Kiratiana Travels

12 Days of Multicultural London: Multicultural London has arrived: Less than 45% of city is British Whites

Kiratiana — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 21:07:03 +0000

The hashtag to celebrate the posts for the next 12 days will be #multicultilondon

I’m jumping on to the 12 Days Bandwagon. Over the next days I’m going to write 12 posts about multicultural London to tell you one thing – My book is only $7.99!!!! I reduced the price to Kiratiana’s Travel Guide to 7.99 from 12.99. On twitter I’ll be using the hashtag #multicultiLondon to celebrate the next 12 days.

The first day is a simple post related to the diversity of London. The UK government published data from the 2011 census on December 11, 2012 and it said one thing – London and Britain are more multicultural than ever. Check out the Storify below, which explains the reaction in Great Britain to the new Multicultural London.

Link to Storify – http://storify.com/kiratiana/multicultural-london-has-arrived-less-than-45-of-c#publicize

Kiratiana & African Diaspora Today – A Match Made in Heaven

Kiratiana — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:17:25 +0000

When I was asked to be on a local radio show called African Diaspora Today, I felt like someone was calling me home. OF COURSE, I will make a guest appearance on the African Diaspora Today show! Most of my travels have been connected to the African Diaspora and I want to share my stories with as many people as possible.

Dr. Carol Adams is the President and CEO of the DuSable Museum in Chicago. You can check out her weekly radio show on http://africandiasporatoday.com

African Diaspora Today is a weekly radio show by Dr. Carol Adams on WVON. Dr. Adams is the President and CEO of the DuSable Museum of African-American History in Chicago, the nation’s first museum dedicated to the culture and history of African-Americans. She’s an educator who has dedicated her life to promoting the African Diaspora. When you meet Dr. Adams, you can feel the passion for her work and her energy rubs off on you too!

On this show I had the honor of being interviewed by Janice Temple, blogger at Skychi Travels and one of the leaders of facebook group Black Travel Bloggers.

Below are 5 Things I discussed during my interview with Janice Temple, the resident travel blogger on the show:

1) How Brixton became the black spiritual home of Blacks in London and Great Britain for the matter.

2) How I first became exposed to the African Diaspora in Munich, Germany.

3) Why I decided to follow the trail of the African Diaspora during my Round the World Trip.

4) The top places to visit in multicultural London.

5) Overview of the African Diaspora in London.

Check out this link to listen to the entire show.

Want to Discover Multicultural London? Check out these guided walks and tours.

Kiratiana — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 10:00:06 +0000

What do you do when you visit London? Take an red bus tour and a guided walk.

Today you can explore London’s multiculturalism with expert guides. Whether its Black, Jewish, Chinese, Bengali, there’s a walking tour to discover it in London.Without Tony Warner’s Notting Hill Black History Walk, I would have never known that the neighborhood once had a large and vibrant Afro-Caribbean community. With Jessie Levene’s Chinatown tour, I now know the best places in London for Sichuan food. That’s why you need to take at least one of the more than a dozen multicultural tours available in London.

Below is my list of the top multicultural walks of London.

Black London

Have you ever wondered why the Caribbean Notting Hill Carnival, is in Notting Hill?

Many people think that London’s black history began on June 22, 1948, when 492 Jamaican immigrants arrived on the ocean liner SS Empire Windrush. In the years following, thousands of immigrants followed, forever changing London’s racial makeup. But after taking any of Tony Warner’s Black History Walks, you’ll learn that London’s black history goes back hundreds of years to when Great Britain started extracting wealth (and people) from its colonies.

Tony Warner offers four tours all over London that explore what is often hidden and unknown black history. His tours cover Notting Hill, Trafalgar Square, the City area, and Elephant & Castle.

Contact: info@ blackhistorywalks.co.uk

When: The Black History Walks don’t have a regular time, but Tony always updates his website to show the upcoming tours. If you don’t see one coming up, contact him for a private walk.

Cost: £ 10

St. Paul/ Banks Area

London’s metropolitan area became one of the wealthiest regions in the world through the looting of resources from other nations, particularly West Africa (slaves and gold) and the Caribbean (sugar). Tony points out the clues to this history throughout the City of London.

