When sitting down to write this essay, I can’t help but recall the lyrics from rapper Eminem, [insert a disclaimer about why he’s problematic]— “I’m Sorry Mama.” I was ten years old when the song was released, and terrifyingly fascinated by his account of his mother. What struck me most was his mention of Münchausen […]
Through foggy lenses in the airport security line, I stared at my two small bags, vision blurred by the N95 mask. My one-way ticket to Puerto Vallarta felt heavy with my father’s plea to remain in the United States. His familiar sermon on a mental loop, “You know your ancestors fought for our right to […]
Flip through the pages of popular travel publications, such as National Geographic, and you may find a faint echo of media’s historical legacy that portrays non-Western cultures through a colonial, white, and narrow lens. This perspective isn’t limited to media—the tourist industry’s deep roots in colonial practices have bled into modern-day tourism. They are perpetuated […]
