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The State News discuss black culture, trending topics, issues in the black community, black clubs at MSU, and educate listeners about the black community.
Hey, y'all.
Jada:It's your girl, Chicago. Jada Vassar.
Anthony:And Anthony Brinson. And this is Osagea Chocolate, where we bring The
Jada:sweetest, the hottest,
Anthony:black culture in MSU. Yo. I feel weird talking in life. Y'all see, I'm talking like this part of the mic, and I'm like, it's kinda weird because I'm it look like I'm talking backwards or it look like I'm talking backwards and crazy.
Jada:But how y'all doing? I'm good. How are you?
Anthony:I'm doing okay. You know? It been a week. I'm a be honest. It been one of those weeks.
Anthony:A
Jada:long week. It has been long, but it's Friday, though. I'm chilly.
Anthony:Friday. Listen. And next
Jada:day Saturday. Day. Monday, man.
Jada:Man. You know?
Jada:Say it again.
Jada:I said I'm gonna treat myself something good tonight.
Anthony:I know that's right.
Jada:As you should.
Anthony:So with this episode for this week, we were talking about travel. And I'm actually I'm really glad that you chose this topic for this week because my opinion on travel and a lot of things has recently changed. So I've been more so of a especially since and you would know this. I haven't, traveled a lot. I think we mentioned, one of our episodes, one of my first times traveling was with you and, your family when we went to Texas for DreamCon.
Anthony:And now more so, I wanna since I'm in a better position to travel, I wanted more travel more as much as I can. And a more blunt way of saying that is since I got money, like, when you since we was when we young and we all got brave, we can't just go to Disney World. We can't go to these type of places. So now that we work and we do, at least now we're in a position of our lives being more, like, ambitious, and we in college, and we making careers for ourselves. So I'd wanna travel more.
Anthony:But, yeah. And I never really thought before recent parts of my life, especially since I didn't grow up with traveling, I didn't really think I could. Like, I didn't have I didn't I never placed myself in a mindset other than Michigan because that's all I knew. And for even with that, the longest I knew was Detroit. And then, like, East Point, Harper Woods, the more closer to Detroit area.
Anthony:So when I got to college, and it was a more so, like, I'm talking to somebody, and I'm like, oh, wait. You aren't from, Michigan. You aren't from Detroit. And that's a new that's a pretty interesting thing, especially as a college student. But yeah.
Jada:Yeah. No. I definitely agree with you. I had thought of the idea of travel because I know we always have, like, personal conversations like, oh, we wanna go here. We wanna see this part.
Jada:You know? We always talk about how Michigan is just one part, and we all kinda have the same ideology where we wanna go explore. We're gonna go see what else is out there. Not a big issue. I didn't really grow up, you know, traveling to a lot of places.
Jada:The most I have been would be, Georgia. Shout out Destiny who's in here. Because I have family that lives in the south, but that was, like, the extent as as far we went. Like, you know, you cross the borders of, like, Kentucky and Tennessee and Ohio to get there, but we never really stopped and, like, explored as if you would if you were traveling somewhere. So this year, I got the opportunity to go to Jamaica for my sister's wedding, and it's beautiful.
Jada:Not a flight that leaving Is it can you tell that story? I'm sorry.
Jada:No. That story,
Jada:it's I mean,
Jada:it's up to you, but Mostly
Jada:up to you, but every day. You're right. Different day, y'all. Just know it was not it. Leaving, we should've just stayed that extra day.
Jada:It wasn't it. But while we were there, you know, we're there for, like, 4 or 5 days. You know, the wedding was beautiful. It was so hot. That's the first time I got a sunburn.
Jada:And, you know, I'm an uncle. I was one of the black people that was like, oh, it takes longer. You know? Yeah. This kid got the belly.
Jada:You're not You're
Anthony:not slutty. Slutty.
Jada:Yeah. I'm like, woah. I got a tent. I got a tent. I was like, oh, I
Shakyra:gotta get it. I gotta get it. I gotta get it. I gotta get it. I gotta get it.
Jada:Shocked me, you know?
Anthony:So they question real quick. Mom, I'm like, peeling. Did you like the tan or no?
Jada:Absolutely. But the price I paid, I would never do it again. Could you expound? Expound? Yes.
Jada:Of course. My arms, you know a reptile, if you would, peeling. Hey. It hurts.
Anthony:Oh, it hurts.
Jada:It burns. Wait. So what did you put
Jada:on it to heal it?
Jada:You know, I thought I was putting on enough sunscreen. I was not. Okay. I did every
Jada:2 hours. Like, shave but it's like Yeah. That's
Jada:what I
Shakyra:added in.
Jada:Like, when I came out, I put aloe vera on it, and, like, my mom bought, like, a plant, like, the stick of the plant. Oh, yeah.
Shakyra:Very cool. Yeah.
Jada:So that kinda healed it because you really need some cold because it, like, burned. Yeah. So, like, any sunlight, even when I came back, I was like, it's so hot.
Jada:Yeah. Shake it.
Shakyra:I did
Jada:not cut it, actually. Yeah.
Jada:No. So, yeah, like, a raw aloe vera plant really, really helped and, you know, you just had to keep rubbing it in because the skin's gonna fall off because it's old. It just hurt. And I'm so sorry. My granddaddy, he made this mixture.
Jada:It worked. I'm not gonna lie. I need to ask what was in it because he put it on me. I was like, what? It's the best I've felt in, like, 2 days.
Jada:But yeah. No. Aside from the sunburn, Jamaica is beautiful. If you ever have the chance to travel internationally no matter where you go, I highly encourage it because it just reminded me that the world is so big and there's so many different kinds of people. And just like seeing how those, people they lived on their island and the things that they do and how their livelihood looked.
Jada:And even, like, describing currency to, Jamaican people and, like, talking about American money and how they were like, no. We want your money. Your money could do x, y, and z for me here. You know, my money doesn't do nothing. But their money's so pretty.
Jada:Like, Jamaican money, the colors are beautiful. It's green. They have purple. They have a $5 bill. It's pink.
Jada:It's blue. Their coins are, like, really, really intricate. So it's interesting to see how currency, like, travels how people learn about different currency in different countries and different places and then how value is in different areas. Because to us, you know, $20, that's $20. $20 to them, they said, oh, thank you.
Jada:You. Like, I want that. I said, really? And here I am struggling with 20. I said, maybe I'm about to appreciate this $20 a little bit more.
Anthony:And I wear jokes sometime. Like, back in my day, $20 could give me a whole What?
Jada:It probably could. It could get me a part of the world. Could get you all of that. Like, it it could pay someone, like, for their house. They could get the stuff they need for their house.
Jada:Like, it was it was really interesting. A learning experience and then just vacation wise. It was amazing. Right.
Anthony:So I'd wanna ask based on your experience of going to Jamaica and obviously being a Oh. American and African American woman, what would you say was the most what stood out to you the most about the culture of Jamaican culture? Like, black people are from Jamaica, but they're not African American because they're not from America.
Jada:Yeah. I definitely say the culture of Jamaica, it was really inviting. Like, the resort we stayed at, everybody really wanted to make sure, you know, you were having a good time. Now I know I'm 21, so I got a little I had a little drink. A drinky drinker too.
Jada:You know what I'm saying? Responsibly. Drink responsibly.
Anthony:And We
Jada:are not encouraging underage drinking on this podcast. That's not what we're doing. I'm 21 years old.
Anthony:And since we're having this moment, as I always forget to say, but for say eventually in the episode, all things and thoughts and comments and experiences of this podcast are not of the state news, but of all shade the chocolate host of myself, Jada Vassar, and Shakyra Mabaugh.
Jada:Yep. Yep. What he said. So speaking of Jada Vassar, you know, I had a drink or 2 or maybe more than that. But you know, he said I had a drink or 2.
Jada:Who's counting? You know? But it was so fun. They're really inviting. Like, we were they were singing the song.
Jada:They were teaching us the lyrics. Like, they were, like, teaching us about their lingo and what it means and all the different type of stuff. And, yeah, it was, like, really inviting to, like, see people who didn't live your life, but, like, they kinda embraced what you look like. Like, we came, and they're like, oh, your melanin is so beautiful. Our son will treat you right.
