While President Donald Trump’s administration is opening America’s doors to thousands of predominantly white South African Afrikaners, Black Gay American author Elias Whitfield is encouraging Black LGBTQ+ Americans to consider moving in the opposite direction: out of the United States, toward South Africa and other Black- and LGBTQ+-affirming destinations—to pursue greater cultural peace, financial security and LGBTQ+ acceptance.

The contrast comes as the Trump administration plans to set a 17,500-person refugee admissions ceiling for the coming fiscal year, consisting primarily of South Africans from the country’s white Afrikaner minority. Although the administration says Afrikaners face racial persecution, the South African government disputes that characterization.

The Freedom in Leaving: A Black LGBT Guide to Choosing South Africa Over America, Whitfield’s provocative new nonfiction book, arrives October 21, 2026.

What This Book Is—and Is Not—About

To be clear: this is NOT an “I hate America” diatribe. It is not a protest book, a plea for America to save Black LGBTQ+ people, or another call to patiently wait for the next election cycle.

Instead, this is an Exit-Plan Book that challenges Black LGBTQ+ Americans to consider what happens when they stop waiting for America to change and instead make the change for themselves—leaving the United States with quiet intentionality and a detailed plan of action.

Book Contents

Across 18 chapters, a glossary and appendices, the book combines personal accounts, research, facts and firsthand experiences to explain why Whitfield believes Black LGBTQ+ Americans should seriously consider moving abroad—and South Africa in particular.

The book examines South Africa’s constitutional protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, organized LGBTQ+ communities, Black American expatriate communities, immigration and visa pathways, private healthcare, housing, transportation, finances, safety and cultural adjustment.

It also addresses transgender-specific concerns, including constitutional protections involving gender identity, legal gender recognition and access to trans-affirming healthcare.

The book also examines how South Africa’s lower cost structure can help Americans on pensions, Social Security and retirement savings stretch their money further.

Then comes race. Black Africans comprise more than 80% of South Africa’s population, compared with Black Americans at roughly 13% of the U.S. population. The book explores the experience of living as part of a Black majority rather than a racial minority, while confronting culture shock, crime and xenophobia directly.

How The Freedom in Leaving Came to Be

So what do you do when the country you helped build keeps telling you it doesn’t want you?

For Elias Whitfield and his partner:

It was a passport.

Over the past two years, Black LGBTQ+ Americans have watched political power shift in ways that directly affect both parts of their identity.

Trump pushed Republican-led states to redraw congressional districts to increase Republican representation, while voting-rights advocates challenged some redistricting efforts for weakening Black voters’ ability to elect candidates of their choice. The broader mid-decade redistricting battle has resulted in nine states using new U.S. House districts in the 2026 elections.

LGBTQ+ protections have shifted as well. On September 28, the Trump administration formally rescinded the Biden-era Title IX regulations that defined sex discrimination to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, but federal courts had already blocked and ultimately vacated the 2024 rule.

Against that backdrop, The Freedom in Leaving asks:

If America is moving in a direction you no longer recognize as your own, are you required to spend the rest of your life there?

For Whitfield and his longtime partner, who are preparing for retirement and a future in South Africa, the answer was a resounding no.

“We looked at what was headed our way on election night and then watched much of it become reality in real time. We watched court reversals, changing precedents, battles over Black history, changes in civil-rights enforcement, changes to LGBTQ+ protections and, for us most importantly as we approach retirement, the skyrocketing cost of living in America. After months of prayer, research and deliberation, we agreed that South Africa would become our new home in 2027,” says Whitfield.

Whitfield calls his research method “The Gumbo Approach”—combining independent research with personal travel throughout South Africa, firsthand observations, conversations with Black American expats and native South Africans, and insights from online Blaxit communities.

It was designed to answer one question:

“Where in the world could a Black Gay American couple entering retirement relocate to experience greater racial and cultural peace, LGBTQ+ acceptance, personal safety, financial longevity through a lower cost of living, and a healthy and active lifestyle?

“Our answer: South Africa.”

“Does South Africa still have racial, cultural and crime challenges? Absolutely. It does, as do countries around the world, including the United States. We accept those challenges and still choose South Africa. This book gives others the information to decide whether it might meet their needs.”

Availability

The Freedom in Leaving: A Black LGBT Guide to Choosing South Africa Over America will be published October 21, 2026, by Elias Whitfield Passport Publishing, LLC.

The paperback will be available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble and can be ordered through participating independent bookstores and libraries through the book trade. The eBook will be available through Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble NOOK, Apple Books, Kobo and Google Play Books, with additional digital and library distribution channels.