Quote:
Originally Posted by BKmachine
...D.C. has the largest Ethiopian population in the country and I can tell you from experience most of them don't consider themselves "black".
|
It depends on the location and context. In the US for example, when one says I am "black", he means he is "African-American". Ethiopians are Africans, they are NOT "African-Americans". That's what they mean when they say they are not black.
Regarding their looks and skin colors, there is a great diversity within Ethiopia. In the Southern parts of Ethiopia (in places like Arba Minch for ex), you have Ethiopians who look just like West Africans. Then as you go north (in places like Wollo, Tigray, Gondar, Oromo regions), you have a whole range of features and hair textures (from Arab/Indian looking to those in between). In general, they are short or petite. To see real beauty, you have to go to Ethiopia that's where they are. The Ethiopians in the US are ok for the most part but that's because the stress of living in America has taken a toll on their face and overall looks (they are too busy to take care of themselves by eating right, exercising, etc). Most live beyond their means and love to compete with their Ethiopian neighbors. In other words, they live beyond their means to impress others.
Someone said most of the Ethiopians in the US come from Addis. That's a big lie! Some do, but the majority are from other cities (like Nazaret, Ambo, Gondar, Gojjam, Awassa, etc) but they come here in the US and want to say they were "city" people (it is a status thing for them). Also, for the most part,
80% of the Ethiopians in the US (or in the UK, Canada, etc) come from
EXTREMELY poor families in Ethiopia. That is why they are in the US, to do small jobs (taxi driving, parking lot attendants, restaurant work, baby-seating, etc) and send some money to their families there. Think about it, if they were comfortable (or had even a middle-class status in Ethiopia), why would they leave that comfort to come to the US to accept small wage work????
The other 20% of the Ethiopians came here for higher studies and work in various high professions in the legal, medical or engineering fields. In this percentage, there are also political refugees.
You may wonder how I know all this? I lived in Addis for 8 years for a project and travelled in various parts of the country.