Hail Selassie Research Paper

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“Father of Africanism” Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia

Haile Selassie I became emperor of Ethiopia in 1930. Throughout his reign Haile Selassie worked on various economic and social reforms for the progress of his country, and people. He issued the first written constitution of Ethiopia in 1931. During this period, Selassie undertook vast educational reforms throughout the whole of Ethiopia by building schools, giving incentives to children to go to school, and by sending Ethiopians abroad to study and learn in prestigious universities. Haile Selassie then worked to keep the various ethnic groups of the country together. Ethiopia had a wide cultural, religious and hereditary foundations; therefore, much of the country was separated …show more content…

In an effort to liberate Congo from Belgian rule, Emperor Haile Selassie sent over 3,000 troops, including those from his Imperial Guard, to fight for independence and freedom in 1960. On October 6, 1963, Emperor Haile Selassie addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations, awakening the conscious of World Leaders by his riveting speech that called for disarmament and prevention of a nuclear arms race and nuclear war. Emperor Haile Selassie preached the need for collective security and peace on an international level, and declared to World Leaders that Africa’s emergence as a free, victorious, and independent continent was inevitable. Emperor Haile Selassie spoke against the backwardness of racial prejudice and the contradictions of World leaders who advocated peace, yet subjugated nations of African peoples. Moreover, The king sent over 3,500 Ethiopian troops to Korea to fight against Communist rule, and expansion. In the Korean war, the Ethiopian forces sent by Emperor Haile Selassie fought in 253 battles, heroically fought alongside the US 7th Infantry Division. The Emperor’s decision to send Ethiopian troops to restore global order is a testament to his strong belief in, and dedication to collective security and world peace. As a means of promoting African Unity and brotherhood, Emperor Haile Selassie provided scholarships to students in various African countries to be educated at Haile Selassie I University, now known as Addis Ababa

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