For these Black women Mexico City became a haven, a fresh start

"On a perfect, sunny 75-degree day, a group of Black American women gathered at a sidewalk cafe over coffee and pastries to dish about dating, the affordability of weight-loss medications and where to find the best chocolate chip cookie. They easily break out in Spanish to converse with the servers. They go inside the tiny panadería to check out the display of pan dulces. Though bakeries are plentiful throughout the city, butter can be subpar here."

"Dianne Ray-Herman, who sports glasses and a neatly-cropped and graying afro, opts to snack on a plate of falafel and hummus. She's a retired widow originally from Little Rock, Arkansas. After losing her husband in 2019, she knew she would eventually pursue something different. She plotted a path to leave her real estate job. And her country. Ray-Herman, 67, landed in Mexico City, a longtime magnet for some of the greatest writers from Jack Kerouac to Allen Ginsberg."

"During the pandemic, many digital nomads left the United States to pursue the American Dream elsewhere. Mexico's capital became a popular destination for forging new lives and building new homes. Black women, in particular, are flocking to Mexico City. And while there's really no way to quantify how many have relocated in recent years, there's a robust online community of them who have made the move from the United States, or are visiting and considering the move."

Black American women are moving to Mexico City to build new lives, socialize, and find community. Many speak Spanish, explore local bakeries and cafes, and form supportive networks. Retirees and digital nomads have relocated after career changes, personal loss, or pandemic-driven shifts. Mexico City attracts migrants with lower living costs, more affordable housing and medical care, and cultural appeal rooted in literary and artistic history. A robust online community connects those who have already moved and those considering relocation. Motivations include financial advantages, easier access to procedures and a desire for a different social and political environment.

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