Notting Hill

How does a once-vibrant Caribbean community evolve into a wealthy neighborhood— with only a carnival that hints at its past? Through gentrification. During the 1950s, Trinidadian immigrants flocked to the neighborhood because it was one of the only places where real estate agents would rent to blacks. Racism led to a race riot in 1958. To unite the community, Trinidadian Claudia Jones initiated Carnival-like parties that eventually led to the Notting Hill Carnival. Tony’s tour traces the history of Caribbeans in the area.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is a symbolic center of London, through which millions of people pass each day, unaware of its African history. African princes, generals, resistance fighters, civil rights leaders, pilots, nurses, and sailors all make an appearance.

Elephant & Castle

Explore the history of blacks in World War II as Tony leads you on a tour of two museums in the area, the Imperial War Museum and the Cuming Museum.

Fitzrovia/ Soho

Tony Warner is an amazing historian who can find black history in some of the most unlikely spots. With this tour you can expect ancient African civilizations, black women broadcasters of the 1940s, civil rights activists who campaigned for equality in the military, black female entrepreneurs and heroines, Jimi Hendrix, Mary Seacole, African radicals of the 1800s, black classical musicians, Pan-African conspiracies, propaganda, and spies.

Chinatown London

Jessie Levene breaks down Chinese food in Chinatown!

After a 10-minute walk through London’s Chinatown, you might be struck by its similarity to many Chinatowns around the world— red lanterns and elaborate gates. You would never know that London’s original Chinatown, full of Chinese sailors, was in East London near the docks. And with so many restaurants, how would you know where to eat? That’s why you need Jessie Levene’s Chinatown tour.

Jessie spent almost 2 years living in the foodie paradise of the Szechuan, China. When she returned to continue her studies in London, she longed for the province’s spicy cuisine. So she began to explore. Today, her Chinatown Food Tour is a practical introduction to Chinese cuisine and cooking. In the first half of the 1 ½-hour tour, she explains the origins of the neighborhood. The second half is spent learning about Asian foods available in Chinatown. She ends the tour with a stop at her favorite Szechuan restaurant, The Baozi Inn.

Contact: email jessielevene@gmail.com

When: Every 2nd Saturday of the month

Where: Chinatown, London Price: £ 8 and £ 5 for food and drink afterwar

Length: 1 ½ hours

Jewish London

Check out the Petticoat Lane markets on Sunday. The market is a remnant of the area’s Jewish heritage.

Between 1880 and 1919, the UK’s Jewish population increased from 46,000 to more than 250,000, with most new Jewish immigrants settling in major cities like London, Manchester, and Leeds. These Jewish immigrants came to London from Eastern Europe, escaping the pogroms and repressive laws of the time. London’s Whitechapel area became a Jewish Town with Jewish schools, shops, synagogues, and markets. By the 1990s, however, most had moved out of Whitechapel to leafier suburbs. Today on Brick Lane, the only retail evidence that remains of this Jewish past are two 24-hour bagel shops. Thankfully, there are several tours that will help visitors uncover East London’s rich Jewish history.

Stephen Burstin’s Jewish Walking Tours

Stephen Burstin could tell you the Jewish history of all of London, but it’s best to start with his standard tour offered every Sunday: the Spitalfields & Aldgate Tour. You’ll visit London’s oldest synagogue, see a soup kitchen that served the Jewish poor, and learn about the Jewish connection with Jack the Ripper. Stephen runs a second tour on Sunday afternoon of the Soho and Fitzrovia neighborhoods. While their Jewish history isn’t nearly as well known as that of the East End, it’s still a fascinating look at London’s multicultural past.