Jada:You look so good. You know, come over here. Get this. I wanna show you this. Y'all don't have this.
Jada:Where y'all from,
Jada:mister Scott?
Jada:Like, I was like, oh, we're gonna be chilly. Like own home. That was me. Yes. It was very they were very welcoming.
Jada:Of course, you get your few, you know, that have the attitudes, but the majority of people, the people who's gonna really make sure, like, the result people who booger things are having a good time, and really the people who take care like my sister, Weta and stuff, they're really, really intricate. Like, no. I'm here for y'all. What do y'all need? You know, you text me.
Jada:Let me know. Come find me. And you wanna do a drink together? We'll do a drink together. You wanna go out and do karaoke?
Jada:I'll go with you. Okay. They
Jada:party with you. They they party.
Jada:Like, they party in Jamaica. It was really, really fun. So, yeah, especially going over there, the culture of, like, embracing each other and, like, doing things together, nothing I've ever experienced over here. Mhmm. But I loved it.
Jada:Yeah. I never went anywhere. Well, I won't say that. I've been to some places, but, like, really interesting places, I will say. But I am grateful that I actually been out to different places such as Ohio, Kentucky, Alabama, Indiana, and I'm missing something else, Chicago, so Illinois, you know, all those good places.
Jada:But I do wanna, like, start traveling a little bit more. I like to I don't know. I like driving. Like, flying.
Jada:Road trips are frustrating. What do you do you like road trips or do
Jada:you like flying?
Jada:Road trips. Flying. Do you like flying? Compared
Anthony:to road trips, yes. Because y'all know if you know me in my personal life. I'm very antsy. I can't
Jada:say shit.
Anthony:Oh, shit. So sitting down for a long period of time, even talking about it right now made me laugh. Well, I cannot stay in one place for 9 hours.
Jada:Road trip. Can do, like, a 12 hour. Because when I went to Georgia, we drove to Georgia. We didn't fly.
Anthony:All I can say
Jada:is if anybody
Anthony:would've take a road trip with me, you most likely would not like me on that road trip. Not even as, like, a bad wave, but either Right. And, like, because, like, for example, I'm very energetic. I don't go to sleep during, like, regular hours. Hours.
Anthony:So, like, if the whole car is sleeping, like, 5 in the morning other than driver, I'm gonna be still woke, and I'm gonna still be active. Yeah.
Shakyra:You know what I'm doing? Hey. Hey.
Jada:Hey. Hey. You ain't not gonna talk. Sorry. Sorry.
Anthony:For reference of unless, you're, you were on the trip, you'd get more reference. But when we were on the train, imagine that, but, like, a car trip. So, like, when I was up at, like, 4 in the morning while y'all knocked out, I'm just here, like, what do I do? Like, I can't bother, though.
Jada:Trips are so fun.
Jada:Like I like road trips.
Jada:Like, when we have on to Ohio, Ohio is not that far where we're from because we're from Detroit, and, you know, that's literally, like, next door. Mhmm. But it was still fun. You know? Like, my, you know, family, we pack, like, food.
Jada:Like, they'd be like, alright. Y'all better make sure y'all lock up because we not going we not going back.
Shakyra:That's why we're on
Jada:that road.
Jada:We're on that road. So it's just like and then we, like, make up fun games. You know? We just we get, like, cracking jokes and stuff like that. Like, I don't know.
Jada:My family like, yes, we'd be on the phone, but, like, it's, like, periodically. Like Mhmm. We interact with each other. So that's why it's fun because it's, like, another opportunity to connect with your family and stuff like that even though I love y'all, but y'all getting on my nerves sometimes. Who knows?
Jada:I wanted the moments I really take you know, I really am grateful for that. So
Jada:Yeah. No. I agree with you. Yeah. Most of the time I've been to Georgia.
Jada:I think I've only flown once, and I was back because we had made a stop at Tennessee then went to Georgia, and then we flew back to Michigan. But most of the times I went to Georgia, we drove those 10, 12 hours. And I think the fun part is, like, stopping and and, like, you sleep for, like say you sleep for 2 hours and you wake up, you're like, where are we? Yeah. They said they
Jada:said they're the best. Oh, I
Jada:know how
Jada:to train too. My grandma's training is
Jada:really fun. So And then my
Jada:mama and my grandma
Jada:would be like, well, you know, we're we're stopped from Kentucky and, you know, about 6 hours from now, we'll be in Atlanta. And I was like, oh, it's good.
Anthony:In a, like, a perfect world, I and I get y'all you might call me weird because we've had conversations when I've traveled on the bus, but I prefer traveling on buses like the Metro.
Jada:When I first when I first
Jada:it was pretty good. I guess because it was, like, on a random Thursday
Jada:and nobody was on there.
Anthony:So I get so for reference of the the debate me and Jada be having every time we have this conversation, for me personally, a, especially when I tried the Michigan flyer for the first time with y'all, or your sister, that jump. That was so smooth. But even let's take I'm not gonna say the brand name for, purposes. I'm not throwing out the what's the name? Oh.
Anthony:The Oh.
Jada:Hang that out. My bad.
Anthony:My bad. Repeat it.
Jada:So sorry.
Jada:So the
Anthony:the bus that I usually do use a lot of the time when I am traveling, there are let's say, there's sometimes some interesting characters that may be on the bus or there may be some certain smells of fragrances of, like, cigarettes or certain things. But for me, personally, it's not that I don't really react to it that badly because I'm from the east side of Detroit. So it's like I So
Jada:I mean, not as good as
Jada:at the same
Jada:time, if I'm paying for a
Jada:good experience, I better have a good doggone experience.
Shakyra:Well, and I
Anthony:guess that's also the thing is is before I even before I get on the type of bus, I mentally prepare like this. It may look a little rough. Like, I'm just I'm here to get for I'm here
Jada:to get from point a to point
Anthony:a, and as long as I don't crash, I'm cool. And as long as nobody bother me, I'm cool. Predictive. You know? Because you usually, even on, like, the worst days, people really stay themselves.
Anthony:And half the time, it doesn't smell that bad. So half the time, I'm like, okay. Cool. Even if the even if I'm, like, uncomfortable, I can, like, isolate in this corner and look out the window or, like, go to bed or listen to music. But I and from your facial expressions and comments, you probably aren't the biggest fan of this type of transportation.
Jada:Well, you don't like the bus. Absolutely not. You know, it's you know you know because I don't know. I just feel like being on a bus for that long around people I don't know. Now to be fair, you can make the same comment about planes, but I feel like the difference between buses and planes is that planes have more structure versus buses where it's like, alright.
Jada:Come on. Find a seat.
Jada:Sit up. I see.
Jada:Find your seat and see yourself. Plans, you know, you gotta put your bag. You gotta check the peep. You gotta buy a ticket. Mhmm.
Jada:You know? The people who wanna be on a plane the custom man snacks. You know? Yeah. There's more decor.
Jada:Like, more a little bit. Don't just leave it.
Shakyra:There's a little
Jada:bit more decorum. That's why they wanna explain to us. Exactly. So it's like, you know, if I get a crazy character, they just missed it. On a bus, you go in a car you know, you can't help it.
Shakyra:Yeah.
Jada:On a plane, it's like, oh, we messed up. My bad. You know, I can respect that. So, yeah, I can't take I can't do it, bro. And then knowing me, just like how you are in the car, I will crash on the bus.
Jada:I'll crash out. I just know that I can't do it. I just know I can't
Shakyra:do it.
Anthony:Yeah. No. When we went on, when we took the train, when we went to Texas, it was a really long ride. The first train, it was one of those train. I think it was the first one that was really quick, really smooth.
Jada:To Chicago.
Anthony:Yeah. So that was cool. But then on that, that overnight, I'm like, oh, this kinda didn't this I'm getting nitty dirt, real in the field now because it was all fun and games when it was daytime because, like, it was we was talking. Everybody was up. But for reference, and I went I'm a get cloped.
