Fly Brother tackles international travel in unabridged, unapologetic, full and complete color. It’s also the blog name of writer and educator Ernest White II, a tall, ruggedly handsome, erudite, occasionally delusional Black American male who splits his time between São Paulo, Berlin, and anywhere else that tickles his fancy.
Why Fly Brother?
Because people of color – particularly black Americans – are traveling overseas for work, fun, or education more than ever before, but most travel-related magazine, newspaper, and Internet articles speak from a voice and perspective that I just can’t relate to.
Because people want culturally-resonant information that offers them insight into the ins-and-outs of traveling under the radar in Havana, but conspicuously in Hong Kong. And people want to know what being black means outside of the US.
Because I don’t care bout no damn top ten Irish pubs in New York, and I don’t personally think that Copenhagen has a lock on the most attractive people in Europe. I wanna know about the top ten salsa clubs in LA and see all the shades, from coal to cream, that grace the hotties in Paris.
Because I grew up with Southern black marching bands and HBCU homecomings and found the same energy, spirit, rhythm, and soul at a Vai-Vai samba school rehearsal in São Paulo.
Because we ought to see more of the world, and we ought to encourage and help our mamas, sisters, granddaddies, frat brothers, favorite cousins, play cousins, ‘cross-the-street neighbors, college classmates, and Shaunda’s lil brother who just turned fifteen to do the same.
Because James Weldon did it. And Josephine. And Baldwin. And Du Bois. And Langston. And Zora. And Malcolm. And Barack.
Because the world ought to know more about us than Flava Flav and Diddy.
Because I don’t experience the world via a culturally “neutral,” “color-blind,” “American” matrix. I live life in full color, just like I travel.
Welcome to Fly Brother.
FLY BROTHER DESTINATIONS TO DATE
Get at me:
Email: f l y b r o t h e r [a t] r o c k e t m a i l [d a h t] c o m
Twitter: @FlyBrother
Fly Brother is published by
Fly Travel Media
6815 Biscayne Boulevard
Miami FL 33138
FLY BROTHER 
Hey man,
I was looking through your webite. Great stuff. So I was really curious. How are you able to travel everywhere over the world? It’s been a life dream of mine. Thanks so much and keep up the awesome posts!
Ernest,
Men good for you, at least you are american and your folks can appreciate this pursuit.
Imagine an african from nigeria, with a dream of travelling the world. The more i think about it the more absurd it sounds. But i made a promise to myself when i was 12yrs, and the man i have become would love to keep his promise to the kid i once was.
Any tip, insight or help you can offer to make this pursuit easier would be of inmeasureable assistance.
Thanks.
@David: Thanks for coming through, man. Two things have allowed me to travel like I do: 1) Working in education – I started teaching at a university as soon as I graduated from my Master’s degree program, so I’ve always had about two months off in the summer and one month off at the end of the year, which gives me the vacation time other full-time jobs don’t allow. 2) Spending money I’d otherwise use for new clothes or shoes or a flat-screen TV on plane tickets. I’m like a travel crackhead; in my less financially-stable days, I actually spent rent money on a ticket to France. I’ve just always rated travel as extremely high on my priority list, so I’ve made financial decisions to reflect that. Also, I look for crazy-cheap deals and hardly ever pay “full price” for a plane ticket. Dude, travel doesn’t have to just be a dream. I know it sounds corny, but you really can make it reality. If you have any other questions or need advice on how to do it, don’t hesitate to ask…that’s what I’m here for!
@TJ: Nigerians are some of the most traveling folk I know! I’ve met them in almost every city I’ve been to outside of the Western Hemisphere. There is no reason you can’t eventually be among that number! Send me an email – f l y b r o t h e r [ a t ] r o c k e t m a i l.com – and let’s do some brainstorming on how to make you a Fly Brother as well!
Great About and advice that you’ve given to these guys. You really have to make travel a priority. That’s the key. If it’s more important to you than anything, you’ll do it.
And yes, it is corny, but you’re right, you create your own reality.
Cool Stuff…I love the Columbian Gold piece. Do you have a direct email? I’d love to discuss your blog…
Fly Brother,
I stumbled across your blog about a year ago and absolutely love it. Your pursuit of travels is similar to mine, although I haven’t traveled as many places yet.
Keep dropping us the travel news. We, African-americans, surely need to expand our view of the world and where we fit in this world.
