FACTS ABOUT ETHIOPIA

​​It felt like home when I first arrived.

Ethiopia...It all started when the airport officials pointed at me and motioned to come forward to their booth.  I didn't know what was happening as they were speaking what I now know was Amharic.  Since I travelled alone, I didn't know what I was about to encounter. 

THE REAL FACTS ABOUT ETHIOPIA

I was surprised to see an armed guard on the grounds when we exited the plane, so I felt extra "inspired" to do whatever was asked of me. When I got up to the booth they continued speaking emphatically and passionately about something.  All I thought to say was, "here's my passport.  I'm sorry, I don't know what you're saying."

Somehow my words stunned them.  The look in their eyes of complete shock took me aback.  I wondered if I'd done something wrong for them to pick me out of the long line of "aliens" waiting to get our passports checked.  They took my passport, looked me up and down in disbelief, and spoke in English saying, "we thought you were Ethiopian, go stand back in line." They whispered and laughed amongst themselves, and I grinned from ear to ear.

I've been told in the U.S. that I looked Ethiopian from time to time.  When attending the African Festival of the Arts or visiting @ethiopian diamond.  I always took it as a compliment to be linked back to our homeland.  After all, too many of us I felt were still ashamed of it due to the misinformation that accompanies it in the U.S. 

I was proud to be connected with Africa given what I'd recently learned about it. I still didn't understand at all why people picked out Ethiopia vs. any other country there...

until I set foot on the ground.

It was in this moment that it all started to come together. Especially on the taxis.  I felt I was sitting next to my twin or cousins.  Our stature, quiet nature, hair, eyes were so close it was undeniable.

okay, so back to the book, "The Real  Facts About Ethiopia"...

The most important part of this book is that it covers one of the most underreported, earliest, significant victories against colonialism in our history. Can you imagine what learning about the Italo-Ethiopian War of 1887–1889 could do for a Black student in America? To know of our victories; to know we didn't just lay down and die in the face of high powered rivals?? It is empowering.

book excerpt:

Italy (King Humbert's envoy):  King Humbert cannot yielld.  It would hurt the pride and dignity of his people.  Ethiopia (Menelik):  If you have your dignity, so have we.

Ethiopia (Taitu-Menelik's wife):  You wish to make us your pupils, but that will never be.

Italy:  Then this means war
  
It's hard to believe that a book so little could be so big in its coverage of historical events.  It's still priced at only $4. And, it is less than 40 pages.

May I also mention the author is Black, the publisher is Black, the distributor is Black, and, so is your local friendly neighborhood independent online bookseller, Afriware Books. My staff are Black too.  In other words, you will recycle your dollars at least 5 times in the community by purchasing this little big book.

The way the author-Pullman Porter (Chicago) and journalist J. A. Rogers tells the story is riveting as well. It is not at all like the stuffy history books we were given.  And all of that for just $4???

Needless to say at this point, it's a must have for your personal library.  It's in mine, thankfully.  And now it's also available as an audiobook.  I'll provide info below for those who are interested.

Once again dear reader, I appreciate you finding your way to the end of this post.  Thank you for extending your time, interest and attention.  

Want to Learn More?

​As always, I appreciate that you have read through this blog post which is an extended version of the facebook post it originated from.  I hope that you’ve become curious to find out more about Ethiopia through the book "The Real Facts About Ethiopia" by J. A. Rogers.  Also, consider more books on the topic through this search on our website for "Ethiopia."  We ask that you consider purchasing your books from our Black owned business, Afriware Books, Co.  If there is a title you’d like to purchase that is not mentioned here, or could not be found on the website, feel free to email us at:  [email protected]