Anthony:There was no Wi Fi. So, like, after a while when people start going to sleep or, like, even when we up, but, like like, our devices die, it's like we're looking at each other, then people start going to sleep. Then, like, for me, especially if you know me and my personal life, my sleep is sometimes pretty up and down. So, like, I sleep for a couple hours and then be up, but people still knocked out when it's 4 in the morning. Yeah.
Anthony:So I'm like, oh, dang. And then I'm like, okay. Cool. Let me just go on my phone. Wait.
Anthony:There's no Wi Fi. Oh. So then I just some I would just be there.
Jada:And then if you're on a overnight train, it stops when it was, like, at, like, 2 AM because they have to train people. But they gotta wait for the people to go on and the people be sleep. So you work at 4 AM and the train's not moving. So you like, hey. Yo.
Jada:What's going on? But everybody else is knocked out. So you like, I'm not gonna go to the bathroom. Anthony was up. I'm like, we moving.
Anthony:Like, she's just from my end. It it'd be so scary. Not. That's funny. For for reference, I definitely am still scared of dark sometimes.
Anthony:And, like, so when I went to the restroom and it was all dark and nobody upped my eye, definitely was, like, the little kid that spurred to the back and, like, ran ran back. I was scared in the mud.
Jada:Oh my god. That remind me of the scene. I'm sorry. I'm a Harry Potter fan. But you remember on Harry Potter prisoner at Azkaban
Shakyra:Mhmm.
Jada:When they was on a bus and then what did you call it? The the thing, the hooded thing? Yeah. They came.
Jada:That's what yeah. That's what it remind me of. K.
Anthony:It's one of the few little moments I don't get I don't get the
Jada:pop culture over there.
Jada:You should watch Harry Potter.
Anthony:Okay. Hold on. If y'all
Jada:ever seen it?
Anthony:No. I've never I've never seen. And to go on a quick set or a quick tangent real quick just to ask, because apparently, this question always get heated. Harry Potter or Percy Jackson?
Jada:Because I always honest. I like Percy Jackson. The debate
Anthony:go on a line. I've I've seen neither. So I'm like Percy
Jada:Jackson is really good, though. I will, like, I will say that.
Anthony:Even Taylor, they like
Jada:Mhmm. I'm a oh. I'm a oh, I'm a
Shakyra:I was
Jada:just say Percy Jackson. Yeah. I like the books a little bit better than Harry Potter. Mhmm.
Anthony:Again, we about to get 8 up in the car. I was about to say for reference, I'm I'm someone who hasn't seen neither, and then I think y'all are more well versed. Mhmm.
Shakyra:You should
Jada:definitely get into it. Right? The books are top notch. Yeah. It's really good writing.
Jada:But, yeah, next time, I mean, I guess you should download songs and games.
Jada:You know, you gotta go back and say also were very ill prepared for that. And I thought I
Shakyra:I thought I was cold because I'm like, alright, man. I'm a download my little offline game.
Anthony:But I guess some of the offline games was, like, really offline games because I, like, I didn't have I didn't prepared enough time to get, like, all the, like, offline apps. So I think I had, like, Subway Surfer, Crossy Road, and then, like, that's it. Like, I forgot to download, like, Fruit Ninja, a Cut Girl. I forgot to download, like, The Real, like, when you was a kid. Yeah.
Jada:I was cook. I was on Subway Surfers like a mud. I ain't gonna lie.
Jada:I'm like, look.
Jada:I have, like, 5 hours I was on subway
Shakyra:surface like a mud. I ain't gonna lie. Like, what? That's, like, 5
Anthony:hours straight. Yes, man. Yeah. I had a I had a nice little, like, 2 hour subway, surface run.
Jada:So I wanna ask y'all what's next on your trip plan.
Jada:What's next? That is a good question.
Anthony:Question about your question based off dreams or, like, more reality? Like, where's the next place we wanna go? Yeah. Reality first and then dreams. Okay.
Anthony:Alright. Reality wise. It's a good question. I know I have a few trips lined up next year with
Jada:family and stuff, for my mom's birthday. I've never been to Vegas. Mhmm. So she wants to go to Vegas for, like, a girls' trip, so we're gonna go, and that should be really fun. And then, I don't know what me and my sister's gonna do for our birthday, but we've been hinting around about wanting to go to New Orleans because we haven't been here.
Jada:So bad. And I'm looking
Jada:for the food. New Orleans. I don't even know. I saw, like, New Orleans. I'm like
Anthony:that. Because that's that's sad. Because you're from you got Southern Route. Yeah.
Jada:But yeah. But, yeah, we've been hinting about going there. Disney World's been in the play because I know my sister wants to take the kids there, and I've also at my big gates, I've never been, and I would love to go to Disney World.
Jada:Hold on. Sorry. No. Uh-oh. Uh-oh.
Jada:My uncle
Anthony:in the coast.
Jada:Uh-oh. Looking at the camera.
Jada:First of all, she been in Vegas. She was she was just in Vegas, like, couple months ago. Tell me why she went to Disneyland. So I got her location on Imessage or whatever. Is fine.
Jada:I would just, you know,
Jada:just looking at okay. What they doing? I see
Shakyra:her in California, Disneyland. I'm like, she didn't
Jada:even call me. She went with her Disneyland. I'm like, she didn't even call me. She went with her friend, love you, Raven, but she was
Jada:like, fine. And I was like, hello? Where
Jada:are you?
Jada:I was I literally immediately called her. I was
Jada:like, so you at Disneyland?
Jada:That's alright. Shikara. That would have been
Jada:that cherry on the top
Jada:for me. I'm not gonna
Jada:hold you up. But, yes,
Jada:she went to Disneyland. She didn't take me. No. And not her first niece. And we, like, close, but it's alright.
Jada:It's all it's all good. That's definitely me and my sister. Because I remember when I did brought up, I'm like, look. I will miss class. I want to go to Disney World.
Jada:Oh, yeah.
Jada:Dude, I do not wanna see these Instagram pictures because they had one some years ago, and they're like, oh, the kids don't really remember. We're gonna go back. Da da da da. I said, okay. Let's not play these games.
Jada:This time, I'm gonna be on that plane with y'all. Right? Okay. Don't play with me. So, like, yeah, I said, don't play.
Jada:Now every time I go home, Wednesday trip. Dead. I'm like, where is it? I'm so dead. Strange thing.
Jada:He was like, oh, yeah. You're gonna I'm a take your little cousin. Okay. For background, I'm like the oldest out of all my cousins, like, first cousins. But he was like, yeah.
Jada:I'm gonna take your little siblings and your cousin to decent world.
Jada:You could take my girls to full. Suit. Right? That happens. Like, you need to you pay for me.
Anthony:It'd be great. They always need a chaperone.
Jada:And today, it needs like, oh, now
Anthony:I can't chaperone all the time.
Jada:You wanna go up and be grown. Now you ain't breathing. Right. So, yes, I understand where
Jada:you're coming from because, look, don't be playing with me. Yeah.
Jada:Because that's one. I think that might be it.
Anthony:And then that remind me of my parents this year, specifically my dad for his birthday. He went to New Orleans for, this year for his birthday. And usually so it was it was funny because I grew up every time they had traveled, they had never take me and my older sister. But even on, especially my mom more so before the birthdays, we'll always be together. So I'm like, they start talking, like, oh, yeah.
Anthony:We're going to New Orleans for the birthday. And I'm like, oh, really?
Jada:Am I gonna go with y'all? And they're like, what's your name?
Anthony:Afraid. They looked at me like I was I'm like Yeah. What you did? At first, so then at first, I felt plagues. There was, oh, yeah.
Anthony:You know? Yeah. We going to New Orleans. I'm like, hold on. Alright.
Anthony:Hold on. Time out.
Jada:Who is we?
Anthony:Because it's me and my parents. I'm like, we or we? Like, when it's into, like, we, it showed up end up being a we them thing. And I'm like, damn, that's crazy.
Jada:No kids alone.
Anthony:Hey, like, you 21. Hey. You in school too? Yeah. We you we'll be out.
Anthony:You don't gotta be around the birthday this year.
Jada:That's why. They kids out the house. Right. What happened? Okay.
