Is prejudice based on skin color unique to Ethiopia ?

Tedla Asfaw

I read a piece by Obang , Aiga Vs. Obang, eleven pages posted on many websites and I want to bring my own observation to help the discussion. Few years ago there was an archaeological/paleontological study in middle east which concluded that Jesus is a short dark skinned man. When survey was made  to see the reaction of people to this study  in Europe and South America,more than 90 percent of the people most of them  white/light skinned and some brown rejected the study and concluded that Jesus can not be black.

In neighboring Somalia many dark skinned Somalis were killed and chased as slaves because of their dark skin. We have many of them settled here in USA. In Iraq half million Iraqis are treated as second class citizens because of their dark skin and are expecting change because of the Black President Obama.

What Obang mentioned in his piece about Ethiopia is true but it should have been put in context. The Ogaden movement or OLF movement is not led by people of "dark skin" and their struggle is not to be free from the "light skinned" Ethiopians. I do not know any movement for that matter in Ethiopia who wants to be free from Ethiopia because of skin color.

During Siad Bare's Somalia the propaganda coming from Mogadishu was insulting "Kucherawe Mengistu/ Mengistu the slave" and his father "Menelik Barreywe/slave" and I have not heard such insult against King Haile Selasse. Many African leaders  and for that matter many Africans supported Mengstu for being dark and condemned those who opposed him for being racist or light skinned.

We know Mengistu killed all who challenged his power and I do not know anyone who was saved because of his skin color. If we draw a skin color map, light skinned,brown and dark the struggle in Ethiopia will be very complicated because there is no one major ethnic group in Ethiopia who do not compromise substantial percentage of dark skinned people like myself.

It is good to talk about skin color in open,however, I do not believe it will help us solve our political problem. Prejudice against skin color is a world wide phenomenon and it is not unique to Ethiopia.

Is prejudice based on skill color unique to Ethiopia ?

Tedla Asfaw

I read a piece by Obang , Aiga Vs. Obang, eleven pages posted on many websites and I want to bring my own observation to help the discussion. Few years ago there was an archaeological/paleontological study in middle east which concluded that Jesus is a short dark skinned man. When survey was made  to see the reaction of people to this study  in Europe and South America,more than 90 percent of the people most of them  white/light skinned and some brown rejected the study and concluded that Jesus can not be black.

In neighboring Somalia many dark skinned Somalis were killed and chased as slaves because of their dark skin. We have many of them settled here in USA. In Iraq half million Iraqis are treated as second class citizens because of their dark skin and are expecting change because of the Black President Obama.

What Obang mentioned in his piece about Ethiopia is true but it should have been put in context. The Ogaden movement or OLF movement is not led by people of "dark skin" and their struggle is not to be free from the "light skinned" Ethiopians. I do not know any movement for that matter in Ethiopia who wants to be free from Ethiopia because of skin color.

During Siad Bare's Somalia the propaganda coming from Mogadishu was insulting "Kucherawe Mengistu/ Mengistu the slave" and his father "Menelik Barreywe/slave" and I have not heard such insult against King Haile Selasse. Many African leaders  and for that matter many Africans supported Mengstu for being dark and condemned those who opposed him for being racist or light skinned.

We know Mengistu killed all who challenged his power and I do not know anyone who was saved because of his skin color. If we draw a skin color map, light skinned,brown and dark the struggle in Ethiopia will be very complicated because there is no one major ethnic group in Ethiopia who do not compromise substantial percentage of dark skinned people like myself.

It is good to talk about skin color in open,however, I do not believe it will help us solve our political problem. Prejudice against skin color is a world wide phenomenon and it is not unique to Ethiopia.

Thank You

Wondem Tesfaye, I just finished your new book, "Ye Gazetaw Mastewashe"  in my New York Apartment. The news about this book was posted on www.ethiofourm few weeks ago and many of us started debating before we even read the book. To find the book I contacted the distributor and I was informed that this week it has been on sale in North America.

Before I received the news of the sale, however, a friend send me the pdf on email which I started reading yesterday for six hours and today four hours and completed the book(416)pages.  I am not happy reading it on Internet seems too that part were taken out according to Ethiopian Review . I will get the book to keep it for myself and would like to read it again and you deserve also financial reward.

My comment on the EMF website few weeks ago was still valid. Let us read the book before we accuse the author of anything. I wrote to the gentleman who wrote a review on your work why he failed to mention the very "controversial book" on some circles  including myself without reading it, "Ye Burka Zimita".

My statement I made on "Ye Burka Zimita" yesterday on comment on www.abugida.com as a "hate book" is totally wrong after I read some of the scripts on your  new book and I would like to apologize. As I said I would be happy to read "Ye Burka Zimta" and will appreciate if you send me the signed copy of both books and I am ready to pay for it.

I want to commend you for doing your part, tell the story as it is. I know now who Tesfaye Gebrab is after reading one of your books and you have bright future brother, keep on writing.

                                                                                                                                  Yours,

                                                                                                                                     Tedla Asfaw

                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                        

Open letter to Economist Conference Organizers

Dear Economist Conference Office in New York City,

My telephone call to you few minutes ago was not welcomed and I have to send you this email to address my grievance. The Economist, a well respected paper is organizing a conference in Addis Ababa in March 24, 2009 as you well confirmed on my brief talk with you and the unelected and barbaric regime of Meles Zenawi is going to use this opportunity to get credibility in the eyes of the world.

In a country where there are no independent newspapers and  journalists jailed or exiled what is the objective of organizing a conference for ? The only aim of this conference is  to give a platform for Meles Zenawi and his racist buddies  to show their English language skill for possible job opportunity if they survive the coming upheaval in Ethiopia.

Ethiopians know they are living in a giant prison and whatever conference organized in Addis Ababa will not change that fact. If the people have their way they would rather demand the end of tyranny and get support with  papers like you to write their story accurately.

In this difficult world economic downturn poor nations like Ethiopia what they need the least, however, is party in their name and I say shame to the Economist who will be dining  with butchers of Addis Ababa. I also call Ethiopians in the Diaspora to protest in front of the Economist offices worldwide and urge them to cancel the conference in Addis Ababa.

                                                                                                                                Thanks,

                                                                                                                              Tedla Asfaw

                                                                                                                              New York City