Journalist, Author & Syndicated Columnist
“I am very lucky to have never faced racism in my life, though I have seen it,” said actor Jesse Posey. “Selena did face racism, but she also faced the troubles of being a big star. And piling those two on top of each other must have been a great challenge.”
“I remember taking the segregated train with my sister and our father from Montgomery to Atlanta.” said Martin Luther King Jr.’s goddaughter, Donzaleigh Abernathy. “I remember the train ride, the dirty ‘colored only’ bathroom and Uncle Martin and (his daughter) Yolanda picking us up at the beautiful old train station in Atlanta, which has been torn down.”
“I am a first-generation American,” said “Days of Our Lives” actress Victoria Konefal. “Polish was actually my first language. I remember learning English by watching ‘Sesame Street’ and ‘Barney’ on repeat. I was a big fan. Learning other languages comes very easily to me, and I assume it’s because I was raised bilingual.”
Gloria Reuben has had quite the career. Besides acting on series such as “ER” and “City on a Hill,” the actress has toured with Tina Turner as a backup singer and written a book (“My Brothers’ Keeper: Two Brothers. Loved. And Lost”). She also is the president of the global clean water nonprofit, Waterkeeper Alliance.
“I didn’t understand how important Salt-N-Pepa were to the hip-hop game as female artists until I got to know who they were personally and (after) learning my script,” said GG Townson, who portrays Salt in the Lifetime biopic.
“For me, traveling is like healing,” said CRAVITY’s Hyeongjun. “I think it allows me to get rid of (fatigue) and hardships that I experienced. I love listening to my favorite songs, eating delicious food and making new memories while I’m traveling.” Meet all nine members of the K-pop group.
“The pandemic has definitely changed everything,” said “Call Me Kat” actress Kyla Pratt. “Most of the time I have spent at home with my family. We take way more walks now, usually to the park or (go) bike riding.”
“It was very painful sometimes getting to see everyone else do badass karate moves, while I duck and cover,” said Gianni Decenzo, one of the few actors on “Cobra Kai” who had combat training experience. The 19-year-old actor is pleased that his character gets to show off some martial arts skills on this third season.
“Better Days” singer Jesse Palter says all her travels have taught her “that there’s a great big world outside of my little bubble, that there’s value in getting lost and that all roads lead back home.”
“I had planned to go to a wedding in Jamaica after completing all the work on ‘A New York Christmas Wedding,'” said Otoja Abit. “That was going to be a much-needed vacation. And also all the film festivals – Miami, Martha’s Vineyard, North Carolina, Wichita, Kansas! I missed a lot of opportunities to see our film play on a big screen with local audiences.”
“I was right in the middle of my Hymn world tour and had to postpone various tour dates in China and South Korea, which I hope to have rescheduled some time in 2021 to 2022,” said Sarah Brightman. “I do love touring and visiting incredible countries around the world and seeing fans, but I have enjoyed spending time at home with my dogs, as it is such a rarity.”
“I’d love to spend a month in Thailand,” said “Archer” actress Amber Nash. “We had a trip scheduled for 2020, but that’s not happening. I want to spend time at an elephant sanctuary and on the beach. It’s incredibly affordable once you get there.”
“So many people travel and get upset when it’s not like America,” said Dexter Darden, who is one of the stars of the “Saved by the Bell” reboot. “Abandon all privilege and immerse yourself in their lifestyle.”
“I do miss my international travel opportunities, which I usually have at this time of the year,” said Daphne Maxwell Reid. “I have had the pleasure of taking a few plane rides under very strict precautionary measures, the last being to Los Angeles to shoot ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion’ special for HBO Max (for) our 30th anniversary.”
“Working on ‘Snowpiercer’ was very special, considering the current climate,” says actor Garfield Wilson. “Casting was very cognizant to have an incredibly diverse cast and how that diversity can be portrayed on the show as a commentary on our present-day society.”
4 Non Blondes vocalist Linda Perry said she is a light packer: “I can leave with only a toothbrush. I am a light packer. I don’t like to bring a lot and I feel (like) if I need something, I can just buy it. That’s what you end up doing anyways when you go somewhere — we consume.”
“I first traveled (to Japan) as a kid with my father, who was a flight captain for a big German airline,” said “Devils” star Pia Mechler. “I was lucky to have seen many exotic destinations already at a young age, but Japan took my breath away. It’s a culture clash between the hyper-modern and the extremely traditional. I have loved it ever since and I cannot wait to travel there again.”
“I remember taking the train from Boston to Miami to visit my grandparents when I was four,” said “Rockabye Baby” co-founder Lisa Roth. “We stayed in a hotel with a huge pool, which was all very exciting. I clearly remember climbing out of the pool with a tummy ache, climbing into my mother’s arms and throwing up into the front pocket of her polka dot, terry cloth coverup. It was a perfect aim and a great trip.”
Photographer Bob Gruen says photographing John Lennon and Yoko Ono in New York City was easy, because even though people recognized them, the famous couple was left alone.
“Eat where the locals eat and do what the locals do,” said singer-songwriter Bonnie Whitmore. “That’s the only way to have an authentic experience.”