Leroy Adams, Community Building in China
BY LEROY ADAMS
Leroy’s first trip abroad was through a study abroad program to Taiwan. Fascinated by almost everything, but mostly the kindness and curiosity of the local community when they met him, he decided that traveling abroad would become a staple in his life. This decision led him to join the Peace Corps in Ethiopia, followed by two years of living in China with many trips to different countries sprinkled in between. During that time, he would meet Black Americans who had found joy and entrepreneurial success, creating a healthy and thriving life for themselves. It was through these experiences that Leroy challenged the idea of an exceptional America and could no longer see himself existing in one corner of the world.
“It’s something about creative expression; poetry, art, spoken word, dance, etc - that tears down walls of ignorance and barriers to community building.”
birthplace: Georgia
current Location: Ethiopia and Thailand
occupation: Founder of The Buddy Pass
I co-founded BLK GEN in 2016 because I recognized that some of the challenges Black expats were facing in China were due to race, cultural ignorance, and lack of awareness. I recognized that even within the Black community there were misconceptions we had about each other. I saw a need to create a space using different forms of art to build a bridge between cultures and different people groups. It’s something about creative expression; poetry, art, spoken word, dance, etc - that tears down walls of ignorance and barriers to community building. I think people enjoyed seeing different expressions of art being used to deliver powerful political and social messages.
Black Beijing
Black Beijing is the most eclectic, creative, entrepreneurial group of Black people from across the Diaspora, just coming together to build a new life in Beijing, China. I mean Black people from Africa, Europe, the Islands, Canada, all over, connecting and doing dope shit; like starting restaurants, running barbershops and salons, selling bakery goods, running events and expos. It was so beautiful. It’s kind of an Afrofuturistic lifestyle because it is a world where white people don’t really exist. They’re there, but they don’t have too much impact on your life or livelihood, so Black Beijing is just where Black people come to connect and thrive.
On where he’d like to live next...
Bali comes to my mind. The paradise you know. Also, I want to be in a place where my skin color is not the priority. The common misconception that people have when challenging my desire to leave is that they think I believe other places are perfect or without problems. That is not true. Listeners [of The Buddy Pass podcast] have heard me speak of the challenges I faced in China and Ethiopia due to my skin color. The difference is that white people in this country [United States] are simply unwilling to listen, learn, and act. So any place I can go and not have to deal with white ignorance on the daily would be fine for me. I would want to continue podcasting and storytelling. I need a country like Indonesia or Thailand, where Entrepreneurship translates well. Also, if I needed to earn extra money I would teach, but I would focus my energies on storytelling and growing that skill. I would take this freedom to think, feel, and move without concerning myself with white opinion.