Bond Between Ethiopians, African Americans Examined
NATALIE CONE
2/26/08
Nation & World
Nation & World
On Monday night, a bus full of New York Abyssinian Baptist Church members drove to Washington, D.C. to join the Ethiopian community to honor the church and its pastor, the Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts III.
The event, which was hosted at the Ethiopian embassy, was also intended to celebrate Black History Month and to strengthen the historical and spiritual connections between the Ethiopian and African-American communities.
"During slavery, African Americans always looked at Ethiopia as a place that represented freedom, black culture, history and religion," said Princeton University professor Ephraim Isaac, who spoke at the event. "It inspired the fight against discrimination and religion. When slaves were told they were inferior, they were animals or subhuman, they would think of Ethiopia."
Isaacs, who is also the founder of the African-American studies department at Harvard, quoted Langston Hughes' poem, "The Call of Ethiopia." The poem addressed the freedom of not only Ethiopia, but also the entire African continent.
Sociology professor Alem Habtu of CUNY Queens College described how, as an international student from Ethiopia, he learned from African Americans during the civil rights movement.
Habtu, along with some peers, took over the Ethiopian embassy in protest of issues concerning their country after hearing Stokely Carmichael and members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) speak.
The guests included members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the ambassador of Ethiopia, Samuel Assefa.
Robert Wallace, CEO of Birthgroup Technologies, said he plans to build orphanages for children whose parents died of AIDS/HIV.
Gary Flowers, executive director and CEO of the Black Leadership Forum, addressed the need to get back to the root of black culture.
"I am, because we are; and because we are, I am," Flowers said. "There is no individual advancement without group advancement."
The Embassy said the program is the first of many that will recognize the connection between the two cultures.
The evening ended with the honoring of Butts, as he was presented with a piece of artwork by a famous Ethiopian painter.
His long-term goal is to use the church's developmental corporation to build housing and educational facilities in Ethiopia.
"We can not be chauvinistic about our connection to Ethiopia and cannot deny what needs to happen," said Butts.
The event, which was hosted at the Ethiopian embassy, was also intended to celebrate Black History Month and to strengthen the historical and spiritual connections between the Ethiopian and African-American communities.
"During slavery, African Americans always looked at Ethiopia as a place that represented freedom, black culture, history and religion," said Princeton University professor Ephraim Isaac, who spoke at the event. "It inspired the fight against discrimination and religion. When slaves were told they were inferior, they were animals or subhuman, they would think of Ethiopia."
Isaacs, who is also the founder of the African-American studies department at Harvard, quoted Langston Hughes' poem, "The Call of Ethiopia." The poem addressed the freedom of not only Ethiopia, but also the entire African continent.
Sociology professor Alem Habtu of CUNY Queens College described how, as an international student from Ethiopia, he learned from African Americans during the civil rights movement.
Habtu, along with some peers, took over the Ethiopian embassy in protest of issues concerning their country after hearing Stokely Carmichael and members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) speak.
The guests included members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the ambassador of Ethiopia, Samuel Assefa.
Robert Wallace, CEO of Birthgroup Technologies, said he plans to build orphanages for children whose parents died of AIDS/HIV.
Gary Flowers, executive director and CEO of the Black Leadership Forum, addressed the need to get back to the root of black culture.
"I am, because we are; and because we are, I am," Flowers said. "There is no individual advancement without group advancement."
The Embassy said the program is the first of many that will recognize the connection between the two cultures.
The evening ended with the honoring of Butts, as he was presented with a piece of artwork by a famous Ethiopian painter.
His long-term goal is to use the church's developmental corporation to build housing and educational facilities in Ethiopia.
"We can not be chauvinistic about our connection to Ethiopia and cannot deny what needs to happen," said Butts.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Mohammed
posted 2/26/08 @ 1:28 PM EST
It really irritates me when people say very plain lies about my country Ethiopia. Ethiopias regimes, specially Hailesselassie are always being falsly acknowledged. (Continued…)
ARH
posted 2/26/08 @ 1:49 PM EST
I was at the wonderful event at the Embassy of Ethiopia in Washington, DC last night. It was wonderful to see Abyssinian Baptist Church be honored as it celebrates 200 years and to be in a room full of African-Americans, Ethipians and others celebrate Black history during this momentous occasion of the Ethiopian millenium. (Continued…)
michael A
posted 2/28/08 @ 12:36 AM EST
I was present at the black history month at the embassy of ethiopia. I learned so much what to be free ehtiopia meant to lots of people. afri-americans or carribeans if I want to add a little to it even in the african continent each freed african nation chose the colors of the Ethiopian flag. (Continued…)
Andrew Laurence
posted 3/04/08 @ 3:41 PM EST
"Rejuvenating Ethiopian and African American Friendship"
(Mixed-Media Oil Painting) by Fasil Dawit
The "piece of artwork" mentioned in this article was actually a mixed-media oil painting by artist Fasil Dawit. (Continued…)
Abba Gammachis
posted 4/18/08 @ 7:41 AM EST
Are they talking about the same Ethiopia that we came from or different country?
Both government and people have a lot to learn about how to live with the people who are different from them. (Continued…)
Genet
posted 4/20/08 @ 8:08 PM EST
While it is true that Ethiopia, like all other nations, has its issues, can't we focus on the positive aspects also? Ethiopia is in itself a very diverse country, with many different cultures, languages, and religions that coexist with one another. (Continued…)
wondesen
posted 6/21/08 @ 7:16 AM EST
well my comment abut ethiopian weyn not unitd
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