Contact: 07967 561759, info@ jewishlondonwalkingtours.co.uk

When: Spitalfields & Aldgate, Sunday at 10: 15 a.m.; Soho and Fitzrovia, Sunday, 2: 30 p.m.; tour size is limited so book ahead

Cost: £ 10 each Length: 2 ½ hours

Go Jewish London Tours with Rachel Kolsky

Rachel Kolsky recently published the Travel Guide to Jewish London, so her expertise can’t be disputed. Plus, her tour company offers 18 Jewish London walks. Through her various tours, one can learn about the famously rich Rothschild family, Sigmund Freud, Jewish Hackney, the Jewish West End, and the Jewish City of London. Like Stephen Burstin, her most popular public tour, Jewish East End and Sandys Row, focuses on the Whitechapel area. You can expect a 2-hour walk that evokes the memory of the former Jewish area’s schools, soup kitchens, and synagogues.The Jewish East End walk is given about once a month. Book ahead because it often sells out.

Contact: http:// www.golondontours.com; telephone 020 8883 4169

Cost and schedules vary. Check the website for the public availability of other Jewish tours. If they are not available, book a private tour.

South Asian London

The Brick Lane Jamme Masjid Mosque used to be a synogogue and before that it was a Lutheran Church.

It feels wrong to group London’s South Asian community under one heading because it’s so diverse. The city is home to Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, and Sri Lankans, among others. Within those groups there are Sikhs, Hindus, and Muslims. They inhabit distinct neighborhoods of London. One of these neighborhoods is Southall in West London.

The Southall Tour with Monisha Bharadwaj

Monisha Bharadwaj offers the definitive walking tour of Southall, home to a large number of London’s South Asian community.

Contact: monishabharadwaj@ hotmail.com

When: Varies, but check the times at the website here.

Cost: £ 12 Length: 2 hours

Brick Lane Tours

While there is not a specific walking tour that focuses solely on Brick Lane’s Bengali community, there are a few resources that will help you create your own tour. British writer Tarquin Hall leads a Soundmap walking tour of Brick Lane. Hall recounts stories from his year spent living in the neighborhood, which eventually led to his book Salaam Brick Lane. Download the tour before you embark on the walk, which starts at Beigel Bake on Brick Lane.

The Tower Hamlets council offers a wonderful downloadable tour of Banglatown, Exploring Banglatown and Bengali East End. It’s not an audio tour, but it’s definitely the best resource for exploring the sheltered community. As the Jewish population left Brick Lane for “better” areas of London in the 1970s, the Bengalis moved in and replaced Jews in some of the sweatshops, opened up restaurants, and transformed the synagogue into a mosque.

…. and PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO BUY MY BOOK!

FREE Black Friday in London – FREE Multicultural London Guide Book

Kiratiana — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 03:15:30 +0000

Do I need to say anything else?

I’ve been thinking about London non-stop for the past two months. I miss London! Since I miss it so much, I want to share with you what I love best about London–its multiculturalism.

Fall 2012 is all a very special time for me because its the 10 year anniversary of my travel career. Ten years ago I set out on a round the world trip throughout West Africa, South America and Europe. Then in the fall of 2005, I moved to Paris for a year and started a blog called Kiratiana’s Travel Guide to Black Paris. In 2010 I started this blog and published the Travel Guide to Black Paris. Along the 10-year journey I’ve picked up quite a few followers and fans.

I want to THANK YOU for exactly 24 hours on Black Friday.

During this period, my new book, Kiratiana’s Travel Guide to Multicultural London will be free on all ebook platforms (except for Barnes & Noble). Right now the cheapest you can get it for is $10.52. But on Friday, it will be free!

KINDLE: http://bit.ly/Londonamazon

VOOK: http://bit.ly/Londonvook

iBOOKS: http://bit.ly/Londonibook

What will you get in the book?

Timeline of multicultural London
Detailed neighborhood guides for Brixton, Southall, and Spitalfields/Brick Lane that include the history, suggested tours, restaurants, sights, shopping and entertainment options.
An entire section on food in multicultural London
The most detailed list of London’s multicultural festivals that you will ever find in a book.

Will you be downloading the book on Black Friday?

My Book Kiratiana’s Travel Guide to Multicultural London is available for purchase!!

Kiratiana — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:18:39 +0000

It is my pleasure to announce that my book, Kiratiana’s Travel Guide to Multicultural London is published and available for you to buy.

