The i am We

My favorite people…

  Contemplating the prospects of a mission to Axum, Ethiopia. With hopes of finding undisclosed information from the ancient Axumite empire.

Omo Valley – One of the most amazing places on earth.

The Omo Valley series. People always said, ‘If you don’t know The Omo, you don’t know Ethiopia.’ A culture and people that have survived for 7,000 years and counting. Reading about them in my sociology books simply wasn’t enough.

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Omo Valley Locks… – photo #3

Omo Valley – Photo # 3 – Looking closely at the photo, you’ll notice that my brother’s hairstyle is that of the ancient lock. Before they were repatriated by the Rastafarians and labeled dreadlocks by the Europeans, locks were worn amongst people of the Omo Valley.

Haile’s fall

As a member of the Diaspora there is a part of me that respects and appreciates Haile Selassie for helping Ethiopia become a beacon of African pride during his time. His presents laid the foundation for concealed histories, inspiring the likes of Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley and J.A. Rodgers to name a few. On the other hand, I can recall debates with co-workers over the merits of Selassie’s actions…

From Brooklyn to Addis Ababa (Family of South West Academy)

Landing a teaching position with South West Academy gave me the chance to learn more about myself than thought possible. Although I sometimes maintained 40 students in a class, their level of pure grit, scholarship, and dedication never ceased to inspire. Mornings began with a question, “Whose world is it?” My students responded, “The world is ours,” as their little fists reach for the sealing. I…

Jane Elliott’s universal solution to racial discrimination.

Jane Elliott with students – 1968

“Jane Elliott is one of the main reasons I started teaching. If implemented correctly, her ideas will change our world.”

Jane Elliott (born 1933, Riceville, Iowa) is an American teacher and anti-racism activist. She created the famous “blue-eyed/brown-eyed” exercise, first done with grade school children in the 1960s, and which later became the basis for her…

A spelling bee’s worth (Ty’s take on Ethiopia’s first national spelling bee)

Renowned Poet and novelist, Maya Angelo, once said: “Any book that helps a child form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his or her deep and continuing needs, is a good book for that child.” The Ethiopian National Spelling Bee has allotted the Dictionary as our book of choice, employed to refine the image of reading among Ethiopia’s youth. We utilize spelling and competition to…

Narrative #1: “Waking up in the mountains was special. I experienced it a bit while traveling with the farmers back in Ankober, but this area was more serene. I was never content with staring at the mountains from my car seat. Now, I was in a place where cars were useless. Even the bathroom was amazing. They called it the “The view from the loo.” The whole experience gave me insight into a…