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Bond between Ethiopians, African Americans Examined |
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Addis Ababa, February 27, 2008 (Addis Ababa) - The Ethiopian embassy in USA hosted celebration of Black History Month 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." Ephraim, 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. The guests included members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the ambassador of Ethiopia, Samuel Assefa. 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.R...11:20-11:40 am ---END--- |
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