The making of
A multicultural tour focused on the Black experience
Sarah McLaughlin | February 28, 2022
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In EF’s “The making of” series, we explore what goes into the creation of an EF tour. Today, we’re focusing on Madrid, Paris & London: The Multicultural Experience, a vibrant itinerary that showcases these three metropolitan hubs through a more diverse and culturally inclusive lens.
Where it all began
Here at EF, we deeply believe everyone can and should experience the life-changing impact of educational travel, and we’re dedicated to making sure all students feel that EF tours are for them. However, our Group Leaders helped us realize we needed to do more. They have always been influential in holding us accountable, reaching out to their Tour Consultants to advocate for tours that highlight a wider variety of views and both appeal to and represent their communities. After the Black Lives Matter rallies of 2020 and the ongoing dialogue and reflection they sparked around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), these conversations became even more frequent and vital. We increased our focus on implementing Group Leader feedback, and met with even more educators to help ideate on ways to make these goals happen.
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During these meetings, several Group Leaders said they were specifically interested in a tour exploring the African diaspora. They wanted students to learn about its vast narrative, see places through the lens of Black history and culture, and hear a wider range of stories focused on the Black experience. Madrid, Paris & London: The Multicultural Experience was one of the tours created from these discussions.
Why Madrid, Paris, and London?
To choose this tour’s destinations, our team collaborated with subject-matter specialists and educators from several different geographic, racial, socioeconomic, and academic backgrounds. Together, they looked for places that were home to a rich variety of cultural influences, while also considering what would be feasible from an accessibility standpoint.
Eventually, the group landed on Madrid, Paris, and London. All three of these multicultural hubs are inextricably tied to the Black experience—from Moorish contributions evident in Spanish architecture, to Paris’ adoption of Jazz music, to the rich history of African and Caribbean descended people in London. Just as importantly, they all have thriving Black communities today, ranging from the Chateau Rouge area of Paris to London’s Brixton neighborhood.
Who made the magic happen
A multicultural tour requires a multitude of perspectives. As mentioned above, EF was particularly interested in hearing educators’ perspectives—and their thoughts quickly proved to be vital. For example, an early iteration had the tour starting in London, but educators advised reversing the itinerary to begin in Madrid. As Stephanie L., EF’s Program Manager for DEIB, recounts, the thought was to begin in a city with a history steeped in positive Black contributions. This way, the entire multicultural travel experience begins from a place of power, showing the lasting and positive ways Black culture has influenced the region throughout history. By ending the tour in London, students will still learn about the city’s history with the slave trade and colonization, but first, they’ll gain a better understanding that these topics are only part of the many stories surrounding the African diaspora and Black history and culture in Europe.
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EF also presented the tour itinerary to students who had traveled with us in the past to make sure they saw themselves and their interests reflected in it. Their biggest takeaway? They loved the focus on multicultural travel experiences, and were especially excited to visit neighborhoods like Brixton that were filled with good food and music and weren’t as common on other guided tours. Of course, that didn’t mean the students wanted to forgo the more famous sites, either. As they explained, they still couldn’t wait to see places like the Eiffel Tower for themselves—and get that perfect Instagram pic.
Read more about the EF staff members and educators who helped bring the tour to life:
What sets this tour apart
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For a full list of activities, read our in-depth tour itinerary.
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“I think it’s really important to continue to develop these kinds of tours—for people in other parts of the world to see us [as African Americans], for us to see other people, for cross-cultural ‘aha!’ moments…and for kids to realize the whole world is out there for them.”
Chaitra C., Group Leader, Bowie, MD
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Sarah McLaughlin
Sarah is a senior copywriter at EF Education First. When she isn’t writing, you can find her browsing through bookshops, trying to cook, or going to improv class (which is basically just an excuse for adults to play make-believe).
