By Abiye Solomon
One of the truisms of American life is that anyone from any country can come to America and assimilate into the society. The idea is that America is a land of immigrants naturally hospitable to new immigrants. In many ways, this is true. In the U.S. immigrants from all parts of the world live side by side more or less harmoniously.
The American Dream is said to bind most people, immigrant and native born, to a common purpose and destiny. But beyond this myth (or reality) defining the “real” American or the American experience is not that easy.
America still has serious racial problems. Black Americans or more appropriately African Americans (because they are descendants of Africans brought as slaves over 350 years ago) have made some progress over the past three decades but for hundreds of years they have been enslaved and segregated. They have yet to integrate fully in American society.
Lately, I have been wondering about Ethiopians in the American melting pot. We are among the most recent group of Africans to come to America. Those of us who came before the Derg came mainly to get American education and technical training. Almost all of us believed that sooner or later we will return to Ethiopia. In reality, very few of us managed to return largely due to fear of political persecution by the dictatorial regimes back home. Much larger numbers of Ethiopians came to the U.S. seeking to escape political persecution.
But how are we all doing in the American melting pot?
There seems to be a curious situation among Ethiopians in America. The first generation of Ethiopians (those born in Ethiopia) does not seem to be “melting” well despite many years of residence in America. They show marked indifference or even calculated detachment from the cultural processes of American society. They seem to do well in the economic sphere but beyond that they seem to be immersed in their old world culture and traditional practices.
Most Ethiopians have other Ethiopians as friends. They spend much of their leisure time with other Ethiopians and their networks consist of individuals in the Ethiopian community. The first generation Ethiopians takes great pride in its “Ethiopianness.” They get married to other Ethiopians. When they have weddings, almost all of the guests are Ethiopians. They prefer to eat Ethiopian food and observe traditional modes of personal behavior.
I know of very few Ethiopians who have Americans as their best friends. Few Ethiopians I know belong to American social groups or civic organizations. Few are active in charitable or other local organizations.
I also know few Ethiopians who avail themselves to the cultural experiences that are abundant in American society. Few venture to experience raw Americana. One is not likely to see many Ethiopians traveling the American backcountry, attend some good old foot stomping country music or soul-elevating gospel music. Not too many Ethiopians go to the rodeos to see modern cowboys ride a bull. Maybe this kind of stuff is too country!
But I don’t see many Ethiopians in cultural activities that are plentiful in the urban areas either. I know of few Ethiopians who make an effort to see American live theater or go to a classical music concert. I wager to say that few Ethiopians who live in the large metropolitan areas have ever gone to the museums or historical landmarks within a few miles of where they live. I dare say that few Ethiopians have ever bothered to read about American history.
While most Ethiopians do not seem to be attracted by the wholesome elements of American culture, they do not seem to be attracted by the negative elements either. Few Ethiopians are involved in criminal activities or drug abuse. There are few Ethiopians forced into seeking welfare. Few seem to be involved in morally corrupt practices.
In fact, most Ethiopians in America are relentless pursuers of the American dream. Most are hard workers. They strive to improve themselves educationally and economically. Most share the capitalistic frame of mind and are largely self sufficient.
Still from my vantage point, Ethiopians do not seem to be Americanizing very well. I have two theories about that. I think it has partly to do with psychological inability to fully accept the values and culture of American society. Many first generation Ethiopians tend to have traditional outlooks. They tend to believe that American society lacks self-restraint and self-discipline. American culture is too relativistic for them. They appreciate the physical and intellectual freedom in America but they reject its results. Many Ethiopian men have traditional (perhaps even antiquated) views and values on childbearing, role of women and family. They have a hard time accepting American values which accord women equal rights or make it difficult to discipline children by means of corporal punishment.
My other theory is best expressed in the saying “Once an Ethiopian, always and Ethiopian” or alternatively “You can take the boy/girl out of Ethiopia, but you can’t take Ethiopia out of the boy/girl.” Perhaps because Ethiopia did not experience the cultural devastation of colonialism, Ethiopians generally find it harder to accept other cultures or values. They have too much pride in their own history and culture. They view non-Ethiopians with benign indifference or paternalistic pity.
Often, they close their eyes and ears to things happening around them. But if they should open their eyes, ears and hearts, they will see the beauty that is in America, that is warts and all.
(This article was originally published in December 1992, but still applies today.)
