I am Ethiopian.

That’s how I define myself nationally and sadly it has become a habitual response when asked where I “originally” come from. I’m not sure when I began feeling this way, but as odd as it may sound I never gave the thought of actually being from Ethiopia -a real country with a history and past- much thought. Maybe it started when I had to explain that Ethiopia was in northeastern Africa and NOT in Asia.”Ethiopia” doesn’t even sound Asian. It is just a place that I come from just as a Jupiterian would be from Jupiter, no big deal.

Then last night the hubz and I thought we would brush up on some facts and ended up reading pages and pages of Ethiopian history. I think since I grew up with the language (well one of the major languages), food, and overall culture I just assumed that everyone knew about E-tope-ia then I realized that heck, even I don’t know about it.

It all started with a simple question -”What are your ancestors from?”- by the hubz and with no hint of hesitation I responded “E-tope-ia silly!” “Everybody is Ethiopian at heart!” Then I remembered my mom’s friend who was clearly Ethiopian, but actually descended from Israel and that her great-grand parents are not actually Ethiopian at all. So I began to wonder “What if I’m not really-really Ethiopian?!” My whole life would have been a big fat dor-oh eating lie.

So my husband and I tried to find our ancestry online of all places for about five mintues before we gave up and decided that to go for a real ancestry-ist (I don’t know what they’re called -the folks who look up your family tree…genealogists?) and opted to at least find out about the motherland. It was so gratifying and simply beautiful to read history from as early as 100 B.C. and have that feeling of national pride. I began thinking about the five -yes FIVE whole years- learning about U.S. and Texas history and only one weakly year of world history during school and it irritated me to know how limited our view of history really is.

I understand that obviously when you live in China you learn Chinese history from the Chinese perspective same as in America or any other country, but I wish there was some way take a history course of another country without having to major in it (if they even offer it as a major) because I think we’re missing out on the lost treasures of each country and their unique impact on the world we know today. MashaAllah there are countries like Egypt that everyone knows about because of it’s foot print in so many religious debuts and scriptures, not to mention the numerous artifacts, monuments etc. left behind. But what about countries that we never hear about like Mongolia or Tunisia (or Ethiopia!).

So as my husband and I read we realized it’s relevance in not only Islamic history of course, but in Christianity and how much of it’s history is never taught to Ethiopian youth here in America. I remember in Islamic school when the teacher would mention Ethiopia my whole body would be electrocuted with excitement and in my head I’d yell “THAT’S ME! THAT’S ME!” because I always hear about other countries so when Ethiopia is mentioned and especially in the context of Islam and King Negashi -oh yeah, that’s me…the Ethiopian. I just want to make that awesome ringing sound Ethiopian and I believe Arab women can make. It’s ear piercing, but worth going deaf for.

I think it’s a duty for the youth and parents to educate their children about their country’s past whether it be glorious or grim. I can’t imagine living in Ethiopia only because too I’m spoiled with everyday commodities here, but the stories and sense of love of national pride I hear from elders and even my husband (he lived there until he was 12) makes me feel like “Dangit, I feel so un-cultural about my own culture.”

So folks I encourage you to take some time to figure out where you’re from; it helps your world make a little more sense.

I’m not one for cliches, but it’s too true to deny that can’t know where you’re going without knowing where you come from.

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