My book is published. *sigh* Why do I sigh? Because now begins the LONG road of promoting the book! Yipee!

About six months ago I launched a Kickstarter project to help me fund this endeavor. After raising more than $6,000, I was able to use the funds to design the book, edit and proofread it. It’s been a difficult road to get here, but I’m happy it’s finally done! I had a great time exploring all that multicultural London had to offer this year and I’m happy I can share it will the rest of the world.

During the summer of 2012, the world came to London. But did you know that the world is already in London? If you enjoy exploring other cultures, eating ethnic food and dancing to music from around the world, then this is the book to take with you to London.

As a compact guide to Multicultural London, this book will educate and entertain. Whether it’s wandering through the Caribbean and African markets of Brixton, dancing in the streets at the Notting Hill Carnival or eating Punjabi Indian food in Southall, this guide has something for you.

You can buy the book on several platforms:

Vook

Buy the book at the Vook store, a wonderful platform that allows you to design and distribute ebooks.

I used Vook to design and distribute the book. For those of you who are looking for easy ways to develop nicely designed e-books, then check out this platform.

Amazon Kindle

The book is available on Kindle right now. But I really have to work on getting more reviews! So do me a favor. Buy the book and then review it!

Yes. You can buy it for cheaper on the Kindle store… for now.

iBooks

Want to read it on an iPad? Then buy it on iBooks.

Man I could use a few ratings…

Nook

It’s even available on Nook!

Who owns a Nook?

THANK YOU to all who helped me to fund and research the book!

The 10 Commandments of “Enlightened” International Travel

Kiratiana — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:25:23 +0000

Two weeks ago I moderated the panel, DESTINATION GLOBAL: How to Impact Audiences Around the World, at the annual national conference of the National Black PR society. The panel included some wonderful women, Jamila Aisha Brown, Jetta Bates, and Markeisha Marshall. All these women have worked and traveled across the world. To help people during the presentation, we decided to compile 10 commandments of travel. I rechristened it the 10 commandments of “enlightened” travel. If you follow the 10 commandments below, you will have a life full of travel adventure, international friendships and life-long memories. At the end of the post, we compiled some websites for travel and international business opportunities.

1) Curiosity Is The Foundation of All Travel – Seek out relationships with the local people and consume all available cultural opportunities, inclusive of museums and tours, pop culture events and every day lifestyle activities like church services and markets.

1) Thou Shall Travel Alone - Be fearless and travel on your own. Researching safety precautions is essential, but don’t be afraid to go without a travel buddy or group.

I traveled alone throughout Mexico and loved every minute of it. The only difficult part was taking pictures of myself. But I got this one.

2) Thou Shall Be Adventurous – Do something, eat something and wear something you never thought you would. Global travel is the ultimate expression of freedom and growth, so try something that you never would have tried at home.

One of the best moments of my 2009 Paris trip was going a friend’s house to learn how to make Moroccan tea.

3) Be Respectful – Leave judgments at the airport. When you travel outside of the U.S. expect that the experience and the people will be unlike what you are familiar with at home. Listen and learn from the locals and avoid asserting your American ideals. You will learn that at the core of humanity there are more similarities than differences.

4) Do Your Research – Being informed cuts down on the misunderstandings… and allows you to appreciate the meaning behind each experience.

5) Learn Key Phrases – People LOVE it when you at least try to communicate in their language. Many Americans are not fluent in a second language… but you can learn key words/phrases like “hello,” “please,” “thank you,” “how much is this,” “this if beautiful,” “this tastes great,” or “do you speak English” – just to show that you acknowledge you are not in a predominantly English speaking country and you are open to experiencing their culture.

7) Volunteer on a Key Project – Consider doing a volunteer/service project abroad or stay with a host family or hostel instead of a hotel. This will give you a different perspective of the country and allow for greater interaction with everyday citizens.

8) Thou Shall Always Keep a Current Passport with at least 6 months validity– Ten years can go by fast.

9) Thou Shall Start Traveling Before You Have a House, Family and Kids – You are never too young (or too mature to travel). But it’s much easier as a young person when you don’t have the responsibilities of a husband, kids or mortgage. Thus, use your time wisely before taking on major responsibilities.

