Who is Ras Tafari Makonnen?

Wake up. World at War today. This is a journey through History, my life in art and education.

Institutionalized racism continues because we have forgotten our history. War sells because the fear is real, so dread. History and news headlines affect people of all walks of life. History and news headlines can shape one’s view of society when a message is clear enough to see their own reflection in the mirror. These views on society can have lasting effects if the focus remains with the intention to learn from history. So why not learn yesterday’s history today in order to recognize racism today and tomorrow. You can always try again if today’s history lessons are forgotten tomorrow. Racism has survived several waves through time and history. In modern times this racism has been marketed to consumers as a mask that one can put on during a time of war or presidential elections. This mask is capable of cultural erasure, separation from time, name, family, heritage, land, religion, and history. Every time you put on this mask the same thing will be forgotten. Because you have forgotten your history and bought into this new wave of institutionalized racism. The anecdote for institutionalized racism can be found by saying and remembering one name from now on for the rest of history. And the rest is history. Repeat after me. RAS TAFARI MAKONNEN!
October 4, 1963, during the 18th session of the General Assembly League of Nations Geneva Convention. Emperor of Ethiopia Ras Tafari Makonnen gave a message the world should never forget. The message was an attempt to stop Italian Leader Benito Mussolini from committing genocide and crimes of war against the indigenous people of Ethiopia. Ras Tafari Makonnen was a name uttered during a class lecture when I was a student at Emerson
Elementary School in Riverside, California. The lecture was about World History, Government, Economics, Globalization, & World Trade. During this lecture my class learned about the events leading to World War II.
Throughout my studies and development of the man that I am today. The name Ras Tafari Makonnen is as important to me as it was since that class lesson in elementary school. Ras Tafari Makonnen born July 23, 1892. Served as Emperor of Ethiopia during the years 1930 to 1974. As Emperor of Ethiopia Ras Tafari Makonnen built and opened school’s while modernizing his growing country. The teachings and philosophies of Ras Tafari Makonnen are a direct reference to the Lion of Judah. The Lion of Judah is one of the 12 Tribes of Israel. Ras Tafari Makonnen taught Ethiopians, Africans and all Africans that were separated from the continent of Africa a way of living a life that transcends past mental slavery through emancipation with literacy and education.