Anthony:I remember, especially before I went to college, they're like, oh, you better still come home for the birthdays. And then now all of us, they're going to New Orleans.
Jada:That's right. For the birthday. Right. Right. Where am I going?
Jada:That's okay.
Jada:I remember asking
Anthony:them, like, hey. What y'all doing so I can see y'all? They're like or my dad, especially, like, we ain't gonna be
Jada:here. I'm like,
Anthony:I guess I'll call you. That's why I know. I'm like, happy birthday. Oh, yes,
Jada:I did. And then I called
Anthony:them, and they was in the bill or something. They like, okay. Or would be bad. I'm like, oh, you're right. I have to tell me all I have.
Jada:Doing something. Right. Right.
Anthony:Louisiana sound fun.
Jada:Wait. Really? I was looking
Jada:up for the food.
Jada:Me too. I heard some really good food. Mhmm. But, yeah, that would be more surreality. Dream, wanna go to Japan.
Jada:Yeah. One of my closest friends did a study abroad in Japan in May, and they said it was, like, the best time they ever had. Like, they always send videos and, like, all the stuff their class was doing and, like, again, with the currency. I don't know why I'm so fixated on, like, different currencies, but it's really interesting when you get Because you have money with data. I do like money.
Jada:Yeah. You are.
Anthony:You do. You have a treasure background.
Jada:I do. And I also like coins. I like money. Mhmm. So, you know, I like I got that quality from my mother.
Jada:Oh. But, man,
Jada:there will be times.
Jada:If she had 10,000, you wouldn't know. If I had 10,000, you would know.
Anthony:Exactly. That's a and that's a perfect way. Yeah.
Jada:You know, I had 10,000. But, yeah, I do wanna do more, you know, international travel. Just see what's out there. I will say, you know, you always gotta research your places because, you know, traveling while black is also a thing. Yeah.
Jada:So, you know, you gotta be aware of, you know, the different places that may be a little even harsh than, you know, America, you know, the customs and all that stuff. But, yeah, I do wanna do more international. I wanna go to Japan. You know? I wanna go back to Jamaica, probably stay at a different resort and just, you know, see more of the island and things like that.
Jada:I wanna go to London. I don't know why I've always wanted to go to London, but I wanna go to London for a long time.
Jada:I always wanna go because,
Anthony:before I say this, the comments that these are my feelings, not nobody else's state news. The entire world is hating on KSI's newest song Think of It. It's not that bad. Y'all are all here.
Jada:A new song?
Anthony:Dang. You don't even know.
Shakyra:I don't
Jada:even know. Know.
Shakyra:They probably
Jada:missed the point. OD. And it's and for I don't know why,
Anthony:y'all so or for the people I keep saying y'all, but when I say y'all the people who are actually having this opinion, it's not that deep that they made a, alternative to Lunchables. It's it's it's really
Jada:see, lying you with that. They made, like, they own version of Lunchables. A book and people was like, oh, do you say it about launching?
Jada:You you ain't doing anything.
Anthony:Think, especially since I'm making this a segment, like, it's it really shouldn't be this deep, but, like, his
Jada:It is. People made it really deep. Wow. That was bad.
Anthony:Yeah. Upset.
Jada:Oh, man. But they try to be funny. Lunchables? Yeah. Yeah.
Anthony:If you if we if we wanna take I mean, I have
Jada:cereal. Right?
Anthony:No. That that ain't even a whole another day. Hold
Jada:on. Okay.
Anthony:But he has concerns about London because we was talking about London and the side of it all.
Jada:Well, you know, I wanna see all of them. You know? All of them. Yeah. London.
Jada:My mom really wants to go to Ireland, and I think that's what we're doing for her 50th. So, hopefully, that'll be a good thing. Yeah. She's been wanting to go to Ireland since I was, like, young. Really?
Anthony:Who's the
Jada:mother with?
Jada:She wants to see, like, the castles and all that stuff. Like, the scenery of Ireland is really beautiful. Like, my mom's a scenery person.
Shakyra:I see.
Jada:So if there's anywhere with, like, a nice nature, like, you know, picture worthy, she wants to go. And, you know, my mom's a documentary head. She's the reason why I'm a documentary production minor. So she watches all documentaries about Ireland, so she's like, yeah. I'm going there one day.
Jada:And I'm like, go take me. I'll go with you. She play for me too, but, you know, she but, yeah, I think that's it right now. I don't know. I really wanna cross off a lot more places, like, in the US too.
Jada:Like, while, like, planning for the longer trips, wanna make sure I hit spots here too because we states have really, like, interesting stuff that you wouldn't know unless you go.
Shakyra:Michigan is one of those places. I was just
Jada:there, like, low key.
Shakyra:Because I was
Jada:just Once you branch out and, you
Jada:know I'm
Jada:like, wait a minute. We're not here. Upper the UP, and I didn't say UP for a cabin for my nephew's birthday. It's really nice, but you would never know unless you took the drive to go. God.
Jada:I've never been to Mackinac.
Anthony:I haven't either. It's cool.
Jada:Yeah. It's
Jada:cool. Or they fudge, if you will.
Jada:Let me do some the the bridge that's there, you're gonna cross that bridge. It is the scariest thing you'll ever hear in your entire life. It sways
Anthony:Oh, no.
Jada:And it's over water. That's crazy.
Anthony:So we play
Jada:it over on.
Anthony:We play it over on.
Jada:Connected, like, to the island up there, and then where we are
Anthony:Oh, it show is island. Yeah.
Jada:A bridge to get back and forth. And when we went, it was still it wasn't snowing here, but in the UP, it was still snowing. So it was ice and stuff when we were
Anthony:crossing the bridge. Play too much. Especially since I wanna also
Jada:do that with you. Especially since I wanna
Jada:Trauma with, like, driving on ice and Oh,
Jada:I am.
Jada:So many times.
Jada:Oh, yeah. I cannot.
Anthony:No. Same, unfortunately. And I was gonna say I'm too silly, especially if I since I'd be scared, I would mess with the people I'm on the bus with, like, or on
Jada:Did you do it for it? But, yeah, I think that's it for me, though. Yeah.
Anthony:Would you wanna answer your own question, or will you want me to answer first?
Jada:I can answer all
Jada:my questions, but for reality, hopefully, this fall through. I feel like it will annoy my auntie because she's, like, really on her word when she ever whenever she like to plan stuff. But for winter break, I plan to, you know, go to Puerto Rico because I never think
Anthony:This this,
Jada:what's the name? Yes.
Anthony:Take take I mean, shoot.
Jada:Take us. Finish. Shoot. Y'all
Shakyra:wanna come? Come on. I said, I'll say the I'll say the chocolate from Puerto Rico.
Jada:Oh, damn. I'm Yeah.
Anthony:Just take I mean, shoot. Take us. Take us. Shoot.
Shakyra:Y'all wanna come?
Jada:Come on. Allstate. Let's get allstate chocolate from Puerto Rico. Oh, daddy. That'd be fire.
Jada:Daddy. That'd be fire. Yeah. I wanna yeah. So that's my reality.
Jada:After that, I don't know. We just don't see it, to be honest. But dream okay. So I do wanna go to Japan too. First of all, she wanted to go to Japan because she was like, oh, I feel like if you go my auntie.
Jada:Okay. Yeah. My auntie, she wanted to go to Japan or whatever because she feel like it would be, like, less expensive. But I was like, girl, Japan, that's money.
Jada:Yeah. It is.
Jada:So I was just like, okay. Well, I still wanna go to Puerto Rico because I never been. She never been either. So I was like, why not? But, yeah, I wanna go to Japan.
Jada:I want to go to Barcelona, Spain.
Jada:I don't know what it is.
Jada:I think it's because of Cheetah Girls
Shakyra:Come
Jada:on. Ever since that scene when it was, like, dancing and then you see, like, all the, you know, cultural, like, art and stuff like that, I was like, oh, I gotta go there because I love art. And I was like, yeah. In Spain, I
Jada:don't know. This just seems fun. So
Anthony:Is Barcelona in Spain? Mhmm. Okay. Cool. Because yeah.
