Ethiopian Americans: History, Culture, and Experiences

Explore the history, culture, and lived experiences of Ethiopian Americans in the USA.
Ethiopia, in East Africa, is the second most populated country in Africa, home to over 125 million inhabitants. For centuries, many Ethiopians had little exposure to the outside world, and even less to Americans. However, that started to change in the 1970s. In 1974, a military-backed government deposed Emperor Haile Selassie I, and many Ethiopians emigrated to the West. Today, large populations of Ethiopian Americans live in cities such as Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Minneapolis. This book offers an accessible and detailed glimpse into their everyday lives. It includes an overview of Ethiopian art, media, and cuisine, biographies of accomplished Ethiopian Americans, and a revealing look into the ongoing struggle for equality and representation that many Ethiopian Americans experience.

W. Gabriel Selassie I is assistant professor of Africana studies at California State University, Northridge, USA.