I took my trip around the world when I was just 22 years old. Those were the good ole days.

10) Thou Shall Live Abroad – Living abroad allows a person to integrate within the local culture, learn a new language and develop long, lasting friendships. If you live in another country for a year or more, you’ll have a home away from home. And increasingly, a vast array of career opportunities list living abroad as a prerequisite.

Online Resources for Global Travel and International Business Opportunities:

• Meet Up – Meetup.com

• International Herald Tribune - www.global.nytimes.com

• CNN Go – www.cnngo.com

• La Red de las Mujeres Afro – Black Women’s Network – http://www.mujeresafro.org/

• International Black Women’s Congress - http://www.ibwc.us/

• TED Community – http://www.ted.com/profiles

• International Association of Business Communicators – www.iabc.com

• LinkedIn Groups – Find a group with international members like: CMO Roundtable.

• Facebook groups such as – https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenofcolortravel/, https://www.facebook.com/groups/nomadnesstravel,

• United Nations Global Impact – http://www.unglobalcompact.org/

• InterNations – http://www.internations.org/

What are YOUR commandments for Enlightened International Travel?

Kiratiana is in the December 2012 Issue of Essence Magazine!!

Kiratiana — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 08:01:51 +0000

A dream has come true! I’m in the December issue of Essence magazine talking about travel!

I’m in Essence magazine. Can I say that one more time? Actually can I scream that? I’M IN ESSENCE MAGAZINE!! Okay calm down Kiratiana.

About six months ago I received an email from writer Michelle Buford. She asked to interview me for an Essence magazine article about travel on a budget. What did I do? Replied back ASAP! Fast forward to November and the article is here! I feel like I can cross something off on my very long list of aspirations.

Did you all notice that I’m in the issue with an Olympian on the cover? Isn’t that fitting?

Please buy it and support a sister!

How NOT to do Inauguration Weekend

Kiratiana — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 01:05:25 +0000

This is one of two pictures that I have from inauguration weekend. Although I was smiling in this picture during the swearing in ceremony, I was FAKING it. It was cold and I was miserable.

President Barack Obama is back in the White House and what is the first thing that travelers do? We book our ticket to Washington, DC. Even before President Obama won, I told myself that I was not going to his inauguration. Why? I went to that last one and it felt like one of the worst trips of my life. I did inauguration weekend all wrong and I’m going to write about it so you don’t make the mistakes that I made. Thanks to social media and pictures, I was able to piece together this crappy trip.

Don’t Go for the WRONG reasons!

I went to the 2009 inauguration for all the wrong reasons. There was something about being in Chocolate City during the inauguration of a black person made the weekend soo alluring. I thought of all the parties and cool people who would be there. Of all the men I would meet.

I did legitimately want to see the first black person be inaugurated President but that’s just a half a day right?

These are exactly the wrong reasons to go to the inauguration. You shouldn’t go to inauguration because of a party, or people. Go because you want to honor a man that is making history and running the country the right way.

Don’t Wait Till the Last Minute to Buy a Ticket to Washington, DC.

If you haven’t bought your plane ticket by now, then look forward to paying $300 or more. In 2009, I didn’t buy my ticket until three weeks out and therefore paid almost $400. My friend Renee waited until the week of the inauguration. Therefore she rented a car and drove.

Don’t Stay With Someone Who Doesn’t Like President Barack Obama

Everyone has a friend they can stay with in Washington, DC right? I have a friend too and staying with her was the biggest regret of my 2009 trip. My friend lived on the last DC metro stop in Maryland in Glenmont. So it was a trek to get anywhere. She was also not a huge supporter of President Obama so she didn’t even partake in any events with me during the weekend. Thus, I found myself trekking back to Maryland each night (or not) to a house where the host complained about Obama. If I go this year, I AIN’T staying with her (well… that is if I find alternative arrangements). The key to enjoying inauguration weekend is being around people who genuinely like and respect the President.