Anthony:Yeah. Alright.
Jada:Barcelona's in Spain. Yep.
Anthony:Yeah. Yeah. That's why I asked. So for me, DreamWants since I haven't traveled a lot in general, every every other place that I haven't been to, is it like a dream destination for me? But more specific ones would also be Japan.
Anthony:I love their culture, not even just from an anime perspective, but from the, like, like, the food and how, like, at least in, Japan, like, it seems, like, pretty welcoming and, things of that nature. And it's also sorta I think about you mentioned about traveling while black. I also do think about that pretty much everywhere we go, unfortunately, because everywhere we go, unfortunately, sometimes you may have those people who maybe just even not even to sort of get benefit of doubt, haven't seen a lot of black people. So it's sort of I do think that in the back of my head when I think about traveling outside of especially out of America because I'm like, the world kinda not the biggest fan of black people. So I do be scared, especially as a journalist as well of, like, I never know where where I could go outside of America that is safe or the safer places to go, but I'd still, other than Japan, I think also London as well also because of what you, mentioned about Sidemen, KSI.
Anthony:And, I'm just really I wanna see how the world operates outside of the bubble of America. Mhmm. Because even if it's like, even though America is American, you got all these places, when y'all hear people from out of out of country or people who aren't from, America talk about America, it's always I always laugh. Be like, that's interesting how you view America. But it just it seems as though there's just so much out there alternatively than America, and it just seems like just newer stuff.
Anthony:So I just wanna experience new, places in general and, like, also new technology. Like, how you are with currency every time and especially in Japan when they be having when other places have new, like, different technologies, it always, like, enablers me and brings me in. Like, there was a, I think, from Japan. They make they, like, still make flip phones and, like but, like, modernized flip phones, and they will stay cold.
Jada:And I'm like, I want
Anthony:one of those, but you only can get them in I think Japan if I'm remembering correctly, but places that make those type of things. But, other than, like, Japan, London, let me think more of America. I wanna I really wanna really I really wanna go to Chicago because people that go to Chicago the people who speak goodly about Chicago, when they've went to Chicago, they always say Chicago is incredible. And I put that preface pretty
Jada:fun when I went.
Anthony:Yeah. I put that preface because sometimes
Jada:Chicago, I think about that victorious.
Jada:Chicago. Chicago. Chicago.
Anthony:And then New York as well. And especially all the journalism meccas, like, like, especially shout out, Troy Hale when, from 306 and docu. He do a lot of stuff.
Shakyra:He's a god.
Anthony:Yeah. Great guy. He multi a talented person. So He was,
Jada:talking
Jada:about some of me and Shakar.
Anthony:We have one of his classes that he was talking about, like, the certain meccas of, like, Minnesota, Miami, New York, all the, like, big places for journalism. Mhmm. I have those have also became a part of my list because I'm a journalist. So definitely somewhere that is fruitful for journalism. And the biggest thing I always tell people, if it's my choice, I would love to live somewhere that don't snow.
Anthony:So because I you go. I can't stand snow. I can't stand the cold, and I can't stand the snow even more. You like snow?
Jada:I like this stuff. I like the cold.
Anthony:But what I will say, and I mentioned this at the beginning of the episode in terms of the shift of my opinion, I'm starting to get more and more scared of natural disasters of other places. Yeah. Because, like and prayers for, all the people in Florida right now because Florida was always one of my, dream destinations, and I'm seeing the things going on. And I'm like, how and, again, I'm from Michigan. We don't really have all those type of stuff.
Anthony:I don't know how I'd like
Jada:how are the the people yeah.
Anthony:I don't know how to react and all the people going through that. Genuine prayers pay off for real for real because even, like, I don't even ironically as a journalist, I don't always, look at the news or consume news media, but hearing about that, it make me sad. Like, hey.
Shakyra:But Yeah.
Anthony:Yeah. Other than that, pretty much, like I said, I haven't been a lot of places, so anywhere would be cool for me. But yeah.
Jada:Yeah. No. No. You make a good point about the natural disasters, which I think is, like, important, like, especially if you have these places you might wanna move to. Just do your research about it because sometimes you, like, kinda have view in your head and, like, oh, I think this is how it works.
Jada:I think this is how, you know, people live. And then you get there and you'd be like, wow. I didn't read this on the article. You know, they never talked about they have, like, these animals that roam the street, so they have hurricanes or they have earthquakes or, you know, what to do if you are in the center of earthquake. Where do you go?
Jada:Like, you know, evacuation places. You know? So I think it's really important to do your research for that stuff. And that's out of, you know, international too because you don't know what could happen on a whole other hemisphere of the world. You know, the way this side reacts, this is gonna be the same way that side reacts.
Jada:But I also think that's what makes travel, like, a really interesting thing is because some people might go to see that or they might go to experience that. Not in, like, a I don't know. Not in, like, a weird way, but just in a, oh, I wonder how the people handle it or on, like, a research journalism type of way. Yeah. They go, you wanna see go see how these people respond to evacuation of hurricane Helene and then hurricane Mill.
Jada:You know what I'm saying? So I think that might be also interesting point perspective of travel too, which travel is the whole reason why I became a journalist or made it my major because I see people on the news go to all these different places, and I'm like, I could do that. Not the news. I'm not being on the news. But if I get a case and you assign me somewhere and you say hop on the plane, I'm there.
Anthony:And it's so funny you mentioned that specific detail because when I've talked to people who aren't fans of, like, journalism or journalists, one of the things they had always express is, like, oh, I can never be a journalist. I'd always have to like, I wouldn't be able to be stationed everywhere. I'd always have to move around. Me hearing that as somebody who barely got a chance to travel, I'm like, that'd be one of the main things. I love the journalism as long as, and if you know me on a personal level, y'all know the main thing.
Anthony:I'm always be of just family oriented. So I'd always go anywhere as long as the family that I end up making one day can either be there or I could be with my family because I'm a big I'm on the family side in terms of the family or career debate, and I was, I think were you there when I was talking, Troy about, that as well, or
Jada:were you
Anthony:not there? I don't think I was there. Yeah. I lean on that spectrum of, like, things. But, yeah, as far as the people as long as I could still be somewhat close in proximity to the people in my life that are important, then I'll go shoot.
Anthony:I'll go to Alaska. Hey.
Jada:Well, maybe not Alaska. I don't know. I'm I'm just
Anthony:about to say I named one of the closest places.
Jada:Am I I do wanna go
Jada:to Alaska because sweet, though. You know, it's interesting that some people, he feels like they'd be like like on TikTok. I've seen, like, some content creator. They asked, like they've been asked, sorry, if black people is in Alaska. And it was like, yeah.
Jada:It's a lot of us up there. So I was just like, it's just interesting. I really would like to go there just to, you know, see the
Jada:scenery and Yeah. Yeah. Because this is a scenery. It's just cold, but it's still a scenery. Saying.
Jada:I'll go
Anthony:there. You know what that randomly, reminds me of? And for people outside of or people in my personal life, another atheism or another Anthony moment randomly, remind me of. I wanna I'm interested, and I'd wanna visit, like you were mentioning, from a journalist perspective of just knowledge and knowing the places that, will be the best way to describe it, places that are less modernized than,
Jada:non modernized.
Anthony:So, like, they don't use phones. They don't use cars. They still use horses. Mhmm. In 2024, that blows my mind.
Anthony:They're, like, not even trying to be a humorous type of way.
Jada:I'm like,
Anthony:I wouldn't be able to function, really. Like, I'm I was born in a world I was born in a area of, like, technology some. Cars. So, like No.
Jada:I'll give it a shot. Maybe for a week, though.
Anthony:I'd give it a shot for a
Shakyra:weekend. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know if I can survive.
Anthony:Because I don't know right a horse. Like, what what? I mean, if they text you, What?
Shakyra:I mean, if they
Jada:tell you, buddy, or, like, you know, some postpartum on it.
Shakyra:On a
Anthony:humorous and silly perspective, I don't eat a lot.
Jada:So, like, I'm not about to eat, like, a a crop or, like, a yeah. Crop? Yeah. Or, like, plants. I'm not I wanna survive.
