(gentle music) - Couch Surfing is real, y'all.

Yes, gen Z.

People used to go around sleeping on random people's couches for funsies.

It was a time.

But seriously, I didn't think couch surfing was real either, perhaps because of cultural differences.

Me being a Black woman and all.

Ain't no way I'm going around sleeping on other people's couches just like I don't eat everybody's food.

Uh-uh, no way.

That's the equivalent of going hitchhiking in the '60s and '70s and, well, we know how that ended.

It was a serial killer's playground.

If you ever heard of the phrase, "Stranger danger," or, "Just say no," that's where it all started.

But I wasn't the one couch surfing.

We, as in my roommates and I, were going to host a couch surfer.

Couch surfers, after all, are trusting strangers to welcome them in their homes.

It's a community, you know?

It's like being polyamorous or having an open relationship, except you have a limited time to stay before you have to go.

I know some of you, Black people are like, "I know you didn't!"

I did, but hear me out.

I love an adventure and I refuse to be left out.

If there is a time to be had, I'm going to have it.

Plus, there were four roommates, and we decided that we would only have a woman couch surfer.

But let's not kid ourselves.

Women can be dangerous too, okay?

I said to myself, "It's a only a one-time thing.

It's an experience that I will never have again."

So we ended up offering a spot to a short, good natured woman of white European descent.

I can't remember where she was from originally, but she was trying to go hiking at some fancy country club in the Adirondacks.

We were in Albany, New York at that time.

Don't judge me.

All she needed was a layover so she could get to her final destination.

Now, couch surfers don't call it that.

They don't call it a layover, but it sounds super cool, right?

Okay?

I guess we were fortunate.

I did hear stories, because our couch surfer was super dope.

She even invited us to go hiking at the country club.

I'm Black.

I've never been to a country club.

You know, there was a point in time Black people weren't allowed in those spaces.

And truth be told, still aren't welcome today.

But hey, I had a shot at an experience and I was not giving it up.

Now, this is the part where the Black person doesn't make it out alive, out of the scary movie alive.

We don't survive in any kind of force or camping of any kind, especially, and in particularly, at a country club.

Hello.

(chuckles) But I would not be deterred.

Plus, I was going with my roommates, and we were getting along at the time.

I activated my inner white women and carried on.

No, I'm not an Oreo.

I'm offended.

Oreo implies that I'm complicit in giving up my Blackness, and I would never.

My inner white women is from slavery.

Now that that's clear.

(chuckles) Of course, I've never been camping and I had no idea what to pack.

I think I went hiking in Tim's 'cause that's what New Yorkers do.

Timber lands are for every and any occasion, including hiking.

I don't know what happens in the other country clubs, but this one was like the mecca of the Adirondacks.

There are 46 mountains in the Adirondacks.

And each time you climb one, you get some sort of star or something.

Basically, it's like "Pokemon GO."

They had to hike 'em all.

They had plaques of white people all over the walls who climbed all 46 peaks.

I ain't gonna lie, it was weird.

This was before the movie "Get Out," but those were the vibes.

But again, I'm here for the adventure and baby, it did not disappoint.

(chuckles) I was worried about the cabin 'cause what is happening there?

It was nice.

Again, country club.

We climbed the mountains and yes, I made it in.

I made it down in one piece, but baby, my legs was like jello.

If I had to run after that, dead.

Yeah, we was gonna die right there.

(chuckles) After we returned from the hike, cleaned up and ate, it was dark.

Again, Black woman in the forest.

They decided to have a bonfire.

I don't know what it is about white people and bonfires, but it's a common thing amongst the global minority.

It got a little dicey with the bonfire 'cause it was given "Lord of the Flies" kinda energy, so I didn't stay long.

Plus, I was tired.

Super tired.

I made it through the night.

I mean, I slept through the night.

I woke up to a beautiful sunny day and I went home.

Couch surfing provided me a unique opportunity to experience a group of people and an experience that I would never have had if I wasn't open to it.

Oddly enough, while I was there, I didn't feel like I... Oddly enough, while I was there, I did feel like I belonged.

We all struggled up that mountain and we definitely struggled on the way down.

We were humans, and the only thing that we belonged to was our shared humanity.

Thank you.

(attendees applaud) (gentle music)