As we say at Through Our Lens, “Representation matters” and I saw my face in Addy’s as reflected in the American Girls Collection, my curls in Addy’s, even Addy’s cowrie shell jewelry.
Oddly enough, this is a question I think about quite often this time of year. My awesome tax guy, Al, is a collector of African masks and has been to a few countries in West Africa. Masks adorn his office and it inevitably comes up about his time in Senegal and his visit to the Doors of No Return.
What do you get when you cross a chart-topping singer, breathtaking beauty, captivating actress, trailblazing style icon, record-breaking pioneer, legendary megastar, international superstar, and an all-around boss?
Maya Angelou is a world renowned American treasure. A literary hero, civil rights activist, poet, playwright and so much more. I think every young black girl remembers reading I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings for the first time. Still I Rise is the soundtrack in my head on repeat. That glow, that confidence? Thank you Maya Angelou. For me, as a kid, Maya Angelou was one of my first understandings of a living legend. You heard about Martin Luther King Jr. to Shakespeare, but none of these people were still alive. “She did all of this and she’s still living?!” I thought. “I could meet her?!” Sadly, that never happened but Maya Angelou is still a light and source of inspiration to me. After the election last year, when I simply didn’t feel like writing, Maya Angelou’s words pulled me out of the fog like the north star and is the pillar of my content for ‘N A Perfect World still. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery this is the first of a …
One of the most trafficked stories on ‘N A Perfect World is 10 African American Friendly Travel Destinations. I see you guys ;). I am a born and raised New Yorker, currently residing in London. In the current state of the US’s administration, I am not surprised with the influx of activity on this post. I definitely need to update my list, send more tourism dollars to “shithole” countries. With sites like On She Goes (that I’ve contributed to), Travel Noire, Nomadness etc. this was a “thing” way before travel companies started to pay attention. I’ve gotten tons of emails and DMs from WOC — I’ve even been fortunate enough to meet some of you — telling me about your experiences traveling, asking for my advice etc. A question that I’ve gotten a few times that I LOVE is young people of color in the United States considering studying abroad and asking me my take on how the student experience would be for them in X country. In some instances, their parents fear racism. I’ve …
the end of an era for us Colette fans globally.
Give yourself permission to be a kid again and gorge on candy floss and spend too much money trying to get a giant stuffed bear that you absolutely don’t need.
And when the malaise seeps in, it’s my cure.
I wanted the discussion to run the gamut from safety, to perks, stereotypes and most importantly, our role as American women as travel ambassadors of the United States.
In a perfect world… I could sit on a flight in India without worrying about being assaulted or harassed.
