Prof. Ted Vestal is releasing a new book titled The Lion of Judah in the New World: Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia and the Shaping of Americans’ Attitudes toward Africa
The book relates how Emperor Haile Selassie helped shape America’s image of Africa and how that image continues to evolve in the United States today.
Haile Selassie was the first African head of state to be honored with a tickertape parade in New York City and the first African head of state to spend the night at the White House. What was it about this charismatic leader that so captivated Americans? How did he become a symbol of all Africa?
The book tells the story of a dynamic ruler who influenced the perception of an entire continent. Documenting the Emperor’s state visits to North America, the book explores U.S. foreign policy towards Ethiopia and Africa over two decades. At the same time, it seeks to understand why Haile Selassie enjoyed such celebrity in the United States and how he became so important in determining U.S. attitudes toward Africa.
The book includes a brief biography of the Emperor and also explores the geography and long, colorful history of Ethiopia. The tensions and contradictions that marked Haile Selassie’s life are highlighted in significant episodes that underscore his astute use of public relations and personal diplomacy. His leadership of postcolonial Africa during the Cold War is examined, as is his ultimate rejection by the United States in 1973 that marked the end of the monarchy and ushered in the tragic fratricide of Ethiopian civil war.
Highlights
• Analyzes how Emperor Haile Selassie shaped Americans’ perceptions of and attitudes toward Africa and its people, shedding light on U.S. relations with African nations today
• Covers two decades of U.S. policy towards Ethiopia and Africa as reflected in the six state visits of Emperor Haile Selassie to the United States
• Delves into the personality of Haile Selassie, one of the 20th century’s most charismatic figures, and explains why he enjoyed such celebrity
• Explores the fascinating history of Ethiopia, one of the world’s oldest civilizations
To order the book, call 800 368 6868
ISBN: 0-313-38620-X
ISBN-13: 978-0-313-38620-6
Price $44.95; £31.95