22 thoughts on “Ethiopians in the American Melting Pot”
I believe it is not only Ethiopians but also most first generation immigrants have a hard time to “melt to American culture or way of life”. But, it is refreshing (once in a while) to read non political article.
It is really surprising paper. Specially the conclusion that ” But if they should open their eyes, ears and hearts, they will see the beauty that is in America” was with drawn from the premises that written in the above about colonialism. It indicates that if Ethiopia was colonized as other African countries such as Eritrean they could enable to see the beauty of America. This make the writer the only person in this century that appreciate colonialism.
The other thing is that the title and the body of the paper has no relation. What is mean by the melting pot?.what is the main purpose of the American melting pot in the immigrants?. In my opinion its main purpose is to get hard working immigrant as you witness for Ethiopian in the paper, therefore Ethiopians are fit for this.
Generally don’t be biased I think the writer is not an Ethiopian or he is pseudo Ethiopian who is working for other purpose.
Abiye,
Good observation and this scenario is likely to continue in the future. From the article it sounds you have integrated well with American culture because you inclined to use the pronoun they instead of we throughout your narration. My fear is that you are likely to be part of that cultural resistance to change. If my assertion does not hold true,I will only be happy to be wrong.
Hello Ethiopians. Please let us try to integrate with others while nurturing and celebrating our own cultural values.
it is interesting paper that the conclusion has no relation with the premises. The writer conclude that “Often, they close their eyes and ears to things happening around them. But if they should open their eyes, ears and hearts, they will see the beauty that is in America.” from the colonialism premises. Which indicates if Ethiopia was colonized as other African countries such as Eritrea, they could enable to see the beauty of America. Which make the writer the only person that advocate for colonialism in this century.
The other thing is that the writer could not understand the meaning of the melting pot. The American melting pot for immigrant has one and one purpose that is to get hard working immigrant as he gave the witness about Ethiopian. Thus in this regard Ethiopians are fit for America. However, if the writer needs to get an Ethiopian that forget their country it has another mission.
If he thought in this way the writer needs to divert the Ethiopians’ love for their country and to get a citizen that is careless for his country which may have a long term effect for his hidden agenda.
Thus I will be forced to conclude that the writer is not Ethiopian but can be pseudo Ethiopian with hidden long term agenda.
I do not know about you guys in USA, but here in Canada we have moved on, long time ago. Camping, hiking, rodeo, country music? hehehehe, snow boarding, crosscountry ski…
I think the author has made a good assessment of Ethiopians in America. However, this is just a personal opinion or off the cuff statement. To start with the notion of the “melting pot” for that matter assimilation are concepts that are simply out of service. America is not country music or something associated with it. Let me reiterate this statement. America and country culture (if there is something like this)are not anonymous. The practice, at least the accept standard, is multiculturalism if not transnationalim. It is really surprising even annoying to make such a gross statement, once Ethiopian always Ethiopian. Do we have statistical data for that? Visiting a museum or going to a football even would serve as a litmus taste that you put in my pocket to see if I am being Americanized. The reason why I came to America is to live with Americans and enjoy the fruits of liberty not to become something else. Yes, we work hard and that is the foundation of America.
What is the message and point of this article? I for one fail to see his point at all. Is the writer and the publisher of this website who indorse the article trying to tell us that the first generation of Ethiopians are guilty for staying true to their Ethiopian value and culture? Or is the writer demanding that since their own Ethiopian value and culture isn’t worth practising or retaining and passing it on to the next Ethiopian generation they should all abandon it and embrace the American culture that is if there is one to call American.
The writer failed to see that the American culture he was talking about isn’t American at all but a collection of culture from its early and resent immigrant that makes American culture a culture, such as our own Ethiopian culture the writer was trying to tell us to abandon.
I say before you demand the ‘melting’ away of our cultural value try to compare other resent immigrant communities with that of Ethiopians and see if you find anything different. In most cases you will find them to be very much closed within their own community and culture more so than Ethiopians.
See the Chinese or Indians and other community were ever they go will always remain true to their roots because they unlike the writer of this article will know that they have a superior culture and value to hold on to and contribute to the new society they live in.
