All posts tagged: traveling while black

Confessions of a Jetsetter w/ Natalie Jeffers

Published by Confessions of a Jetsetter

“I recently spent time in Memphis, which was deep, dirty and delicious. There are many stories I could share but the most life-affirming/transformative event happened on my flight back to Brooklyn, when I took a seat next to this man. Robert Hawkins. I almost didn’t sit next to Robert, as he had a cane and a support brace around his waist so I didn’t want to make him get up and move just so I could get my window seat! But Robert insisted I sit, and we all got settled in. I was so blessed that I ended up in that seat, at that very moment in time…Robert told me that he had been released from prison that very day and that this flight was his first taste of freedom, and our conversation his first with a person who wasn’t his family, lawyer or prison mate in 26 years…intense, right? As Robert shared his story, I gave him my respect and compassion for the tough life he had been forced to live behind bars. Not …

Confessions of a Jetsetter w/ Tracey Friley

Published by Confessions of a Jetsetter

“I started traveling with teen girls in the Spring of 2010. I was SO excited. It had been a dream of mine to expose teen girls to the world, so I started off by taking that first group to St. John in the United States Virgin Islands for what I called CampCaribe with a little money from me and a little money from them. It was a travel experience and an outdoor water camp experience all rolled into one. I had 8 girls and 2 lifeguard staff in tow. And because you don’t need a passport to get into the USVIs, I had a bunch of original birth certificates with me. At the time, I remember thinking about how important it was for the girls to have passports, and I even had a conversation about it with a U.S. Customs Agent. Funny how seeds get planted and how those seeds ultimately bloom. On our way to St. Thomas, a guy on the airplane asked what kind of team we were. “Do you play basketball?” he …

Confessions of a Jetsetter w/ Spirit Trickey

Published by Confessions of a Jetsetter

“South Africa changed my life. I had the incredible privilege to travel to Cape Town, South Africa for my International Public Service Project while attending the Clinton School of Public Service in 2009. I had always wanted to visit South Africa ever since I was a child who accompanied my mother on a freedom march in the late 80’s chanting, “Free Mandela, Jail Botha.” I was fascinated by the hundreds of people marching in support of Mandela – a man who lived clear across the world. I didn’t really understand it at the time, but my mother explained it in full detail the day he was released from prison. I remember that moment just like yesterday… As the daughter of activist parents, social justice issues have always intrigued me. When I got the chance, I wanted to explore the similarities and differences between the impact of apartheid in South Africa and the United States. I was chilled to the bone getting a glimpse into post apartheid South Africa, and even more so to recognize the …

Confessions of a Jetsetter w/ René Daniella

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“I traveled to Brazil with my childhood friend a couple years ago. We both have massive curly hair and wear our afros everywhere. I thought we would fit in when we got to Brazil because people all over the world are always asking me if I am Brazilian! When we were at the iconic Iguaçu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil, the tourists there could not get enough of my hair. Not exaggerating, we must have been stopped to take over 100 photos with different tourists mesmerized by our hair. I thought it was so funny considering how breathtakingly beautiful the waterfalls are! To think they even noticed us against that backdrop is amazing. I seriously wonder how many family vacation albums we are in haha!” – René Daniella // @ownbyfemme   059/100 of #100DaysofConfessions Instagram Project

Confessions of a Jetsetter w/ Sienna Brown

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“This time last year, I had a fantastic job in NYC (somewhat living ‘the dream’) but I felt like something was missing and that thing was Spain. Thinking about it retrospectively, it has always been where I feel like I was destined to be. Since my early teenage years, I’d been infatuated with the Spanish language and culture although I was born and raised in NYC all my life. My interest continued throughout college and I made the decision to study abroad my junior year. It was a life-changing experience that solidified my desire to come back and live long-term. I didn’t know how or when, but I always had a feeling that it would happen… Fast-forward about three years later and I’m happily sitting on my balcony, drinking coffee in the South of Spain. I decided to make the move allowing me to follow my dreams and live a life that I truly love. Since moving back, the idea of community has been extremely important to me, especially through finding and supporting other female …

Confessions of a Jetsetter w/ Thifa

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“Some people have obsessions like fro-yo, Netflix, sex or shoes. My obsession is traveling. One of my favorite pastimes is going to faraway lands and being mistaken for random celebrities. Not because I look like them, but just because for most of the locals I encounter, it’s not often they see a 6 foot Jamaican girl wearing 5 inch wedges visiting tourist sites. I wonder…who do they think I am?! And will they figure it out when showing their vacation pictures to friends/family or posting on Instagram/Facebook….Do you think Beyoncé, Rihanna or Michelle Obama will shut them down when they are tagged?!” – Thifa   031/100 of #100DaysofConfessions Instagram Project