After years of living in the United States, a Black man has made a life-altering decision to leave America for good following his reflection on a culmination of experiences.
Dr. Corey Clay, an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist, who specializes in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), recently shared his story in a guest post for HuffPost, detailing the factors that led him and his wife to leave America.
“At 4 a.m. on Nov. 6, as my wife and I sat in our Seattle home watching election results roll in, something crystallized in our shared glance,” Clay recounted. “We had already been methodically planning our departure for months, recognizing America’s trajectory. The weight of that moment—the culmination of years of systematic observation and personal experience—settled heavily in our bedroom. This wasn’t just another exercise in hypothetical escape; this was the final push we needed to transform rhetoric into reality.”
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Clay’s decision wasn’t impulsive but the result of years of navigating racial dynamics in America. Raised in Richmond, Texas, he recalls how his grandfather called him a “peculiar Negro” for not fitting into the mold expected of him. From reading “X-Men” comics to dating outside his race and speaking “too proper,” he was labeled a “sellout” by the age of 15. These early experiences foreshadowed the challenges he would later face as a Black professional in predominantly white spaces.
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His time as an infantry soldier further shaped his perspective. Clay initially embraced the Army’s core values—loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. But over time, he saw how these ideals were not upheld in reality. One haunting memory was of a drill sergeant at Fort Benning, Georgia, openly singing racist cadences during PT runs.
Even in his academic and professional career, racism persisted. He recalled a jarring moment in Portland when an unhoused person who had initially asked him for money suddenly turned to hurl racial slurs. “It was a stark reminder that no amount of education or professional success can fully shield us from America’s deeply ingrained racism,” he said.
By mid-November, Clay and his wife had secured spots in academic programs in the U.K., choosing the student visa route for its flexibility in laying down new roots. Given his Ph.D. in industrial-organizational psychology and his wife’s credentials with the Health and Care Professions Council, they had access to opportunities even after most university admissions had closed.
Relocating wasn’t without its challenges. From navigating international travel logistics for their Scottish terrier, Rosco, to selling their home in Seattle, the process was complex. Yet, they recognized the privilege of choice—a privilege Clay’s grandfather could have never imagined. In less than two months, they transitioned from uncertainty to a concrete plan: moving to London for good.
A major factor influencing Clay’s decision was the growing attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in academia. While his own department had been supportive, he observed a troubling national trend: DEI efforts were often undervalued, underfunded, and easily discarded.
“My success in this field came from deliberately bridging industrial/organizational psychology with DEI principles, creating measurable outcomes and data-driven approaches to inclusion,” he explained. “Yet across academia, DEI initiatives often lack this sort of foundation, leading to well-intentioned but ineffective programs that fail to create lasting change.”
The swift dismantling of DEI programs at institutions like George Mason University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and the University of Wyoming only reinforced his belief that the fight for equity in American academia was becoming increasingly futile.
Meanwhile, political efforts such as Project 2025—a policy initiative aimed at rolling back civil rights protections—served as the final sign that it was time to leave.
While some might argue that progressive cities like Seattle offer a safer space for Black professionals, Clay’s experience told a different story.
“As a Black person in Seattle, I rarely see others who look like me in certain spaces, creating a peculiar kind of isolation,” he noted. “This hypervisibility in professional settings—being simultaneously the most noticeable person in the room and the most overlooked—creates a unique psychological burden.”
For Clay, leaving America isn’t about giving up on racial justice but about choosing his battles. Studies show that Black college graduates have lower wealth levels than white high school dropouts. The life expectancy for Black Americans is six years shorter than that of their white counterparts. The numbers paint a stark picture—one that no amount of professional success can erase.
Clay and his wife are now counting down the days until their departure, with his birthday falling just after their move to London. More than a celebration, the milestone represents a conscious choice to redefine their future.
“We’re not running away; we’re running toward something better,” he emphasized. “The U.K. has its own challenges, but there’s a fundamental distinction between choosing one’s battles and inheriting them.”
For those considering a similar move, Clay offers this advice: “This process demands substantial financial resources, emotional resilience, and psychological preparation. The practical challenges are considerable, but for some of us, the cost of remaining has become untenable.”
Reflecting on his journey, Clay acknowledges that being a “peculiar Negro” might also mean having the courage to seek peace beyond America’s borders.
“Living in America as a Black person requires a peculiar kind of consciousness, one that my grandfather recognized in me long ago,” he said. “Perhaps the most powerful form of resistance is refusing to remain in spaces that demand our diminishment.”