Jada:Yeah. At least you know you're because you don't eat that. I'm being
Anthony:I'm being funny, but, like,
Jada:I know. Because you don't really eat that one. No. You know, I'm being very good. I wouldn't survive.
Jada:Straight. Yeah. Well, that's the interesting point you bring up. I feel like that's a lot of what I wanna do too because I feel like I said this on the podcast. I wanna work for National Geographic.
Jada:Mhmm. The work for National Geographic, you're gonna go to all these different places. And, you know, with all the nature and the animals, you're gonna see all these different things. And I kinda relate to that too. Like, okay.
Jada:I'm probably not gonna be there for, like, a day and then right out. I'm a be there for some time. What am I gonna do? Is it gonna be in a completely different climate than what I'm used to? But I guess that's the anticipation that I'm waiting for because I don't know what I do.
Jada:So I guess I wanna put myself there to see what I do. Now if I come on and be like, no. That was crazy. I'm still gonna do it again. But, you know, maybe I'll lessen the place that they're gonna send me.
Jada:Like, hey. Maybe not there, but send me right here. You know? I wanna see what I do.
Anthony:Super, super random question in this context. Do you think if you fell off a horse, you'd be able to get back on? Like, confidently wise? Like because I think I'd be very embarrassed if I fell off a horse.
Jada:If I fell off the horse, I'm staying on the ground.
Anthony:Yeah. No. I wouldn't get back on.
Jada:I'm not standing up if I'm
Anthony:standing up. If it go too fast, and I fall on you. And I'm very clumsy, y'all know, so
Jada:I no. I'd be very I'm staying on the front. My sofa and be like,
Anthony:oh, that was so fun.
Jada:I would
Anthony:never get at home.
Jada:Oh, everything. I'm on the ground.
Shakyra:I'll do not
Jada:get back on you.
Jada:Get back on you. Yeah.
Jada:But you wanna try to get absolutely not. Matter of fact, I'm going I'm going wherever I was at. I cannot enter.
Anthony:Yeah. I couldn't either. No. I
Jada:ask that.
Anthony:Couldn't couldn't talk about the horses. That's why I said super random.
Jada:Pull up a horse.
Shakyra:That's why
Anthony:I talk for the audience. Hopefully, y'all get more used than me.
Jada:Just random. Yeah. That was funny.
Shakyra:That was funny.
Jada:You're running mature for sure.
Shakyra:You're right on. I could not
Jada:get on that horse. Mhmm. I think we're not.
Anthony:To get right back on our actual topic, another place, I know where places I'd wanna, visit or just more like Nigeria, Africa, and and those more places. Mhmm. Because I'd wanna get
Shakyra:in touch with, like, my roots and be able to have that experience
Anthony:of, like, if I'm African American but never got the African side and be able to see that part of, like, our, like, our What was interesting?
Jada:Sorry. You can finish. I'm sorry.
Anthony:Okay. And I was I was go I was almost done. Just ended off by saying, especially from, like, an aesthetic standpoint and scenery and just I feel like and it's also I feel part of part of my knowledge of my culture was ripped away from me for the earlier parts of my life because you if you guys share the same experience of hearing, like, oh, Africa, they all have water. They all have it's always was, portrayed in such a negative way. And then growing up, especially when you see it on social media and people, they make jokes about it, like, we're just as normal as any other place.
Anthony:Yeah. It's just Mhmm. We're just not in America. Right. So now since I'm in the process of the last few years of my life recontextualizing Africa, I'd wanna just see it for myself and experience be like, this is a part of me of as a black person, and this is a place that looks beautiful, sounds beautiful, people look beautiful, and I'd wanna experience that myself.
Anthony:But you were about to piggyback off that.
Jada:I'm glad that you, brought up like, you wanted to learn your, roots and things like that because I'm currently taking a course here is African American and African Studies. So AAAS, it's the intro class. It's just 100 pathways into, African American Studies and stuff like that. And right now, we are doing a global classroom. So what that means is, we basically in the classroom learning on Zoom with, students who is in Africa, they're from Uganda and stuff like that, and it was really cool.
Jada:Like, we talk about, like, our culture versus their culture and how it ties in and stuff like that.
Jada:Not your teachers. Oh, I've got that come the idea.
Jada:That is super cool. Fun. Like, I've learned so much so far. This is only, like, what, the second week we've done this, and we're gonna, like, do it for, like, the rest of this for this month, not, unfortunately, not the rest of the semester. Mhmm.
Jada:But, yeah, it was really good. And I and we just basically talk about, like, those things in that class, you know, like, to like, basically touching back on our roots and basically, tying in, like, how the similarities of African culture versus African American culture and stuff like that. Listen, y'all. Y'all gotta take that class. It's so fun.
Jada:That sounds very insightful. Yeah. It does.
Jada:And I wanted to add on from that point and from
Anthony:the point I was making. Just also as someone with locks, I definitely want to go to, Nigeria, Africa, Uganda, and, like, one, just see people with locks as well. But just I'd love very random dream of mine, but I'd love somebody from one of those places to retrace my hair because that's when, like, you get the, historical background of locks and, like, when you really, go into it, like, we were having a conversation, about it yesterday for pretty humorous reasons, but on why, like, people don't call like, nowadays, they don't call them dreadlocks no more. Some people prefer it. They don't like to say dreads and just all the historical.
Anthony:And, like, this is also one of the few times I'll even talk about this on mic because I'm like, I usually don't, but I go, I can, go on about it for hours because, like, I don't know if you guys ever seen of, like, people, back in the day if, like, they had their braids a certain way. It was, like, a pathway for, like, to get in certain areas. Like, all of that type of background, it,
Jada:And they used to braid rice until
Anthony:And all that type of stuff intrigues me to the point where I'd love to not only get a retwist from somebody of around those areas, but learn more from, like, not just, Internet perspective, but from people who, like, live it and, like, they have that. I'd wanna get that sort of background for myself and, like, appreciate it even more since I I have this hairstyle, and it has a lot of, at least for me and in a literal sense, cultural significance.
Jada:I'm glad that you brought that up too because I know, it was I'm friends with someone who used to go here. They graduated, and they did study abroad in Kenya. And they said that, you know, box braids is don't cost that much there. Like, far as prices, it's, like, really cheap, and they do it so good too. It looks so fresh, and it lasts long.
Jada:So I'm like, dang. I wanna go there so fast to get my hair done.
Anthony:Now that I'm replanting in my head for the audience for audiences who may not be, black and wanna try to explain it in the best way possible just to our knowledge to my knowledge and if y'all can help me for our knowledge. So in terms about the, the pathway thing that we I wouldn't wanna spread past that. So back to my knowledge. Or since y'all are also girls, could y'all, try and explain it better as well? Because y'all also get box braids and, like, explain this, significance behind it real quick Significant
Shakyra:box braids?
Anthony:Of just, braids specifically. Because when we were talking about, like, putting the rice in the pathway, like, could you just expound upon it more so they can know what you're
Jada:referring to of, like, slavery time and all that type of stuff?
Jada:Oh, do you wanna go? I was gonna say, well, yeah. I mean, it all roots, unfortunately, back to slavery.
Shakyra:So
Jada:Mhmm. When families used to get separated, you know, specifically, like, kids and mothers and things like that, the mothers used to put rice in their hair and braided to hide from the enslaver. We don't in my sorry. To backtrack, in my triple a s class, we don't use, slave master. We don't use slave.
Jada:We we say enslaver and enslavement because, you know, it was the people who was held against they real. You know? Mhmm. Mhmm. But yeah.
Anthony:That's yeah.
Jada:To hide it from the enslaver so later on, they can actually, you know, like, eat and things like that. But, on the map perspective, I'm not really too, like, that sure about, like, what's the background. All I know that they used to, like, break, you know, maps of, like I'm sorry. I'm breaking out.
Anthony:Yeah. No.
Jada:I Yeah.