Somebody has to get blamed for this lack of being integrated of Ethiopians in to any society in any foreign country. The narrator explained two reasons for the cause; “psychological inability to fully accept the values and culture of other societies and the proud of not being colonized”. I would like to merge the two causes in to one, that is, an Ethiopian doctrinaire that teaches these people for centuries to be loyal to churches that looked backward and brainwashed them to view colonized countries as a weak societies and those colonizers as evil ones.
Ethiopians in America or in any other part of the world take their children to the same church they have been attending back home. The priests are remnants of the same old generation that had preached the spirit of false pride, history of backward thinking, and hate one anther of the same people. These people never had a chance to learn how to learn from others people culture and values. They have been rigid for centauries and their mind is inflexible to anything outside of their inner circles. All the problem lies on the Ethiopian Orthodox church that followed these people in every part of the corner and spreads its evil of ignorance and the spirit of hate to one another.
Yes, Ethiopians in America looked unique in the eyes of Americans for not being friendly, lack of self-confidence and when approached they start talking about their false pride. Do you know most African Americans do not prefer Ethiopians as a friend? They approach girls for temporary relationship. According to my view, black African American males are not interested to engage in permanent relationship With Ethiopians. They don’t prefer because of Ethiopians view of others.
Very good observation. I think knowing how people from minority groups who are Americans in this country, the prejudice and injustice here in the U.S or around the West, we Ethiopians do not want to be part of it, that is why. Since we live here however, we have to make the best effort to integrate within the society for us, for others such as the minority without inheriting the ugly part of America. Remember, lots of immigrants are here or in other Western countries because of persecution from our country. Imagine if our country is developed as the Western nations, we would not be here. Guess what, in most cases, our country’s leaders persecuting us are supported by the West. So, directly or indirectly we are here in this country because of their involvement to make life hard for us to live in our country. Nevertheless, America is blessed unlike other nations fro becoming a safe harbor for refugees.
love and peace for my Ethiopians
While the writer may or my not have meant to express negative intentions, in my opinion, his writing expresses a shallow understanding of what he wrote about. He notes that Ethiopians “do not seem to be attracted by the negative elements,” “few Ethiopians are involved in criminal activities,” there are “few Ethiopians forced into seeking welfare,” few Ethiopians “seem to be involved in morally corrupt practices,” “most Ethiopians are hard workers,” Ethiopians “strive to improve themselves educationally and economically,” most Ethiopians “share the capitalistic frame of mind and are largely self sufficient,” and then asserts that “Ethiopians do not seem to be Americanizing very well.” When you put these phrases side by side and contemplate on what factual basis the writer made these statements, you would see that something is missing in his equation. Such conflicting statements may be made by one group of people who create in their faculty three layers for their understanding of a given situation. The first layer is what they create as a superior one, the second layer is their understanding, which they think is better than those of the third layer but not as good as the first layer. They don’t see the layers as standing in their own right side by side. Such a frame of mind is dangerous to itself and then both sides of the layers they have created in their mind.
It is a very good and well written article. I know mostly holds true for Ethiopians in Europe as well during my stay there. In Africa as well, Ethiopians remain in closed groups compared to other nationalities that have easier mingling with the natives.
But recently I have not only seen the shift here in US, but also the same Americanization is going back home. From the clothing to the food/drinks, artifacts are travelling easily changing the teens and youth largely. It is sweeping our youth very fast.
Additionally, people travelling to-and-fro have brought in this impression largely as well. Besides the second generation Ethiopian American kids growing up now have gave it a complete different twist. The kids are brought up by the American culture and they exhibit the same.
I am sure as the years go by, we will see an even more integration through the generation like the Vietnamese and Cubans.
I don’t really understand the message of the writer and the central theme of such a piece of writting. Are you saying that melting into the American way of life and culture is good for Ethiopians and hence you are attempting to blame them for not fully integerated into it? Can’t we remain Ethiopian wherever we go taking good traits of a certain culture and discarding some trash cultural components as you have slightly touched it? I would have been very glad had you argued in favor of bicultural adaptation rather than complete assimilation. I know there are whole lots of good things that we have to learn here but there are also numerous unecessary stuff which we should avoid. Most importantly, however, we have to remain Ethiopians!!! You know what I mean?
DOYO wrote:
“All the problem lies on the Ethiopian Orthodox church that followed these people in every part of the corner and spreads its evil of ignorance and the spirit of hate to one another” ewentem doyo!! that is foolish statement. What made you to write this statement, it show how arrogant and begot you are. by the way i am not orthodox, but I have great respect for keeping my country as it is now.
