Ras Nathaniel - 50Th Anniversary of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I: First Visit to the United States (1954-2004)

Copyright 2004 Ras Nathaniel,

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CONTENTS

Issembly For Rastafari Iniversal Education (IRIE)

At Shashemane Creations, Chicago, IL

111 th Earthyear of HIM Haile Selassie

.

The Issembly For Rastafari Iniversal Education (IRIE)

This book is the result of research conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from January through September, 2003. The research was made possible by a Repatriation Fellowship provided by the African Caribbean Self-Help Foundation and its subsidiary the Rastafari Goahe Muuzyka Academy, in Addis Ababa. IRIE extends its wholehearted thanks to its Director, Ras Xylon, and to the family and friends of the African Caribbean Self Help Foundation.

All the pictures contained in this book, unless otherwise noted, are from a collection at the Institute of Ethiopian Studies. A special thanks goes to Ato Demeke Berhane, Director of Archives, who collected the material, and Ebrahim Kassa, who digitized all the beautiful photos.

May 25 to July 12, 2004, marks the 50-year Jubilee Anniversary of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I first visit to the United States in 1954. The 1954 visit marked the 50-year jubilee anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship between Ethiopia and the United States, making this the 100-year centennial anniversary of US-Ethiopian relations.

The Issembly For Rastafari Iniversal Education (IRIE) has taken the responsibility to prepare this book to commemorate this important event. The Ethiopian and American public is especially invited to enjoy the Jubilee Commemoration of this seminal event in American, Ethiopian and world history.

Most Respectfully

Ras Nathaniel, IRIE Coordinator

The year 2004, is the 50 th Anniversary of the visit of His Imperial Majesty, Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I, to the United States. His Imperial Majestys visit was the first ever by an African Emperor and the high point of US-African relations.

The occasion of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I first visit (May 25 to July 12, 1954) was of great national interest to America, and is still of great historical interest today. Three days prior to His Majestys visit, the U.S. Supreme Court passed the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision. The United States had just concluded a hydrogen-bomb experiment off the Bikini Islands, heightening world fears about atomic and nuclear annihilation. Even the heavens portended the times: two astronomical signs of significance occurred during the visit of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. A Total Solar Eclipse, whereby the New Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth, visible from noon to late afternoon, occurred on June 30, beginning its path in the central part of the United States, passing through Newfoundland, Greenland, southern Scandinavia, western Russia, Persia and terminated in the Indian Ocean. In addition, a rare Mars Opposition appeared whereby the Sun, Mars, and Earth formed a straight line with Mars in its closest orbit near the earth (25 million miles). The blood red planet was easily visible between constellations of Sagittarius and Scorpio outshining all stars, including Sirius, the brightest star visible from Earth. With the sun darkened and the war planet shining brightly, the heavens announced the Cold War in the new Nuclear Age. In 1954, the United States added the phrase, One nation under God, to its pledge of allegiance.

All this was happening during the time of Jim Crow lynching and segregation in the United States and Colonialism and Apartheid in Africa. The visit of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I was of particular interest, therefore, to African Americans, who saw H.I.M. as the Father and Defender of Africa who had defeated the Fascist aggression against Ethiopia in 1936-1941; and who went on to establish the Organization of African Unity in His capital city of Addis Ababa. Millions of African Americans lined the streets of New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New Orleans to see the Emperor. His Imperial Majestys visit also dominated the American Press.

Thus, it was quite a spectacular event for the United States President, members of His Cabinet and Congress, and full officialdom including Governors, Mayors and University Presidents, to accord every honor to the visiting Emperor of Ethiopia. Most importantly, throughout his tour of America, Haile Selassie I stated repeatedly that the solution to world peace was through the path of collective security. Bob Marley would eventually make a song (War) about this doctrine on his album Exodus, which Time magazine named its Album of the Millennium.

Ethiopian Herald No.48 Vol.11 Saturday May 22, 1954 courtesy of \ES

Above: This picture was taken at an audience at the Imperial Palace when Dignitaries, Ministers and Notables came to pay their respects to Their Imperial Majesties and wish H.I.M. bon voyage.

Left: Ethiopian Herald Editorial about His Imperial Majestys American Visit. Ethiopian Herald No.47 Vol.11 Saturday May 14, 1954 courtesy of IES

H.I.M. HAILE SELASSIES VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES

Wednesday, May 19:

6:20 a.m. H.I.M. arrives at airport; military band plays Ethiopian National Anthem H.I.M. inspects a Guard of Honor of the Imperial Army [Note: prior to this H.I.M. made several government and military appointments presumably to safeguard Ethiopia during his absence]