@Shannon: Thanks a lot for the compliments! LOL, I feel you on how cornball it all sounds, but those platitudes are only corny when they aren’t put into practice. Ain’t nuthin to it but ta do it!
@NYCali: Thanks for stopping by. Will certainly be in touch via email.
@JW: Always glad to be in contact with other fly brothers and sisters! What places have you been to? As you say, until we know how and what we’re doing in all the places we inhabit, there’s no way we can truly maximize the resources and blessings we’ve been given as (wealthy, relative to our other peeps in the Diaspora) African-Americans. Many thanks for reading!
am 25 years old from Milwaukee Wisconsin and have never been no more south than Chicago and everyday i think about travel, seeing the world. please help with some advice *(i.e.am i too old to start to travel )also we need more brothers like you who give us others brothers inspiration. Thanks
I just want to say I truely admire your passion for travel. Your about page hits roots on how I feel about travel. I am also a travel addict venturing my way to see the world. This is my first time visiting this site, I dont know how this got under my radar, I will enjoy tuning in to your site. Love, Peace & Travel my Brother!
@Urbantravelbug: Where’s your blog? I definitely appreciate the tag, especially from another travel crackhead! Welcome to the site and feel free to comment on anything you find interesting (or annoying). Many thanks!
@Rafael: Dude, at 25, you are still very young and it’s NEVER too late to start traveling. I coaxed my parents to fly internationally for the first time (Caribbean destinations excluded) when both of them were over 60! Email me and I can definitely help you earn your wings, man.
That’s my cousin right there! Find me a cheap ticket to come visit!
Really inspired by what you’re doing! Great that you’re encouraging others too.
I’ve passed along your blog to a NYC friend who has been exploring her Brazilian roots.
Cheers!
@CB: Thanks a lot for commenting and for spreading the word about Fly Brother. I’ll be responding to your email over the weekend; still swamped with the day job until October.
No worries about that. I understand a busy day job!
Fly Brother,
I was very excited to find your website and read about your travels. I am from Texas and currently living in Chile while I travel around South America. It’s nice to find other people that love to travel, especially when travelling alone. I love new experiences and never want to be stuck in one place – there’s a huge world out there and I’m determined to see as much of it as possible. My sister keeps asking me: “Why can’t you just be normal? Why do you have to move across the world to be happy?” But did I mention that she came to visit a few weeks after I arrived and will be back from Christmas? LOL I’m looking forward to coming to Brazil, maybe for carnivale. Can you suggest any areas or things that I must see?
my cousin, the FLY BROTHER, is the isht! i’m so proud of you and want to be just like you when i grow up! we must take a trip together. i’d love to travel with you! and oh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
I just stumbled upon your website today! I love it! I am a world traveler myself, having lived in Madagascar, and traveled in East Africa a bit and the Carribean and Central America. After having been back to the states for some years now(still traveling here an there) I am now ready to teach ESL in Korea or another asian country. Your website is giving me inspiration!
Thanks
Its good to see that your relocation to Brasil is already opening new doors to new endeavors. I have followed your blog for a while now and its always refreshing to read about your latest episodes. Your enthusiasm for what you do springs right from the blog, which is very refreshing. Wishing you a prosperous 2011.
I love your philosophy on life. While I’ve had my share of travel, and have recently relocated to Brazil as well, I also wish I had spent less money on other things and more on travel. Good luck and perhaps we will run into each other on Avenue Paulista one of these day, only a few blocks, but a great big hill, from where I live.
Born Again Brazilian
I wanted to come through and thank you for sharing your experiences. You are phenomenal writer and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your website “cover to cover.” Your have inspired me to continue my travels around the world, but to do so in a way where it will broaden my perspectives. ‘Preciate you, bruh!
“Because we ought to see more of the world, and we ought to encourage and help our mamas, sisters, granddaddies, frat brothers, favorite cousins, play cousins, ‘cross-the-street neighbors, college classmates, and Shaunda’s lil brother who just turned fifteen to do the same. Because James Weldon did it. And Josephine. And Baldwin. And Du Bois. And Langston. And Zora. And Malcolm. And Barack.”
You. better. preach.
This is amazing. Don’t know how I found this, but randomly found your blog via your old blog via a series of other blogs. Beyond inspired by this. All of the black travel blogs I’ve unearthed so far have been written by women, but it is unexplainably refreshing to see one written by a male. Eff all of the harrowing, depressing statistics about black men, jails, drugs, etc. You made it out alive, and have some ridiculous trips (and a great blog) to show for it.