Whom are we being compared to? We, Ethiopians, haven’t been here, in the U.S.A, for 200 years or so. For the first time in my life, I heard about social dynamics and melting pot things from the Americans, themselves. Sorry! I still don’t understand which path the stated pot is traveling. Is it from the state of sublimation to melting point followed by liquefaction and all the way to solidification , or vise versa? I hope the vise versa was not the path it is supposed to take as it might be undesirable end point that no one needs to experience. What do you think?
I agree with this article for the most part. I think part of the reason is b/c we have never been colonized. Unlike other immigrants, the European culture (the dominant culture in this country) is very new to us. It is just my theory. I am not a social science expert; the other thing I noticed is the younger a person is when he or she comes to this country the easier it is to be “Americanized”. Being Americanized is not necessarily a good or a bad thing, but when we live in Roma, we act like Romans, so it wouldn’t hurt to learn and practice the good of this culture. Well, sometimes, change is gradual.
But, that is changing. Many Ethiopians are now resinged to the fact that there is no place like America. And that, inspite of Ethiopian pride, they are seeing the country for what it is. No amount of good wish/will change the way the country is. So, the melting is happening faster….
Dejazmatch:
Well, actually the writer wrote his opinion in a way most accurately regarding the Ethiopians society in America. The first generations of Ethiopians arrived with little information about their host country, some surprises and shocking. They want to keep away from problem and situation. For most, it is almost difficult to make a good and trusted friend that will satisfy their heart to count and depend on it.
Not, all society mix and having melt with the western culture, we still could see different people to their own turf and place of worships. There is no a true melting pot, you still see green, red, and all sort of colors in the pot.
Ethiopians did very well, regarding with language and able to function on their own. Personally, I never trust any one for friendship and lived here more than thirty years.
I respectfully disagree with the analysis or conclusions of this article. First of all, in terms of race, culture, and other partitions, America is not a melting pot. Of course, by law segregation is abolished, but Americans still segregated in their own way (voluntary segregation).
When we came here some twenty or thirty years ago whites, blacks, Orientals, Arabs, Jews, Mexicans, Indians, and other groups already built fences to keep them apart from each other. I want to ask Abiye Solomon, the author of this article— what other choices were available for Ethiopians other then building their own community? Do you think Ethiopians were welcomed by whites, by African Americans, or by other groups if we were trying to blend our selves with them? Why you condemn Ethiopian for not adopting vales, norms, and believe of other society in just few years? Don’t you know that there is a complex and multidimensional process to adopt a new culture?
The evil though of the writer is on the second paragraph from the bottom— “Perhaps because Ethiopia did not experience the cultural devastation of colonialism, Ethiopians generally find it harder to accept other cultures or values. They have too much pride in their own history and culture. They view non-Ethiopians with benign indifference or paternalistic pity.” This kind of description is not friendly. We Ethiopians may pride of our culture and history as much as other people pride of their own. We pride of our culture and history because it is part of our identity. But our pride is not to reject or degrade the culture and history of other people. Adopting other culture is hard for us because the process of adopting a new culture take many paths and in varying degrees. First we have to understand the culture of other people, and then we have to practice step by step while we keep our culture. This takes time.
In general—this article in not based on knowledge nor evidence.
Let us stick to our cultures in Ethiopia. Our cultures are our protection and our respect. In industrial countries including US, there no more traditional cultures which can keep the peoples together. The modern created unknown cultures of wests are making the world respectless and crazy. Even it is making the westerners themselves crazy and mad. We want only technic and technology from the wests, but not the madness culture.
Why is melting important any way. Black americans have been here for 350 years and melting[which means a polite way of losing your language, culture, values ,identity, and adopting the britsh culture] does not help a lot in terms of their situation.
The writer seems to be convinced that “Melting” is a must to do to succed in america. Look at the Jews, the russians, even others: They keep what is their own and learn all the best from what america has given them.
I appreciate the writer for pondering about the fate of our people in this foreign land though.
Abiye – You seem to have plenty of time in your hand. I am not sure the point you are trying to make with this article. Please don’t waste your valuable time ‘researching’ or ‘writing’ these types useless articles. Instead your time will be worth spend if you help our youth who really need role models and guidance. Happy New Year!
The part about having paternalistic pity is right on. I see that in all of my relatives including the younger generation.