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The White House recently invited travel bloggers to attend the White House Travel Blogger Summit on Study Abroad and Global Citizenship which was held on December 9, 2014. When I heard rumors of the top 100 travel bloggers being invited to the White House for this prestigious event, I asked to see the list of the Top 100 Travel Bloggers which was not necessarily the same as the White House invitee list. However the Top 100 Travel Bloggers List did not include one Black or African American Travel Blogger. Upon further investigation as to which bloggers of color received an invite to this ground-breaking travel promotion event, it was revealed there were no Black or African American Travel Bloggers invited to this White House Travel Blogger Summit. I stated to the travel blogging community of whom are predominantly white that the list lacked Black People. Their responses were that Black Travel Bloggers lack the statistics and influence of White Travel Bloggers. We did not measure up to their metrics for the Top 100 Travel Bloggers List. Some of the bloggers inquired as to whom should be included on the list this verifying stats. I mentioned some top influential Black Travel Bloggers that I know personally as I don’t have stats of their readership available. Despite suggestions of possible candidates, not one Black Travel Blogger was present. The travel blogging community encourages black travel bloggers to keep trying, work harder and maybe next year you will make it. This group also stated that none of the black travel bloggers has the reach level of influence of Johnny Jet or Nomadic Matt. We pointed out to this travel blogging community that Blacks desire to learn about travel from people who look like them. Traveling while Black is an experience that can only be shared by a Black person. Despite a very heated debated Black Travel Bloggers were snubbed by the travel blogging community and not invited to the White House Travel Blogger Summit. This is unacceptable from a travel community group of people who are suppose to have a multicultural viewpoint from their travel experiences. White Privilege still exists in the travel blogging community. I am not sure how many of the travel bloggers who attended the summit participated in study abroad programs. If the Top 100 Travel Bloggers had that opportunity to study abroad, then it should have exposed them to be understanding and inclusive of other cultures, especially Black Travel Bloggers. These are turbulent times as America faces racial injustice of the murder daily of unarmed Black people in our society. One solution to America’s problem of racism and White Privilege is the study abroad program. White America needs to engage with other cultures because most White Americans live in a world that encompasses a circle of 96% White friends and do not encounter Black people until college or the workforce. So college study abroad programs would truly benefit race relations in the United States. There is hope for our nation.
Evan Ryan, Asst. Secretary of the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs for the State Department (ECA) spoke to the invited travel bloggers. Sher referred to the group as “movers and shakers who share the same beliefs as we do of traveling abroad.”
Evan Ryan further stated that “20 million U.S. students in higher education they are represented as follows: 62% White, 14 % African American, 13% Hispanic, 7% Asian Pacific Islander, 1% Native American. Within overall study abroad the balance is more skewed at 76% White, 5% African American, 8% Hispanic, 7% Asian Pacific Islander, and less than 1% Native American. While we need to increase study abroad overall, we specifically need to ensure that students of all background including racial and ethnic as well as socioeconomic status are better represented. As it stands fewer minority students study abroad than are represented in higher education overall; over the past 15 years we have seen slight improvements in reaching more diverse students through study abroad between 2000 and 2012 minority representation in international study has seen an increase from 16% to 24% with over 68,000 minority students studying abroad over the 2012- 2013 academic year. We are making progress but we can do better to be more reflective of American society. While we must strive to improve diversity”....
If the bureau of education and cultural affairs is sincere in the desire to increase minority representation then invite African American Travel Bloggers to have a seat at the table.
5 Black Youth Travel Organizations
1. Atlantic Impact founded by Anise Hayes
Atlantic Impact increases opportunity in persistently low-achieving schools by using history, community engagement, and global exchange. Through experiential learning and student-led opportunities, youth develop college-ready skills that empower them to become the next generation of urban innovators.
During the school year our kids explore their communities, over the summer they go abroad!
Federally recognized 501c3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible. Donate today!
2. A World Beyond Youth Exploration founded by Prince Erick-Heaggans
A World Beyond Youth Exploration employs a unique approach. Students will be provided photography and videography training from industry experts in New York City. Those students will be paired with individual mentors and sent to five countries Europe for a three-week cultural immersion and skill building experience. Students will produce photography and journal entries that will be displayed in each of their communities in professional exhibits. This will not only show their peers what they have done, but inspire others in the community to strive for opportunities once thought impossible. The students work will then be compiled into a book for donors as a thank you for your support.
3. B.E.S.T Boys Go Global founded by Erica Hines Pereria
B.E.S.T. Academy High School is a single-gender, all boy, public high school located in the Bankhead area of Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The purpose of this blog is to keep family, friends, classmates, teachers, and funders informed about our annual study abroad trips. Most importantly we want to encourage others to overcome their fears of international travel and to think globally.
4. Girls Going Global founded by Martice Sutton
Empowering Girls Through Travel
Girls Going Global will be a month long summer camp that exposes African American adolescents to the way other adolescent girls live throughout the world. Culture will be explored through food, language, religion, and the daily life of adolescent girls on the continents of South America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The focus of this summer camp is to advocate for global engagement among adolescent girls and to educate them on the paths to global leadership.
5. Passport Party Project founded by Tracey Friley
The Passport Party Project is an award-winning grassroots initiative providing online global awareness training, first passports & first time international travel experiences to underserved American girls ages 11-15 in an effort to help create responsive and responsible global citizens.
Influential Black Millennials Travel Organizations
1. Nomadness Travel Tribe - Founder Evita Robinson
Nomadness Travel Tribe is an urban travel movement that spans 8,000 members, and over three dozen countries. We're the edgy, under represented demo in the international travel industry, and we've formed our own Tribe. In the invitation-only platform, we share stories, advice, photos and conversation about our personal experiences around the world. We are the new age travel movement!
