Content creator and activist Maelia Bee (@befreewithmaeliabee) says she has had enough of America. After months of saving and planning, she has booked a one-way ticket to West Africa, framing her move as both a personal reset and a political statement.
In a recent Instagram video, Maelia called for what she describes as a “Black Exodus,” urging African Americans to reimagine their futures beyond U.S. borders.
She said her decision was fueled by the constant violence against Black people and systemic racism that, in her view, is woven into the nation’s foundation.
“The fact that a young man was lynched in the U.S. just yesterday [Sept 17 incident involving Trey Reed] should be the reason why every Black person wants to leave the U.S. for good,” she said. “America will never change. It’s the same story, we’re singing the same song every year about racism, about killings, wrongful police brutality. Why aren’t y’all seeing this? And why don’t y’all want to leave?”
Maelia explained that her move was not impulsive but deliberate—months of saving, planning, and strategizing preceded her departure.
She advises others who are considering such a step to prepare financially, suggesting that individuals aim to secure at least two years of stability while setting up work or business abroad.
Her message has resonated with followers across TikTok and Instagram who say they, too, feel disillusioned with the United States’ racial climate.
“As someone who has packed up all my stuff and left America and lived in 9 different countries on 4 different continents, including Africa….. I wish you luck, but a lot of people come back for a reason,” one person commented.
Another said, “Just told my pa this. We may be coming back home.”
For Maelia, the truth is simple:
“This system was never built for us. It was built to exploit Black people, to use them, and to deny them equal justice and equity.”
The call for a “Black Exodus” is not new—throughout history, figures like Marcus Garvey in the early 20th century and more recently the Back-to-Africa movement have urged African Americans to consider building lives in African nations.
Maelia’s post adds to a growing conversation among young Black Americans questioning their safety, dignity, and future in the U.S.
For her, moving is more than relocation, it’s liberation.
