"A Black Hero, Who Fought Fascists and Communists for Christ The media stuffed Haile Selassie down the Memory Hole"
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scousekiwi
Guest
I honestly doubt that this has anything to do with “the media” systematically attempting to erase Haile Selassie from memory. If the “young Americans” described in the article have never heard of Haile Selassie, I think it’s more likely that they are simply not very well informed about the history and politics of Africa in general.
I can’t see on your profile where you are from, but, being British, I have always taken a strong interest in Africa, as do many younger people I talk to. More than 20 African countries were part of the British Empire, and 19 are members of the Commonwealth, with another half dozen actively seeking membership or eligible for membership. Many British people have spent time in Africa, e.g. in the colonial administration, the armed forces, as missionaries, working on development, or as businesspeople. Conversely, a lot of Africans have moved to Britain, as have a lot of Jamaicans, for whom Haile Selassie is very significant. Many African leaders were educated in Britain, served in the British armed forces, etc.
Therefore, I think it is natural that British people are particularly familiar with leaders such as Jan Smuts, Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Seretse Khama, Julius Nyerere, Kenneth Kaunda, Hastings Banda, Milton Obote, Idi Amin, Robert Mugabe, Ian Smith, and, of course, Haile Selassie.
I would guess that young Americans are more likely to be knowledgeable about the history of, for example, Latin America, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
I can’t see on your profile where you are from, but, being British, I have always taken a strong interest in Africa, as do many younger people I talk to. More than 20 African countries were part of the British Empire, and 19 are members of the Commonwealth, with another half dozen actively seeking membership or eligible for membership. Many British people have spent time in Africa, e.g. in the colonial administration, the armed forces, as missionaries, working on development, or as businesspeople. Conversely, a lot of Africans have moved to Britain, as have a lot of Jamaicans, for whom Haile Selassie is very significant. Many African leaders were educated in Britain, served in the British armed forces, etc.
Therefore, I think it is natural that British people are particularly familiar with leaders such as Jan Smuts, Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Seretse Khama, Julius Nyerere, Kenneth Kaunda, Hastings Banda, Milton Obote, Idi Amin, Robert Mugabe, Ian Smith, and, of course, Haile Selassie.
I would guess that young Americans are more likely to be knowledgeable about the history of, for example, Latin America, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
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Kaninchen
Guest
There were/are many for whom Ras Tafari is a sacred figure, of course - I can ‘hear’ Bob Marley as I type this.
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CoffeeFanatic
Guest
Bob Marley was baptized into the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
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Kaninchen
Guest
Are you denying that Marley had been a Rasta?
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CoffeeFanatic
Guest
No. I’m merely stating a fact that he died Christian, which is infinitely more important than his previous beliefs. I hope you aren’t denying that?
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Kaninchen
Guest
Well, speaking as a Jew, I can’t say I’m all that terribly bothered one way or the other.
I agree with you on coffee, by the way, particularly espresso-based.
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Kaninchen
Guest
Well, the whole thing is a case of “no matter how complicated things seem, they’re usually much more byzantine than all that,” Selassie as hero while neglecting quite a few negatives just because he wasn’t a ‘socialist’.
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FiveLinden
Guest
It was, wasn’t it?
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