I met a man yesterday who is just like me, except he is better than me because he refuses to wear his injuries on his sleeves or inveigh against the universe for the inequities of this world. I met a man yesterday who is African-American, except this man is in a lot of ways more Ethiopian than me. I met a man who cares about Ethiopia deeply, in his veins courses the blood of our beloved country—seeping and dripping arengwade, becha, ken (green, yellow, red) in between each heart beat. I talk endlessly about how I break my back for my community, yet this man endlessly snaps and cracks his back as his shoulders and neck flail and sway to the magical beats and melodies that is the sound of Ethiopia. So let me take the light off my frustrations for a minute and introduce you to a Juneteenth Diplomat who carries in his menfes (spirit) the truest essence friendship and fiker (love) for Ethiopia… [read more]