salazar and reality of racism in Mexico
• 47:21–47:43 – Patricia Talley on the "American nightmare"
• 50:05–51:06 – Defining and experiencing freedom

Tone & Style

The episode is raw, reflective, and confessional, using a storytelling style that balances personal anecdote with social analysis. Candid and vernacular language is present throughout, with honest, vulnerable exchanges and unfiltered reflections on race, privilege, and belonging.

Conclusion

"In Search of a Black Utopia" offers a multi-layered look at the motivations driving Black Americans abroad, the promise and pitfalls of seeking safety and communion, and the ongoing negotiation between privilege, solidarity, history, and self-determination. Ultimately, Egan and her interlocutors discover that freedom is not just a change of scenery, but an ongoing, deeply personal journey.