Be tremendously proud of yourself. I don’t know you, but I certainly am.
And I may have to create the counterpart “Fly Sister” 😉
Lovely website. Excellent “About” page.
Greetings FlyBrother:
Too bad you didn’t tell me you were coming through Seattle! I would have certainly treated you to the best bbq in town in appreciation of your work over the years.
You are one of a very few commentators addressing the experiences of the black man abroad. I would welcome your opinion of my podcast. Please listen. Thank you.
http://www.podomatic.com/profile/podcast4734382896
Love the concept behind this site. Keep it coming.
Hi,
I am contacting you because I am a blogger and I also work for an online marketing company where I am part of the management of a number of online brands.
I have been looking at your website and would be really interested in finding out about advertising on the site, or the possibility of adding a unique article?
If this is something that is possible or if there are any further opportunities available then it would be great to hear from you.
Many thanks
Carley
“Because I don’t care bout no damn top ten Irish pubs in New York” I died when I read this! Why is the truth so hilarious sometimes? I’ve loved the site since I found it last year – not sure why I never saw this about me or what brought me to it now… Anywho, keep doing what youre doing dude! Much appreciated. And I’m coming to SP soon!
Deidre
Greetings from a Haitian-American in South Korea! I really enjoy reading your blog. Continue thriving! Onelove!
I am on a quest as well to travel as much as possible. What is your masters in? Also, tell me more about teaching English as a second language?
I’m gonna link you to my blog and follow your travels. It’s my dream to travel. Broke in America though. But I’ll brainstorm through this somehow. Thanks for your blog and your inspiration!! God bless you man!!
very nice blog, good travels
As a fellow traveler based out of São Paulo, I seriously appreciated (and laughed wholeheartedly throughout) your most recent post about waiting at Guarulhos for a flight. Enjoy the rest of your travels and keep posting, your blog is really entertaining and well-done.
Hello,
I am very happy to hear and find other people of color traveling the world. It is very disheartening to hear that people do not even leave their city or better yet their borough. I am from Brooklyn, NY and I have been leaving in Europe since 2008 after graduating undergrad and absolutely love it. I also spend my money on traveling instead of buying the newest LV or Gucci bag. I rather travel and have the experiences which are much more fulfilling.
Great website and keep the traveling going
Brasil is definitely on my list to move too for at least 3mos
Hope all is well
Doei xxx
I just stumbled upon your site……….thank GOD! It’s nowhere near where you have been, but I will go on my first real trip to Puerto Rico by myself in three weeks. Reading your blog posts, makes me afraid that I will want to go everywhere and see everything, and only work to travel to exotic locales. Thank you for sharing, I’ve been bitten by the travel bug!
Kishonda
I’m happy to see more travel blogs from folks of color, especially Black Americans. I found you via Nicole (is the New Black) and I can’t wait to see the cool places you’ve been. I think there’s a slight fear of traveling to Europe for many Black Americans but we need to see more of the world..there’s so much out there to see. I haven’t gotten to travel internationally yet but it’s definitely on my list of things to do next year – trying to plan early! Anywho, ahoy!
love this…. a man after my own heart. For minorities who travel globally, not only do we have different goals once the plane lands, but our experiences while traveling can be quite different and eye opening, as well. Regardless of it being positive or negative , it always makes me think “we/I need to travel more”
Like many of those commenting before be – “I just stumbled upon your blog.” I know it’s never too late to try anything, and now that I am retired, I have the time to travel as I’ve always dreamed. I would like to spend no less than 3 months in an environment and culture where I can totally immerse myself, (longer in the right situation). I have traveled internationally a few times, and I share your encouraging words that as African Americans, we owe it to ourselves to venture and explore another spectrum of this universe . What advice would you give me as a single, retired woman who’s adventurous and willing? “When the student is ready, the teacher will come.” ..Unknown.
Sweet! I’m glad I’m found this blog – I’m scheming to do an African tour some time this year, so hopefully I’ll find some good tips here.
fly brother, i want to introduce myself. i just read your “white people” article on matador and found you through there. really nice job by the way. i also write about brazil:
http://matadornetwork.com/nights/8-brazilian-drinks-you-didnt-know-about/
and here’s my blog
portugueseblog.org
it’s always nice to find people who share your interests. where are you now?