And if you have friends who worked the campaign, even better (cause they have the hookup).With any big event, it’s also better to stay as close as you can to it. If you do inauguration weekend the way you are supposed to, then you shouldn’t be coming home before midnight the entire weekend. Therefore, find a place to stay that is IN DC.

Don’t Go to the Swearing-In Ceremony if You Like to be Warm

Yep. If you aren’t sitting near the Capitol, then you’ll be outside watching a big old screen, no matter how close you are!

I stood in a line for 9 hours in order to see Barack Obama inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States.

It was cold. Why did I do this? Because I didn’t come to DC just to party. I came to see Barack Obama sworn in as the 44th President of the United Sates.

None of my closest friends had a ticket to the inauguration. My last minute asks went unheeded. Officially you are supposed to request inauguration tickets from your state senator. But did I tell you I was from Illinois?

I arrived somewhere near Capitol Hill at 2 in the morning in a Tory Burch tuxedo suit. I waited in line for 7 hours. It was so cold that I could barely bring myself to make conversation with the people around me. Grogginess and discomfort kept my mouth shut.

I was alone.

Around 7am, the line started moving toward the mall. We almost didn’t even make it into there. In the beginning police refused to allow the hundreds (maybe even thousands) of people in my area into the inauguration area because we weren’t at an official entrance. We had to beg and plead to be allowed in.

“We’ve been standing in line all night!!”

Once in we just about ran to the closest public area we could get to. There were no seats. Just big screens. Looking back, I probably could have arrived at 7am and had the same view – two big ole screens– but just a couple of miles further back.

I’m glad I wasn’t in the seats or the “special” people section. Our area was a big ole party. People danced. People sang.

But it was COLD.

Staying up all night allowed me the privilege to see the inaugural Parade. The most vivid memory I have of that day is seeing the President and his wife walk around the Park. Michelle had on a green dress and jacket and leather gloves. That’s the closest I’ve been to the President since introducing him to my church six years ago.

Will I go to the swearing in ceremony again? Probably not. I would much rather attend a breakfast in a warm office that overlooks Capitol Hill than freeze my behind off again.

Been there. Done that.

Don’t Sleep on an Inauguration Ball

Wait? Regular people can attend inauguration balls? I was so out of the loop in 2009 that I didn’t even try to attend an inauguration ball. Maybe next year I’ll try to go to one.

Anybody want to take a smart, fun, professional young woman to an inauguration ball?

For a list of all the OFFICIAL inaugural balls, check out http://www.presidential-inauguration.com/official-balls-list/.

Don’t Go to Inauguration Weekend for the Parties & Events

I’m not sure that parties are the best events during inauguration weekend. If you are going for networking and business purposes then you should seek out the breakfasts, lunches, and happy hour events that every organization, college, embassy and company will have. These events bring together people with common interests.

I went to Harvard university. I belong to the National Association of Black Journalists. I’m sure they’ll all have some kind if event in DC (well the journalists will probably be working…).

The only vague memory I have of a party is meeting the mayor of Montclair, New Jersey at an event thrown by a Chicago promoter. That probably wasn’t a good party…

So what am I doing?

Well since I bought a ticket to DC for inauguration weekend (literally 10 minutes after President Obama was reelected)… I will be there! See ya there!

So can you all please tell me HOW TO DO INAUGURATION WEEKEND?

Not Disappointed by President Obama: An Interview with Black Paris Expat Jake Lamar

Kiratiana — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:14:57 +0000

Jake Lamar presented at a Democrats Abroad event last year and his presentation, “Not Disappointed by President Obama,” went viral

I first met Jake Lamar during my Round the World Trip in 2002, when I lived in Paris for one year. The Harvard alum, had been living in Paris for almost 10 years as a writer then. In the last 20 years, he’s written five books – Bourgeois Blues, The Last Integrationist, Close to the Bone, If Six Were Nine, Rendezvous Eighteenth and Ghosts of St. Michel. Just one year ago Lamar made a presentation to the Democrats abroad in Paris, France. The presentation, entitled “Not Disappointed by President Obama” went viral with more than 300,000 views on Youtube. I decided to interview Jake Lamar for the blog because today is a special occasion. I don’t usually get too political publicly, but this was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. Lamar’s speech shows that even as an expat, you can be politically involved in American politics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJLvtVIk3R8

Why were you invited to the event to speak about President Obama?

