When Yannick Florest was 32 he traveled for the first time to Thailand/Beijing with Passports Tatted, a travel group for Black men. This trip gave Yannick a first look at how he and others who looked like him could be viewed differently outside of the U.S. As he states "There are places in this world where you are a human first and your skin color is irrelevant." How did you learn about this trip? I learned of the group through a friend and figured that it would be the perfect way to start off my international traveling adventures. As well, the last of the trip was my birthday, December 4th, so I felt like this was divine in my going. What Impact do you feel this trip had on you? The trip gave me a larger sense of being in this world. It was eye-opening to see how much differently people lived in other geographic locations but it was still the same at its core. Having walked the streets of Thailand and staying primarily in what I would consider the comparison to the inner cities of America, I couldn't help but observe the large disparity between classes and how that affected everyday living. I could easily see the stark difference between those who had and those who had not because many of the people who were impoverished did not look much different from me. Another thing I noticed was how invested other countries are in American political affairs and how many of us Americans are not reciprocating in those efforts. Many of the locals in Thailand asked questions about how we felt about the newly-elected Donald Trump as President yet I had no clue about the policies regarding their King's transition. It was a great contrast and learning about what other countries are facing was something I decided to become more active and urgent about learning. Do you feel this trip effected your sense of self or the world? If so, in what way? Going to Thailand vastly improved my sense of self. I was forced to move and exist in a different way than I would in America. To be quite honest, I forgot that I was Black until the very last day of my trip when I experienced the same prejudice that I would normally experience here. I was not made to feel like an "other" while I was there and that reinforced what I heard over the years about travelling as an African-American: "There is a lot of love for us outside the States." ![]() What do you think you accomplished or pursued that you otherwise would not have? Not much has changed for me in that regard. My goals are still the same but I learned that I do not have to believe the narrative that things are the same everywhere for people of color. There are places in this world where you are a human first and your skin color is irrelevant. What do you feel contributed the most to this effect? Being able to look and be around people in Thailand and in China and not having to worry about if someone was going to treat me as if I were invisible or a threat simply due to my skin color. Although I also understood the dynamics of my being a tourist and Thailand being a tourist country, I felt at ease for a majority of the time being there. How do you feel you experience was different as a person of color? I did not feel marginalized the majority of time that I was there. I did not feel anxiety from walking the streets or in a mall that I would in America. One thing that my travel group noticed about 2-3 days into our trip was the lack of police officers patrolling. Here in America, we are keenly aware when there is a police presence because it could mean life or death. Yet, in Thailand the only time we actually saw police was during one of the funeral services they host for the King who had transitioned. Even then, the police did not have guns or even tasers. There were military forces there securing the event as well and even they were not armed heavily, while in New York I cannot spend a single day without seeing at minimum, a pistol, taser and nightstick. "It opened my eyes to how people of color live and how much better I could be experiencing life without constantly feeling a target on my head". ![]() Yannick Florest is a hip-hop artist and educator working with youth in a variety of capacities for over eight years in both public schools and the nonprofit sectors, and with under-served communities all over New York City. After graduating from SUNY New Paltz in 2006 with a B.A. in Journalism, "Nick" expanded his professional and volunteer experiences at youth organizations like including City Year New York, iMentor, and the NBMBAA CASH Mentoring Program. He has organized community events for over 700 families and created the award winning The Genesis Project afterschool program, which aimed to improve literacy rates through journalism Yannick is also the founder of We Are Boss Level, an events collective that produces events themed around gaming and comic book culture while fusing independent music and talent. We Are Boss Level’s work has been featured in publications such as AM New York and USA Today. Yannick has released two albums, Little Brother Syndrome (2012), and an EP, Peacoat Season (2014). He is currently working on his newest album, #Educatorlife . ![]() At age 19, Harold Moore trip to London as an intern with the State Department. This experience not only got him out of his comfort zone, but opened up his understanding about the world, leading him to travel to more places around the world. Current Age: 31 What impact do you feel this trip had on you? An amazing one. It challenged my notions of comfort, it exposed me to what people think of the US, I learned about exchange rates and much more. It set the table for a lot of humility and future travel. Do you feel this trip affected your sense of self or the world? If so, in what way? I saw the world as a lot more interconnected after this trip. I grew to see my choices as a voter, as a student and a consumer affecting other people in places I