Ethiopian Royalty Visits Chicago
The same cannot be said of Chicago’s black press and many
prominent African American civic and religious leaders who
failed to accept our invitation to attend. It is clear that the
lack of coverage and ambivalence, even disinterest, revealed
how black leadership in Chicago is disconnected from the
pulse of the community, not just in Chicago, but also across
America and the world.
Case in point: When HIM visited Chicago in 1954, HIM
visited eight black churches and received enormous support
from leaders in the community and its media. In promoting
Prince Ermias’ visit to present day leaders of the black clergy,
Queen of Sheba sent out 75 invitations to these leaders. Only
a couple bothered to reply.
Despite Queen of Sheba’s public relations arm having purchased a $500 quarter page newspaper ad to promote the
event as well as $800 in radio advertising, radio and print,
Black media in Chicago apparently believed the event was
not newsworthy. Wolette Selassie, President of the Queen
of Sheba Chicago office, said she “was told by the new
publisher of a historic black newspaper in Chicago that ‘no
one is interested in this history but you’.” Had we not been
able to purchase a small amount of paid advertising, there
would have been nothing mentioned in black newspapers
in Chicago, despite the fact that the founder of one of these
papers, Robert Abbott, had a relationship with two Kings of
the Solomonic Dynasty since 1908 (Menelik II and Selassie I).
Ultimately, the black press in Chicago never requested an
interview nor published any articles about Prince Ermias’
historic visit and it became clear that, in so doing, the black
press was out of touch with the interests of the very community it claims to serve. And, as if throwing salt on the wound
of disbelief, the Dusable Museum, where His Highness spoke,
never posted an announcement on its website to promote
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Magazine / September 2012
the event in their auditorium -- this speaks volumes about
the disconnect between black leadership (its institutions,
etc.), and the community they claim to serve.
Mission of the Queen of Sheba in These Times
Queen of Sheba & Pharaohs Historical Research Foundation,
Inc. (“Queen of Sheba”) is a nonprofit, non-political, tax-exempt organization founded in Sacramento California in 1989
by the late Dr. Robert B. Kennon, PhD, a Sacramento City College political science instructor, international businessman,
and personal advisor to King Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia. The
mission of the Queen of Sheba Historical Research Foundation, Inc. is to inform the public about the impact that ancient
KUSH had on world civilization and to promote knowledge,
which will inspire a higher cultural identity for Africans, in
particular, and a greater appreciation and understanding of
our history by the citizens of the world, in general.
Sinklebible Health
A holistic approach to wellness
Hosted by: Dr. Jah B
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Saturdays at 2:30am ET
&
•
Bobo and Orthodox priest with participant
(L-R) Sister Wolette Selassie , Sister
I-Chelle and QoS representative.
on
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Tuesdays at 10:00am ET
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(L-R) Ras Sekou from Frontline
distribution and Dr B.
Magazine / September 2012
winter solstice 2014/15
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