I want to believe, I truly do. I want to believe that Ethiopians, Eritreans, the African Diaspora can throw off the collective chains of self imposed poverty and work together to a collective prosperity. I have the Audacity to think that we can actually work together—you thought Obama was hopeful! But it gets harder and harder each day, for each day I am proven one step closer towards the realization that Obama’s election was an ephemeral moment of bliss.

Why so jaded? Before I go forward, let me go back. Back to 2008, when Obama frenzy was at its peak—at least it was on November 4th 2008. However, the months leading up to that moment was arduous at best. We—Ethiopians for Obama—had our own audacious goals. Sure we were enamored with the idea of an Obama administration, but most of us were in love with an idea way bigger than that. We saw, through the image of Obama, a vision of…

Hair is such a cultural symbol that it truly plays a much larger role in our lives than we realize at times. I cut my hair off around the same time as Brittany Spears. I looked in the mirror one day and realized I did not know what I was truly meant to look like because I had been perming my hair since I was eight years old. It was one of the best decisions I have made. I learned so much about myself through the reactions of others.

Often times, some of us have a quality or trait that society values, having nothing to do with who we are as individuals. Because of this one trait, people treat us completely different. Take away this trait, and we are left to contend with a new environment where our personalities play a much larger role in how others see us. First, I learned that…

Throughout the Democratic Primary and General Election, we–Obama supporters–chanted loudly and proudly “Yes we can” and believed wholeheartedly that “We are the ones we have been waiting for”. However as soon as we helped put Obama in the White House, we all decided to return to our life and daily programming. We changed the “Yes we can” to “Yes he can” and “We are the ones we have been waiting for” to “He is the one we have been waiting for”.

With these two fundamental mind shifts, the amazing grass root organization that was built during the Primary and General Election came to an…

Every once in a while, I come across a submission that raises the bumps on my arms as my mind wraps around the message of its writer. A young Ethiopian writer who grew up in the United States or Canada like I did. A writer whose calling is so loud it screams from the words on my screen, illuminated from behind by the bright, eternal white that seems to stretch into the computer and into another parallel universe; one where we never left home and we learned to cook doro wut and drive a stick shift at a young age. What gave this person the courage to follow their fingers on a keyboard instead of the warnings of a community who believes success is measured by the number of letters that come after your name, M.d, PhD, M.Ed.

For those who do not know, my sister and I are publishing a book together about

In this difficult time for Haiti I want to share with you why I am fully supporting Partners in Health: it is because I want to Give Well and not just give Dead Aid. With all the heartbreaking images from Haiti the compulsion overwhelms to help. And yet, with recent discussions surrounding aid, I was especially weary about giving; even reconsidered other ways I could contribute because I either wanted to be extremely conscientious or not give money at all.

You see, I have witnessed the…

Did you ever want to say something but held back for fear of judgment? Ever have a thought but did not express it because you did not want to be thought of differently. Did you ever have an idea but did not follow through because you did not want to be mocked? Freedom of speech is one of the central tenants of a true Democracy. A people who do not feel free to express their thoughts and idea are not free at all. So, the topic of discussion is…

Where is the fine line I dance with like an actor on stage looking for her mark? On one side lie the ideals in which I occasionally venture to believe in and on the other side lies reality; those voices of people who have come before you and warn you of life’s pitfalls. Courage is light on the side of the gray, unapologetic concrete. In the land of ideals, however, courage feels like lead stacked in the lining of your knickers as the echoes of the other side are heard mocking your decisions and calling you foolish.

As Ethiopian Americans we are in this unique situation where our parents do not really know how to advise us in this strange place. Not only are we separated by time but also by …

“No greater weapon has been formed than the forked tongue of one man against mankind.”

Exactly 64 years ago today, Martin Niemoller spoke before the representatives at the Confessing Church in Frankfurt Germany. He said:

“First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.”

I am here today to speak for my friend Abonesh Adnew, better known as…