I was invited to sit on a panel with two other writers, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet C.K. Williams and the bestselling novelist Diane Johnson, both of whom spend half the year in France.

What has been your activity for the last six years in supporting Barack Obama? or supporting the Democrats abroad?

I’ve been a member of Democrats Abroad since 1994. Starting in 2008, I’ve often been invited to speak about American politics at various French institutions and in the media. Europeans are fascinated by Barack Obama. It’s common in France for writers to talk about politics. The fact that I’m a writer, an African American of exactly the same age as Obama, and a fluent French speaker led to my being asked to give my take on events in the USA.

As an expat, do you feel like it is difficult to become involved with American politics? Paris seems to be an easy place to do that but what about an expat who is living in a less developed or American-Centric place?

Through all the years I’ve lived in France, I’ve remained interested in all things American: politics, culture, sports. It is easy to stay in touch from here. But I don’t know what it would be like for an American living in a non-Western country.

Why did you feel the need to label your speech, “Not disappointed by President Obama?”

I was struck by the fact that so many Americans I know, when asked the question, “How do you think Obama is doing?” responded with the words “I’m disappointed.” It was starting to seem automatic. And since I have never felt disappointed by Obama, I thought someone needed to contradict this constant refrain.

How did you go about writing the speech?

I scribbled several pages of notes the night before the event. But I think the speech had been gestating in my mind from the time I was invited to particpate in the event, about three weeks earlier.

What type of impact did you expect your speech to have on people?

I really didn’t give it any thought beforehand.

When you finished your speech at the event, how did people react to it?

The audience started applauding as soon as I said, “I do not feel disappointed by President Obama.” The response was immediate and extremely enthusiastic. By the time I finished the speech, I realized that I had put into words something that a lot of folks were feeling but maybe not expressing.

What do you think Barack Obama needs to do to get reelected this November?

Get out the vote!

What are you working on these days? Do you have a book coming out?

I’m working on a novel that represents a new departure for me: it’s not a thriller, it’s not set in Paris, and it doesn’t deal with racial questions. I’m also working on a play about the friendship/rivalry between Richard Wright, James Baldwin and Chester Himes in Paris in the 1950s.

Google

DESTINATION GLOBAL: How to Impact Audiences Around the World

Kiratiana — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:47:51 +0000

I moderated a wonderful international panel at the National Black PR Society conference in Washington, DC. The goal of the panel was to show people how they can use travel and writing to get global opportunities and connect with people abroad. Fortunately, with Storify, I can share the best of this panel with you. Check it out below.

View the story "Destination Global: How to Impact Audiences Around the World #nbprsconf" on StorifyDestination Global: How to Impact Audiences Around the World #nbprsconfThe National Black Public Relations Society hosted its annual conference in Washington, D.C. in October of 2012. The DESTINATION GLOBAL panel, organized by Tiasha Stevenson, featured Markeisha Marshall, Jetta Bates, Jamila Aisha Brown and Kiratiana Freelon.Storified by Kiratiana · Wed, Oct 31 2012 11:39:38The women below combined forces to produce a panel that inspired PR professionals to take their careers and personal lives international. Kinda late but shout out to Destination Global ladies of #nbprsconf @msmarkeisha @ @ The Dupont Circle Hotel http://instagr.am/p/Ra9tu4oE4T/KiratianaGuimAbout Hue"All we want is a new kind of world. All we want is a world big enough to include all the different worlds".-Subcomandante Marcos. Hue in…Jamila Aisha Brown is a social entrepreneur and rising academic scholar skilled in international relations as it relates to human rights, development, community empowerment, commerce, and government accountability. Her company HUE addresses socio-economic and socio-political issues through research and analysis. PinterestJetta Bates-VasilatosSEO SEARCH TERMS ABOUT THE INDEX FILE. Every image supports a title and short description. You can combine both a title and description…Jetta Bates owns twist communications and has written travel and lifestyle pieces for Ebony, Essence, Second City Style and and HomeStyle magazine. Her clients have included Daewoo Automotive, The Embassy of France, Miller, and Tyson Foods.TwimgMarkeisha Marshall is a group manager at Weber Shandwick. She recently worked in Singapore for three months with the firm. She shared her insight on working abroad for a major PR firm. FbcdnLet a Black Girl Show You the WorldI originally wrote the post below, hoping that a major newspaper in Chicago would take it as an opinion piece right after the Olympic clo…Kiratiana is a writer, and travel profession who has published two books: Kiratiana’s Travel Guide to Black Paris and Kiratiana’s Travel Guide to Multicultural London.

