Learn about Black history and culture and get travel tips for Atlanta, Jamaica, and Asheville, North Carolina. Romie Roberton joins Matt for a virtual glass of wine from Atlanta, Georgia, and explains the Black history, culture, and hip-hop music scene in Atlanta. She gives specific tips for visiting the city and then reflects on her experience growing up there, traveling to Germany as a kid, and the impact of going to China at age 14. Romie also shares her experience going to college in New York City, becoming a social justice advocate, teaching in Miami, and then getting her Master’s Degree at Harvard. She reflects on Harvard’s legacy of slavery and shares her journey of learning about and becoming a supporter of the Palestinian liberation struggle. Romie then talks about her trips exploring Black history in Asheville, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. She explains why she loves Japan so much, and why she has such a close connection to Jamaica. Romie then analyzes the intersectional dynamics of anti-Blackness and passport privilege. She reflects on the impact of James Baldwin and the power of viewing the racial dynamics in the U.S. from abroad. Finally, she talks about her brand “Roaming with Romie”, and her work with the upcoming Black Travel Summit, and reflects on why she is still so passionate about world travel.
Episode #295: Applying a Social, Historical and Cultural Lens when Roaming the World with Romie Robertson
Episode Summary
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About the Guest
Romie Robertson
Romie Robertson is an educator and travel content creator who believes that experiencing the world should be accessible for everyone, not just the privileged few. She is the founder of Roaming with Romie, a platform that focuses on budget travel with a social, historical and cultural context, and she always aims to center the local people in her travel content. Romie is also the Director of Programming for Black Travel Summit. Born and raised in Atlanta, she has Masters of Education from Harvard, and has now traveled to nearly 50 countries
What You'll Learn
- The Intersectional Dynamics of Anti-Blackness and Passport Privilege
- Black History, Culture and Travel Tips for Atlanta, Jamaica, and Asheville, North Carolina.
- Reflections on the Palestinian Liberation Struggle
Links From the Episode
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JOIN MATT AND ROMIE AT THE BLACK SUMMIT 2024 IN FLORIDA (Get a 10% Discount with Code “Maverick”)
#1 BOOK THAT ROMIE RECOMMENDS
OTHER BOOK MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
#1 PERSON WITH WHOM ROMIE WANTS TO HAVE DINNER
TOP 3 FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS
TOP 3 BUCKETLIST DESTINATIONS
WINES CONSUMED DURING THIS INTERVIEW
TOP 5 HIP-HOP EMCEES
ROMIE’S ATLANTA RECOMMENDATIONS
- Atlanta History Center
- Ebenezer Baptist Church
- Martin Luther King Center
- National Center For Civil and Human Rights
ROMIE’S ASHEVILLE RECOMMENDATIONS
PLACES IN JAMAICA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
CITIES IN CHINA MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
ORGANIZATIONS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
SOCIAL NETWORK WEBSITE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
UNIVERSITIES/ORGANIZATIONS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- Cultural Heritage Economic Alliance
- Harvard University
- Miami Northwestern Senior High School
- New York University (NYU)
- NYU Feminists of Color Collective
- NYU Feminist Society
- Spelman College
- University of Alabama
LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE
OTHER HIP-HOP ARTISTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- 21 Savage
- Biggie
- Busta Rhymes
- Dungeon Family
- Future
- Geto Boys
- Gucci Mane
- Nas
- Migos
- OutKast
- Trina
- Ying Yang Twins
- Wu-Tang Clan
OTHER PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
OTHER PLACES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
- China
- Germany
- Ghana
- India
- Miami, Florida
- Nigeria
- New York City
- Senegal
- South Korea
- Washington DC
- West Africa
- West Coast
CONTACT ROMIE
Time Stamped Show Notes
**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.
[2:46] Introducing Romie Robertson
[4:34] The History and Culture of Atlanta
[9:17] The Hip Hop Music Scene in Atlanta
[12:16] Traveling to Germany as Young Kid
[14:45] Traveling to China at Age 14
[18:19] Going to College in New York and Advocating for Social Justice
[23:12] Pursuing Education and Getting a Master’s at Harvard
[27:00] Romie’s Thoughts on Harvard and It’s Legacy of Slavery
[31:40] The Palestinian Liberation Struggle
[38:25] Teaching in Miami and Coaching the Slam Poetry Team
[41:46] Asheville, North Carolina
[45:54] Newport, Rhode Island
[48:24] Jamaica
[55:42] Japan
[57:48] The Intersectional Dynamics of Anti-Blackness and Passport Privilege
[1:00:31] James Baldwin and Reflections on the Racial Dynamics in the U.S. from Abroad
[1:02:28] Roaming with Romie
[1:04:50] Black Travel Summit 2024
[1:10:19] Why Romie is Passionate About Continuing to Travel
[1:11:38] The Lightning Round
[1:15:17] Contact and Follow Romie