Project 3.5Mil
As I scan the globe for communities that believe and practice Hebret—the concept of helping each other out—there is none that come to my mind more than the Jewish community. Whether in the United States, in Israel, or anywhere throughout the world, the Jewish community understands the essence of collaboration instead of competition. Perhaps it is because they faced such an existential threat in the past or continue to feel pressures from the outside world that they are so wedded to the idea of communal success.
Like every community, there are some bad apples that don’t believe in this concept within the Jewish community. I do not endorse the extremists in any community that harbors success through the plight of another—such is the case of the continued expansion of settlements on Palestinian land. However, outside of the hardcore elements within the community, the Jewish community is overwhelmingly kind in nature. During the Civil Rights campaign, it was Jewish brothers and sisters who marched hand in hand with the African-American community to ensure equality and the dignity of a vote. It was Israel that flew thousands upon thousands of Jewish-Ethiopians back to Israel.
There are many throughout the world that expresses hatred at the Jewish community. If I have found out one thing in my life is that success is often the object of derision. I liken it to a chorus of farmers who yell out words of loathing at the one farmer who wakes up early each morning to tend to his land. Sure that farmer has the most abundant field, but that is because he is working tirelessly to plant the corn, to feed his livestock, and to feed his family. The rest of the farmers sit on their lazy asses and have nothing to show for it so they express anger at the one farmer who can sustain himself through his work. That is the way I see most people who express anger at the Jewish community, it is a projection of their own inadequacy as opposed to a justified expression of resentment—it is nothing more than naked jealousy.
I was talking to Ellias Fullmore a while back ago; I was exasperated at the lack of support that exists within the Ethiopian community and the African Diaspora in general. Instead of helping each other out and collaborating to ensure communal success—like the Jewish community—we often see each other as threats and as competition. It is an unwritten rule that one dollar is circulated 7 times over in the Jewish community before they go outside of their community. So if a Jewish person opens up a business, her most ardent supporters are first and foremost her community. They don’t go to the Jewish entrepreneur asking for a discount or a “hookup”, instead they help each other out fully to ensure that the new business does not suffer. If we practiced the same concept of Hebret in our community, the sky would be the limit for our potential.
To the contrary, I have spoken to many Ethiopian entrepreneurs ranging from restaurant owners, taxi cab drivers, or technology companies and when I first expressed my desire to start a marketing company that focuses on the Ethiopian community, almost all of them advised me that I will never make it by focusing on the Ethiopian community, that if I wanted to succeed I should focus on the “ferenjis”. Can you imagine a Jewish person being advised not to reach out to his community and instead focus on the non-Jewish community if he wants to succeed? What I have found out since the time I started Brown Condor Production is the reason for the exasperation felt by many Ethiopian business owners. Grant it, the reason for the outstanding growth rate of browncondor.com is precisely because of the Ethiopian community, but the overwhelming support has come from the younger generation. However, when you look at the overall number of Ethiopians living in America alone—which some estimate at close to half a million—the dearth of support I have received from the Ethiopian community is astounding to me. Especially from the successful Ethiopians who have the most support to lend but are missing in action when it comes to supporting those behind them while being content to live in Ivory Towers in affluent neighborhoods.
Back to the discussion I had with Ellias Fullmore. As I was recounting my frustrations and pondering what would happen if the over one billion folks from the African Diaspora ever came together and believed in the concept of Hebret. At that exact point, Ellias cut me off and said “cuz forget the one billion, the majority will always be sleeping, all we need is 3.5 million”. At first I laughed, I wondered how Ellias came up with the number 3.5 million. I wanted to dismiss it as just a random number he came up with, but I know Ellias too well, he never comes up with anything random—he always has a profound reason for the ideas he throws out. So after a brief pause, I asked him, “where the hell did you come up with the number 3.5 million”. He also paused for effect and then said something that struck me like a hurricane.
“3.5 million represents the collective number of Jewish folks that live in America, they are so united in their purpose and so intent on helping each other out that they are one of the most powerful if not the most powerful communities in America despite the fact that they account only for about 1% of the population”
The exact number of Jewish-Americans is not known. After the fact, I have done my research and found some publications that put the number at closer to 6 million and others that put the number at 3 million. Whatever the number is, the fact is there are anywhere from 2 to 3 times more African-Americans than there Jewish-Americans. The Ethiopian community in the Commonwealth of Virginia is larger than the Jewish community. Imagine if we followed the example of the Jewish community, if we supported one another, if we believed fully in the concept of Hebret and put communal success above individual indulgence. If we did, there would be no limit to our economic, social, and political strength, strength we can leverage to ensure the success of our children and enrich Ethiopia in the process.
That is the aim of project 3.5 million, to bring together 3.5 million folks from our community, to integrate the aims of like minded Ethiopians with like minded African-Americans and the larger African Diaspora to make a profound impact in and for our community. Imagine if we had 3.5 million who believed in the concept of Hebret. Will you be a part of this coalition?
Great article. I think you are trying to compare apple with pears. But you are not. You forgot to look at the fact. Some community set up on the benefit of other to their success. Shame on you that you consider that kindness of our Flash brother being sold to Israel. Also the Civil Right Act movement was for the sake of African America. They were playing on the field of African-Americans field, on African-American bloodshed. Finally, the get the right the want to be part of the politics.