Check out some of the top tweets from the panel at the NBPRS conference!

John Edelman named globalization as a prediction for PR’s future. Perfect segue to the #GlobalComm session in Glover Park A #NBPRSConfT. StevensonAll the talk of travel has me thinking: "Seek first to understand, then to be understood." – Steven Covey #nbprsconf #globalcommJeremy MarquardThe audience is full of ppl who are multi ethnic & passionate about international travel. #LovesIt #GlobalComm #NBPRSConfT. Stevenson"it’s faith, not fear" — getting over the intimidation of international travel. @msmarkeisha #nbprsconf #globalcommBlack PR Society/ATL#globalcomm panel talking abt managing stereotypes abroad. @jettaset says break perceptions & don’t internalize. #NBPRSconfJames S. WalkerThis session underscores the msg we learned earlier "Learn how YOUR business makes money" & follow those stories. #GlobalComm #NBPRSConfT. StevensonFollow what is happening globally, polically to find where global opportunities. #NBPRSConf #GlobalCommT. Stevenson"Build relationships with ppl b4 u travel so you have someone to integrate you into the culture" – @jettaset #NBPRSConf #GlobalCommT. StevensonDon’t wait for your employer to offer you a #globalcomm opportunity. Pitch your idea to them. #nbprsconfRaschanda HallSurprised that many #globalcomm panelists had the same exp. I had w/ Mongolia- few weeks notice & then taking off. #NBPRSconfJames S. WalkerThe panelists @kiratiana @msmarkeisha @jettaset & @hueglobal put together a top 10 handout for conference goers #GlobalComm #NBPRSConfT. Stevenson#globalcomm & social media coming in – Follow people in America AND abroad. We need to connect globally #NBPRSconfJames S. WalkerAll of the panelists use writing to promote for their businesses. It’s an important skill to have in order to work in global business. Love the reinforcement of good writing skills in PR! The ability to write in a way to tap into emotion is a talent. #nbprsconf #globalcommPRecise Comm ATLKey themes I see coming from the #globalcomm panel – Having cultural awareness, truly being able to write #PR #NBPRSconfJames S. WalkerEveryone on the #globalcomm panel had an early experience with #travel. #startearly #NBPRSconfJames S. Walker"Personal branding is abt living your passion everyday outside of work, which opens opportunities in the workplace." #GlobalComm #NBPRSConfT. StevensonPanelist clients have included: Daewoo, BP, Wal-mart, GM, Nike, Gatorade and Unilever (WOW!) #NBPRSConf #GlobalCommT. StevensonWhen looking for countries to do business, check out Asia, all of Africa and Brazil especially! The African continent is the future global commerce. Digital marketing is huge in East Africa and Kenya. #nbprsconf #globalcommBlack PR Society/ATLMarkets w/ great growth opportunity: Asia in general, Singapore and China, specifically for consumer brands. #GlobalComm #NBPRSConfT. StevensonCheck the BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China & South Africa show tremendous growth opportunities #GlobalComm #NBPRSConfT. StevensonACDI Voca – Org that does paid service trip. Gotta look that up. #NBPRSConf #GlobalCommT. StevensonFor more information on the Black Black Public Relations Society, check out the link below.

The National Black Public Relations Society | An Advocate for Black …Welcome to the National Black Public Relations Society. The National Black Public Relations Society (NBPRS) is the foremost organizatio…