Anthony:To try, help you and pick, up on that, just to my interpretation, the easiest way to would to summarize it for somebody who may not be black would just be for in terms of that aspect of braiding in the location, would just be it was a code. It was another way we use we spoke to, people like us in a way where we wouldn't openly obviously or they at the time wouldn't openly talk about, like, escaping or not wanting to be enslaved. So if there was a pathway, they'd probably take of, like, underground railroad or a place for safety, they would braid it in a certain way. And they'd if you see, like, certain designs of, like, a zigzag, for example, those would be certain path, pathways. And when we have and the reason why I wanted to make sure we at least gave a little bit more insight on that is when we talk about episodes of, like, don't touch my hair or when we talk about, when we tell the stories of why our hair is so important to us, it goes so deeply rooted that nowadays, it may seem second nature.
Anthony:Like, oh, I just got my hair braided or I got got our locks. But sometimes, for example, you never know, like, what hair conditions may have people may have or even insecurities about shorter hair and you get your hair braided. And it's, things like hairstyles such as locks or box braids are also very protective hairstyles for our hairs and the health of our hair and things of that nature.
Jada:So Mhmm. Yeah. Yeah.
Anthony:And if you wanna add anything else, Jada.
Jada:Oh, no. Y'all eat that up for real. But, no, I was just gonna add on to what you're saying. Like, it would be interesting to, like, compare like, you were saying, like, how you want your hair retails that are done, like, in Africa and how the box twists they do there are significantly cheaper. I feel like it's interesting to have those 2 different cultures and learn from them because, in essence, we do the same thing.
Jada:And I feel like the root of why, you know, people who were enslaved braided those different roots into their hair is for a sense of protection. But I also feel like asking a lot black people now what the hair means to them, it means protection. I know speaking personally, my hair is like my protector. It's like how, you know I always say it's how I describe myself, it's how I express myself. And the best way that I feel is though you can't do nothing about it because it's my hair, but I also feel a a sense of protection for my hair.
Jada:Like, I feel connected to my hair, and I know it goes deeper just because, you know, what my ancestors went through and what their hair meant to them and how it was so different that we had the ability to do those, you know, different braids. We could do locks and we can add color, but it still wouldn't harm the hair. It would, you know, enforce the hair and all that stuff. So I think we need another hair episode, number 1, because we can talk about hair all day. Because, really, hair, like, it goes deeper than just the styles or the things you see on a daily basis.
Jada:Like, Like, for black people, African Americans, African, black descent, you know, whoever, if you have that in you, your hair tells a story. No matter if it's those times or now, there's a story that's told with hair. And I really feel like sometimes that part of the conversation people don't really understand because they're like, oh, you know, that's not professional. You know? I know we talked about this on her episode.
Jada:You know? That's not what we're looking for. That's not the look where it's like, look. It's not about the look. It's about the journey.
Jada:Like, hair can tell a story if you just listen to it.
Jada:Is your crown.
Jada:It is. And
Jada:wear it wear it proudly.
Jada:Wear it and shape it how it naturally comes. You know what I'm saying? Don't try to change it or, you know, construe it to look any like like somebody else's because it's yours. And
Anthony:I feel the exact same way that y'all had, just said, and it's that that feeling is why it's such the negative feeling of, like, if somebody talks about our hair or it's deemed a certain way, that's why, at least for me, and I would assume y'all as well, that it hurts so bad. And I had actually I forgot to post it, and I'm gonna, remember to post it probably later today or tomorrow. But there was a so I'm about to talk about something on Twitter. And, again, for reference, the things we talk about in this podcast of our opinion and not the state news. And, also, for extra reference, x, but Twitter is a place where sometimes you may hear stupid people say stupid things.
Anthony:Dang. And I'm building the preface up for a reason because somebody had asked in my opinion a good question of they initially asked, dang. Why do I have to tie my locks up for it to be deemed professional? And I'm like, a, that's a phenomenal question as somebody with locks, and I feel the same rhetoric or question. And I know the I know the actual answer of why, it gets that way, but somebody replied and said, what would be the best and appropriate way to summarize it for, not cussing?
Anthony:Do you they pretty much said, the same reason you have to the same reason you have to tie your locks to look professional is the same reason why you wash up when you stank. And I it really bothered me because of the same connotation I would even hear from people in my personal life and family of just locks are dirty or locks are rough or they have that same kind of negative connotation and stereotype around them. And it's things like that that make me repost and talk about it because, unfortunately, I've had and even us as black people, unfortunately, we see certain things online or racist pretty much daily, unfortunately. But those are the things that bother me, a, because I'm a person with locks, so I'm biased because I have locks. But it's it's that type of rhetoric and speak that gets outside of the community and inside the community, and it leads such a it makes such a divide of even growing up, I'll be honest, and not even in a negative way, but I always wanted locks.
Anthony:But the people in my family life would always they'd say, no. Get those when you're older. They've some people may look at you a certain way. And even to this, to this day, I've had conversations with people and wondering, like, hey. Even people who may not be black, they always compliment me about, like, how I speak, how I carry myself, but what happens when I need to be hired based off my appearance?
Anthony:And I've asked white, white, journalists or older, people. And sometimes even in their nicer answers or more understanding answers, they'd still include, like, oh, you probably they probably won't want you on TV, or you probably wouldn't wanna be on, like, on camera.
Jada:That's so good.
Anthony:And I'm like, wow. Like, why does Yeah. And I even I forget, oh, I was in my political, science class, and and similar bit of a tangent, but similar thing, we were talking about how, or I was talking about in that sense of being black in spaces that, like, you are a lot a lot of black people. And we were talking about how and I even did the example in my group. It was me, another young, lady who was black, and then 2 people who weren't black.
Anthony:1 of them
Shakyra:was white. 1 of them were Hispanic. And I was talking
Anthony:about how based on when people ask me where I'm from based on a conversation, they never can really guess where I'm from in Michigan. They say, oh, like, Bloomfield, West, West Bloomfield, Rochester, Albert Hills. And I even did the test to, like, based on how I talk, where do you guys think I'm from? Nobody can answer the question. And I would say even in college like, in my college life, if people were to guess where I'm from based off my appearance, oh, you're from Detroit, or, oh, you look like you're from Detroit.
Anthony:Oh, you look oh, yeah. You got the locks. Yeah. You're from Detroit. Right?
Shakyra:Yeah.
Anthony:And it would make me frustrated, and I'd laugh sometimes and be like, yeah. You're right. But, I mean, like, why, based on my appearance, people can instantly get why I'm from but not from my rhetoric speak. And it's because the whole point is just stereotypes and rhetoric, and this is why that little post like that are so important to speak against, at least in my opinion. And it's why black people, we have these moments that we take it right now for this episode because it's so easy to just get off for, like, a tweet and a post, but people feel this way for real
Jada:Mhmm.
Anthony:Unfortunately. And they would say it, and they would only know it based on the background that they had of maybe this is a dirty place or people or yeah. Yeah. You were about to comment off, Shacara.
Jada:No. I was
Jada:just gonna say, to play devil's advocate, Detroit, we do have
Anthony:a unique look. You know? No. That is also a That's true. A very unique and I'm not personally considering those people, I guess.
Anthony:Yeah. Because I'm thinking more or in this context, I'm thinking and speaking about No.
Jada:I yeah.
Anthony:No. Not to you. I'm Yeah. For clarifying for the audience because, obviously, everybody, when they make that assumption, it's not just because of race. But Yeah.
Anthony:I'm speaking more so in, like, the moments where, like, I would confirm, like, is it because I'm more is it
Jada:Yeah. Yeah. And yeah.
Jada:Yeah. Yeah.
Anthony:But it's interesting how just so much power whole hair can hold in a community, but we went on this whole thing, and we bought this episode about travel.
Jada:So just watch for hair for 2.
Anthony:Just right. To sort of try and, wrap the episode up and bring it back full circle unless you guys have anything else. When traveling and it was funny also being a first time traveler and, when I travel with y'all. I would never get why certain airlines are either deemed, good or
Jada:bad. Actually, but she
Anthony:We met But tell me always put the disclaimer you probably could name, but for reference, probably let's not name the specific airlines, but describe them.
Jada:Say Describe
Jada:your you actually have, like, a valid point.