had not known existed. I also saw that a lot of things I'd accepted as gospel (a silly example is American football's dominance or more seriously countries without guns being nonviolent) challenged and shift. What do you think you accomplished or pursued that you otherwise would not have? At this point I've traveled the world a couple times over. I've gone to Cuba and South Africa, Guatemala and Spain and all over. I think this trip was the gateway. “I saw the world as a lot more interconnected after this trip. I grew to see my choices as a voter, as a student and a consumer affecting other people in places I had not known existed.” What do you feel contributed the most to this effect? When I visited the UK the dollar was worth about .5 pound sterling. So while I was already on a student budget (a student from a not very wealthy background) I now had the little money I had cut in half. I wouldn't completely equate this to an immigrant's experience but I grew to understand what necessity meant in a very different way. Once while in a car in London, I was once subjected to an anti-American rant. I'd scarcely actually thought much of my American citizenship and what that'd mean elsewhere, because I'd hadn't been elsewhere. I realized that the world was just as afraid of then President Bush as I might've been. What advice would you give to the person you were before you took this journey? Enjoy it. Meet more people, open your heart more, eat different food. ![]() Biography Harold Moore is a consultant, trainer, organizer and recruiter originally from Chicago, Illinois. His specialties include integrations across on and offline channels, training and data collection. He's worked nationally for causes, candidates and organizations including Obama for America, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the New Organizing Institute, Blue State Digital, Color of Change, Rock the Vote and many more in a variety of technical, managerial and advocacy roles. Additionally he has served as a trainer or coach for Camp Wellstone, the Kairos Digital Fellowship, the Congressional Black Caucus and the American Heart Association and as a board member of the Mikva Challenge and Web of Change. If you need help with strategy, CRMs, data or just want to chat feel free to reach out at [email protected] ![]() From urban life in Baltimore Maryland, Devin Murray at age 25 embarked in a life-changing experience when he decided to go to Australia as part of an international exchange program. The experience not only allowed him to engage in a humanitarian efforts by assisting with flood recovery, but see life beyond physical appearances and to see real value in the heart, mind, and soul of an individual. Current Age: 31 What impact do you feel this trip had on you? Coming from the urban life of Baltimore MD, I never imagined I would be able to see a place like Australia in real life. When I was finally able to do so, it changed my perception of the environment in which I grew up (inner city). The experience also changed my views on people and the value we place on material things and our physical appearance. Australia is a beautiful place. I also saw the unfortunate side of the aboriginal people there. Learning the history of the people, seeing the condition in which they were struggling, helped me change my perspective on my own values at the time. Seeing poverty all around us back in Baltimore, we just wanted to get out, drive nice cars, and have a lot of clothes and money to match; then maybe buy houses to serve as "status symbols". These were the values of an immature mind as I see it now. Being in Australia allowed me to see people who were in an even more impoverished situation than myself, which opened my eyes to a new view on life. “…it made me realize that no matter how physically attractive one may appear to be, the value of who they are is in their heart, their actions, the mind and the soul.” Do you feel this trip affected your sense of self or the world? If so, in what way? Most definitely. Prior to this trip I was heavy into body building/weight lifting. With this comes a lot of attention as far as how good you look, how big and in shape you are or how attractive you are. But when you are not looking your best, your sense of self-worth declines because of the lack of attention you do not receive. For me personally, I noticed this was a big thing, it made me realize that no matter how physically attractive one may appear to be, the value of who they are is in their heart, their actions, the mind and the soul. The situation that stuck out the most was when I met a woman inside of her jewelry store in Australia. She owned the store. After a long conversation, her last words to me were “it’s not the size or authenticity of the gold or diamond, but the value it has to you and how much it means to you whether big or small…" What do you think you accomplished or pursued that you otherwise would not have? I knew I had to see what life was like outside of Baltimore. And this is what brought me to California, which in turn allowed me to go to Australia. I later learned that it was always my mother's dream to go to California, and another relative of mines dream to go to Australia. In a sense I felt like I was doing it for them as well. Vicariously they would live that dream through me and knowing this fueled my desire to achieve more. I also went skydiving for the first time in Australia. To me, it was symbolic of getting rid of fear of many levels, mentally and physically. Biography Devin Murray was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated in 2003 from Woodlawn Senior High. Devin majored in Multicultural Relations acquiring a degree from Cuesta Community College. He served in the California Conservation Corps from 2010 to 2016. Currently he resides in Berkeley California. |
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