Now imagine a white person sees a picture of a starving European but lives in America this is what they will say 'oh my gosh my poor European descendants needs my help and I will donate ASAP'! That would be their answer.
Being of Ethiopian descendent I’m fully aware that giving is not in our culture we only donate money to needy relatives and the church who have millions of dollars of money, people think if they donate to the church they will go to heaven (selfish reasons again). This is why the Ethiopian famine happened those starving northerners were forgotten unless they had a relative in the town centre to help them, the nation including the government watched them starve they did not care. I am increasingly becoming frustrated that black people do not care when their people are starving and it’s always the white people to come to the rescue with a big save east, north, south Africa campaign why is this? I will list the possibilities:
1) Selfish: we could blame it on slavery but as far as I’m concerned there was no slavery in Ethiopia so that doesn’t count. They are quick to run to war and defend a barren dry land but when people are starving they turn a blind eye.
2) Clannish divided mentality why should I help those people they are not from my tribe they are not my relatives, when they think of each others as hostile enemies it’s easier to ignore them when they are in trouble and starving hence why no one will care.
3) I don’t know but there is a culture of bragging if you see the music videos like rap they only rap about one thing money yes they finally got money and everyone is jealous of them how many times do we have to hear this!. Here are a few lyrics rappers re-cycle over and over again.
'Why you watching my ride, you hating'
'Ever since this money and fame people clocking my chain blah blah' repetitive bullshit
'Have a baby by me baby be a millionaire' (unfortunately a lot of dumb girls actually fall for this even if he isn’t 50 Cent (RIP your social life)
4) There is always a culture of jealousy and hostility in all black communities maybe I am generalizing but there is a lot of hating they don’t want you to do better than them so if there are a lots of starving Africans subconsciously they’re probably thinking ‘oh I’m doing better than them at least who knows in some weird psycho way (I’m trying to be clever here) It’s better to state the obvious than pretend it doesn’t exist in our community because it does. Black people generally live for themselves think to benefit them only and their children but not others from poorer backgrounds as they are competing with them in every way. Due to the lack of community and organized support there are more poorer black people in America and Africa because of the way they think.
2 comments:
Thanks for commenting on my page http://youngethiopian.org
So happy there is a sister who is on the same wave length! Excellent post, there is a dire need for us as Ethiopians to be strategic about our time and money. I spoke about nonprofits in the Washington DC area, how so many of them sprout headed by Ethiopian leaders who don't collaborate and are perhaps not as effective as they could be if they worked together. You are right, all our giving is to the churches, which may not be the most effective way to bring about social change. We want to focus on nonprofit organizations who are on the ground working everyday. These don't have to be run by Ethiopians, we just have to be represented in the staff to make sure they are serving Ethiopians in the most efficient way. I think young people are ready to make a change though. To give strategically, they just need to be shown how effective their giving, their volunteer time, talent and ideas can be.
LOL at the picture of Starvin' Marvin on the section, ''Why black people dont like giving money to charity'' but I totally agree with you.
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