Will I be treated differently because I'm black?

An African-American teen recently asked this question in our forum: "Many times on this site I read of people who are not native Spanish speakers going to Spanish-speaking countries and saying the people were very warm and welcoming. I am wondering, would that happen to myself as well, or will I be treated differently because of my race?"

The answers have been varied and sometimes surprising: Some blacks, or people who traveled with them, reported nothing but positive experiences. Some experienced subtle prejudice, while others reported getting strong negative reactions from those who mistook them for African immigrants. But nearly all agree that, regardless of your race, it's worth the effort to speak in the local language when traveling. Join the conversation...