2. I Luv 2 Globe Trot - Founders Nicole Brewer and Renee Evans
Renee and Nicole both felt it was important to share their journey of trotting the globe with friends, family and soon to be friends through the globe trot community. Between the two friends they have traveled to more than 20 countries and counting! I Luv 2 Globe Trot is a place for those that are already avid travelers to gain advice and for those interested in travel to learn about breaking free of the mold and living their life with purpose and travel. We want to inspire women, minorities and others alike to trot the globe!
3. Travel Noire - Founder Zim
Travel Noire is a digital publishing platform that creates tools and resources for the unconventional traveler. Founded by a Glamour Magazine award-winning entrepreneur, Travel Noire is a necessity in every traveler’s toolkit. We hand select the most amazing individuals from the African diaspora, who reside all over the globe, to share their love of culture and exploration with you—in the hopes that you will hop out of your neighborhood and across one (or a few) of the seven seas.
The White House Travel Blogger Summit
The White House has announced a study abroad program office to encourage all Americans to study in another country as part of their college life.
Ben Rhodes “inspirer of dreamers”, Assistant to President and Deputy National Security Adviser to the President for Strategic Communications and Speech Writing.
President Barack Obama expressed in the state of the union address a goal to “expand cultural and educational exchanges among young people to engage people around the world.”
Evan Ryan, Asst. Secretary of the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs for the State Department (ECA) spoke to the invited travel bloggers. Sher referred to the group as “movers and shakers who share the same beliefs as we do of traveling abroad.”
“Travel opens door for youth, young to cross socioeconomic, cultural and geographic borders; to engage in people to people connections; to increase mutual understanding; and to collectively solve global challenges. The United States is a leader in many global fields including higher education. One of our goals at the state department is help ensure that young americans our next generation of leaders have the international skills they want and need for a globalized 21st century workforce. We know the interest is there, over half of U.S. students enter the university with the interest of studying abroad. However, fewer than 10% actually take part in the study abroad over their entire academic careers. In 2012 - 2013 the total number of U.S. students taking part in study abroad was under 300,000. On the surface, this number sounds terrific until you realize that this is only 1.5% of the almost 20 million American students enrolled in U.S. Higher Education during the same period. 1.5% percent is a very stunningly low number. Fifteen years ago there were nearly 130,000 US students studying abroad with this number more than doubling from 2012 to 2013 to 289,000. Yet with the current rate of annual growth which is approximately 2% it will take another 35 years to double again. This is not acceptable. We must do better and we can do better. American students face many real and perceived constraints to study abroad. They may be hesitant to take leave from the universities and colleges where they study, fearing a loss of progress towards their degree completion. For those who rely on income derived from employment both the short term loss of income as well as potential increased cost of education for study abroad may prove too daunting. It is always difficult to say goodbye to family and friends who may worry about your safety and security. It is also intimidating to navigate daily life in a foreign culture and language and students may also express concerns about missing out on events and activities while away from their home campuses. Nevertheless, we firmly believe that encouraging American students to study abroad is a strategic imperative for the United States. Responses from students who are returning from international experiences validate the importance of study abroad on a more personal level as well; of the 20 million U.S. students in higher education they are represented as follows: 62% White, 14 % African American, 13% Hispanic, 7% Asian Pacific Islander, 1% Native American. Within overall study abroad the balance is more skewed at 76% White, 5% African American, 8% Hispanic, 7% Asian Pacific Islander, and less than 1% Native American. While we need to increase study abroad overall, we specifically need to ensure that students of all background including racial and ethnic as well as socioeconomic status are better represented. As it stands fewer minority students study abroad than are represented in higher education overall; over the past 15 years we have seen slight improvements in reaching more diverse students through study abroad between 2000 and 2012 minority representation in international study has seen an increase from 16% to 24% with over 68,000 minority students studying abroad over the 2012- 2013 academic year. We are making progress but we can do better to be more reflective of American society. While we must strive to improve diversity and study abroad participation we must do likewise in the choice of destination. Fifteen years ago over 60% of U.S. students taking part in study abroad travel to Europe, followed by 15% to Latin America, and with single digits for all other regions of the world. The current picture of international studies show improvement with the greater diversity of study abroad destinations. As was the case 15 years ago, Europe remains the primary destination for Americans studying abroad. While overall numbers of Americans studying in Europe have increased the percentage has fallen actually from 63% to 53% over this time period. Even so, 32% of all U.S. students have taken part in U.S. study abroad currently travel to only 1 of 3 countries in Europe: the U.K., Italy, and Spain. Latin America, a focal point of the President’s 100,000 strong initiative which Ben mentioned has seen an increase over the last 15 years with an overall doubling in numbers currently standing at 16% and within the region Brazil had increased seven fold within the same period of time. Asia over the same time frame has seen considerable growth, doubling its share from 6% to 12% . China, another White House priority country for study abroad is only one of two countries over 15 years to rise into the top 10 destinations for U.S. students studying abroad with a significant increase from 2% to 5%. Fewer than 10% of US students taking advantage of study abroad opportunities that leaves over 90% of American students without this vital component as part of their education. We must strive to expand overall participation rate and study abroad, make to sure to further diversify student participation as to better reflect American society overall. We must ensure that Americans are learning about the people peoples and cultures across the entire world, not just a handful of countries.
Why must more American study abroad? It is crucial for our country’s next generation of leaders to travel, live, work, intern or volunteer abroad in order to gain the skills needed to understand and operate within the global political and economic landscape of the 21st century.”
Join us on The Skychi Travel Guide Live on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at 7 pm CST as we discuss study abroad experiences from the black perspective.
Written by Janice Temple “Skychitravels”
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