Anthony:I'm just saying. So the question before y'all speak to to form it in a question, why do certain airlock what makes you comfortable and uncomfortable while traveling, whether it be at an airline or with people? What's the difference between a good and bad experience?
Jada:Man, I feel like the difference, like, for me, because, like, especially, at least, like, by airplane, I'm not that experienced with travel, so I guess I just kinda go by, like, family members' experiences, like, where they who they've traveled with, how they traveled, what they said, who they think is the best. Now I hinted earlier when I talked about Jamaica that that flight back was crazy. Man, that flight back was crazy.
Jada:It's not funny. But it makes
Jada:me yeah.
Anthony:We're laughing at this, actually.
Jada:It was so serious.
Jada:But it makes me understand how, like, why people pay extra money to get different services or why people would pay, like, you know, the extra fees because they know it'll be a better experience. And like I said, even going international, I didn't have that experience in, like, pick and choose. Even my family, we're like, oh, we're gonna go to you know, it's it's cheaper. We wanna have a good time. We wanna make sure we have money with it.
Jada:You know, stuff like that. But now when I when it was all over, we're like, oh, yeah. No. We're just gonna put it in here because you gotta make it there first, and you gotta make it back. So, you know, skip the the fun in between.
Jada:Then we gotta make it back home, which I didn't think we was gonna do. And it's, like, it's crazy how you would just have to do your research with each, like, airline because that's not even to say the best one can't mess up. You know what I'm saying? Because they do it and they can have a record. You really gotta do, you know, whatever fits in your budget, your comfortability because other airlines offer different type of seats, 1st class.
Jada:You know what I'm saying? They offer packages of, like, food and snacks that you get. So that's why I say with travel, we really gotta do the beforehand research, not necessarily just get up and go. I mean, some people make it work, but I prefer to do the organizational stuff before so I know I'll have a good time. And, you know, if I do get a surprise, we can handle it.
Jada:But that surprise was a big surprise. We made a home. Y'all see me. We made a home.
Anthony:Praise the
Jada:lord. But that surprise was crazy.
Jada:Yeah. But,
Shakyra:yeah, that
Jada:was my be
Jada:comfortable while you're traveling
Jada:so much. And then especially about playing some plane like, that plane in Jamaica, we had to do 2. So we flew to Florida. Then the Florida to Jamaica was the longest. It was, like, 3 or 4 hours.
Jada:And, you know, sometimes sitting in the seat, just like you said, it's me earlier, it gets uncomfortable. Yeah. But you're limited with what you can do on the airplane. So that's why, you know, bring your neck pillow, bring your blanket, you know, wear your comfortable clothes, your comfortable shoes. I encourage you to get up because sitting long times on a plane is bad in general.
Jada:Sitting in any chair for a long time is bad for, like, blood clots and stuff. So that's why they always encourage you to get, like, compression socks on the plane and, you know, walk around because it's good for
Anthony:your legs and stuff. You're
Jada:not sitting. Yeah. Mhmm. They, help keep your legs, like, tight, and it kinda help keeps your blood flow keep going because sitting for a long time is not good for you. So that's why you say if you got, like, them overnight flights, 10 hours, get up, walk around, go to the bathroom, you know, stretch all that stuff.
Jada:But you also gotta make sure you're comfortable enough to do that on the plane, so that's why I say do your research. Mhmm.
Anthony:And matter of fact, before we, get out of here because I know we all gotta get out of here. We wanna go home y'all. But, I've heard a lot about conversations about traveling from a plus size person's perspective, and I've seen it's it sucks to see the more non understanding people of this conversation be like, oh, why do you want the world to revolve around you? And, like, oh, just because you're big don't mean and it's like it's such a weird conversation, especially as a skinnier person because I put myself in the shoes of, like, what how I probably would feel like, I probably would be uncomfortable if I couldn't fit in, like, a a certain area on a plane or, like, especially playing. Even as a skinnier person, the chairs be so close.
Anthony:And I'm like, I'm not I'm not, like, 6 feet, but I'm 5 10. Even when I was on plane, it was uncomfortable being such in close proximity. Like, I didn't have space for my arms. Mhmm. So if you have, any thoughts, what would you say based on your own personal experience?
Anthony:And then based on what you've heard, if you've heard any sort of conversation around this, what would you say or, what would be your thoughts about it?
Jada:Yeah. That kinda just ties back to what I was saying before is why I feel like the pre, like, trip research is, like, kinda the most important to make sure that, like, you're comfortable not only getting there, but while you're there and then leaving. Because the times I've been on a plane, I definitely get you. So I'm really, like, broad. Like, I have really wide shoulders.
Jada:And plane seats, like, depending on the plane you fly in and if it's, like, economy, they're really, like, just straight and skinny. So even leaning back, like, thankfully, the times I flew, I've sat next to, like, my family or, like, you know, my partner, people I know. So I'm able to, like, you know, do that stretching and, like, if I lean back on them, it's not a problem. But, you know, I couldn't imagine, like, the times where I'd have to fly by myself, and I gotta be like, oh, I'm so sorry. You know, probably lean in the aisle, lean more this way.
Jada:So, you know, I always say, also, you know, be more upfront with, like, the flight attendants because they do say, like, announcements like, if you need to change your seat, you don't need to say the reason. We can figure out accommodations for you and things like that. So I also would take those resources. I've personally never had to use one, but they do
Shakyra:also provide, like, belt extenders for if the belt doesn't clip or if
Jada:it's really tight. Because I've also noticed that sometimes the belt, when I'm pulling it, it'll get really tight and, like, hurt my waist a little. Yeah. Yeah. Not to be weird, but, you know,
Shakyra:we got
Jada:all this.
Jada:Yeah. So it's a lot to,
Jada:like, try to clip it and then making sure, you know, it's secure because I ain't trying to follow the suit now. So so making sure all that stuff, they're out for belt extenders, but, you know, make sure you call and make sure they have them on hand. But that's the way, you know, you could still sit comfortable like anybody else. So I definitely say don't let it discriminate you from flying or traveling, though. You can still get around and you can still go see the sites like anybody else.
Jada:You know? Just do that extra preparedness and make sure you're comfortable. Don't worry about nobody else's comfort because you paid the money to get on the plane and go. So you know what I'm saying? Make sure you are a 100%, but I definitely do extra step.
Jada:That's just what I've done. So it's things that, you know, I like to keep track of that made my flight more comfortable. And then, you know, I also say, like, sitting next to people helps too, especially as you know. Because like I said, it makes you more comfortable to not have to keep apologizing, like, if you bump shoulders or, you know, if my leg I have also really long legs. So plane seats my knees and the seat in front of me.
Jada:So, you know, I have to, like, extend my legs out because that's comfortable. You know? My back and stuff start hurting. So it makes all the difference, like, just making that known. Now if you sit next to somebody that's, you know, a word I can't say on here, I'm not gonna say be mean back, but be mean back.
Shakyra:Yeah. But,
Jada:you know, as long as you express yourself and they still mean to you, what's the worst that you could do to them for They gonna have a getting on that no flowers. No. Man, man. I'm not saying them crazy, but I've heard I've heard look back. And I've heard they low key,
Anthony:like, real cucked out about that. Yeah. So Alright.
Shakyra:Don't get
Anthony:on to no flowers. No.
Jada:But get your look back, you know, in in proximity. But, yeah, you you could still travel as a plus size person. I do it. Nothing's gonna stop me from doing it. And I paid the money to get on there anyway, so you're gonna tell me to get off.
Anthony:And I know that's right. Right. Would you wanna, give any more thoughts to Kyra at all
Shakyra:or no?
Jada:Oh, no. You did. You did.
Anthony:Okay. Alright. Well, with that being said about this whole conversation, as always, just thank the audience anyway, but specifically for this episode and the entire conversation, I really appreciate, and we also to, obviously, I can imagine we all both really, we all really appreciate you guys for listening and especially on our tangents, whether they be random or serious. Thank you to Taylor for staying. Thank you for Destiny for listening in.
Anthony:And with all of that being said, this has been Allstate the Chocolate where we brought
Jada:The sweetest. The hottest black culture
Jada:in MSU. And remember to stay sweet. Bye.