Abesha.Com

In Your Area: Shandon

Name: Shandon D M Kifle
Otherwise known on the abesha.com boards as: Half_Ethiogal, cyber world: Afro_Ethio, Tha BlackestOpian, in the streets: SK, Ice Queen, Ms. Kifle

My middle name is Mercha which means "choice" in Amharic. The implications behind the name are pretty deep.

Occupation: Graduate Student studying Anthropology, part-time background actor (I'm from Cali, what'd you expect), part-time moocher (off the fam). A blessed child indeed

Location: Californication, a place where Latinos rule, oye' le' wey Vato!

Finish the Sentence if i were a planet... I would have been Pluto (dark, beautiful, strange, and ice cold). Since Pluto is no longer a planet (thanks a lot NASA!) I'll stick with good ole' earth. Earth is the only planet, in our solar system, that is so delicately balanced that it can sustain life and has sustained life for millions of years. That's pretty darn amazing!! Even when us humans kill ourselves off, Earth will rejuvenate, balance out, and sustain life again. Crazy cool! It would be interesting to see what future life forms will appear after us Homo Sapiens.

Where are you from? Born and raised in California. Mother originally from Virginia, father from Ethiopia.

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What does your identity mean to you? My identity means pride, syncretism, unity, tolerance, transnationalism, lol

What/Who inspires you? Definitely my mother and all of the successful women in my family, past and present. These women definitely set the bar for me, I have big shoes to fill.
Women who are NOT complacent with inequalities but who fight for what they need and want. Women who stand up in the face of adversity, women who make something out of nothing, women who let people have it if need be.

Where will you be in 10 years? Hopefully working back in forth overseas helping people in some capacity, married, maybe having my first child and publishing a book on South Asian/East African connections. Also helping to rid the field of Anthropology of racist bigots who still permeate the field today and following the footsteps of Zora Neal Hurston, Jonetta B. Cole, and Shelia Walker, giving a black female perspective to the field of Anthropology. Hey now!!

Which disease do you think is most interesting? Why? HIV/AIDS. A disease that disproportionately affects people of color, all over the world, raises a red flag to me.

What is your favorite memory of all time? Besides receiving my B.A. from Spelman, I would have to say living, volunteering and studying in Asia. This experience definitely changed my perception of life. The veil of ignorance was lifted and I learned so much about the world and about myself. A priceless experience.

Which tree most closely resembles your personality? Palm tree. The tree is found in warm areas number one (I can't stand the cold). The palm tree sways and bends with the wind, this would describe my flexible, open-minded personality. The tree looks very weak on the outside but is indeed very strong and can withstand Hurricanes, Tsunamis, etc. Just like me, I may look a certain way on the outside but I am a fighter. I do not back down in the face of adversity and I do not give up! After a hurricane or tsunami huge buildings are often left dilapidated but palm trees are still standing. After everyone has given up, after all things fall apart, there I am.

What is your daily routine? Eat, shit, shower, sleep. LOL. My routine changes from day to day. Matter of fact I hate routine, I'm a sporadic person, I go with however I feel.

Are you a day or a night person? Depends on the season, depends on my mood.

If you had access to unlimited resources (people, money, etc.) what would you do? First make the 4 percent of people who have 80% of the world's wealth disperse their money. Make sure everyone has more than adequate amounts of food, clean water, and shelter. Eradicate the notion of first world, second world, and third world. End patriarchy. Castrate all sexual predators. Have societies that are built upon sharing resources and reciprocity. Free access to education and healthcare. Any kind of caste or class system would be eradicated with the exception of doctors and teachers who would be most revered. Sounds good eh?

Which quote sums it all up: "The only constant is change" Buddha. Often times we get tunnel vision but if you can remember that any situation good or bad does not last forever you should be okay in this world.

Boxers or briefs: Boxers!!!! The only person who can pull off briefs is someone of the likes of Tyson Beckford. Warning: Please take an honest look in the mirror. If you are a little overweight or underweight immediately throw your briefs away and hightail yourself to the nearest Wal-Mart. If you are overweight briefs look like diapers, underweight, they sag and make you look that much skinnier. Nosatol anyone?!
Please spare us ladies who have to hold in our laughter as you prance around in your tight-e-white-ees, buy boxers or boxerbriefs. Don't forget that women are visual creatures too. Muchas Gracias!

Rent or go to the Movies: If you have a snuggle buddy, rent. If not, movies

Favorite Book: The Teaching of Buddha by Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai. (Offers another perspective of life and how to deal with life's situations), Courage by Osho, an East Indian philosopher( this guy tells it like it is and his books always give me motivation), the bible (I don't agree with everything in it but there is good information on morals, values, and how to be a better person). All three of these books changed my life and had some shaping on how I see the world.

Favorite Movie: The Last Dragon hands down. A black kung-fu flick, man how could you resist?! Afro-Asian syncretism at its finest. I've watched this movie much too many times. Favorite quotes from the movie: "Kiss my converse", "Suki yoki hot sat soot, ya sock it to me, I sock it to you", "Bow down to your master", "I am noooo longer your master", "I'd looove to peel this banana". Bruce Leroy, I'll love you forever!!!

Honorable mentions: House party 1 and School Daze

Movies I'm falling in love with: John Water's films starring the infamous drag queen Divine. The craziest movies ever.

Favorite Artist/Music: I'm very fickle but there is one man who has stood the test of time: Prince
fav Music: R&B, Soul, Soca, Reggae, Highlife, Bhangra, Dance, Pop, Amharic, Alternative, Merenege, Salsa, Arabic, Southern Rap, Tibetan Chants...Gosh, damn near all music

In closing, you would like to add: I would like to give a shout out to all the Ethio/Eri Hybrids out there. Wassaaaap! Also like to give a shout to the interesting abesha.commers I've met over the years. Shout out to all my Africans, East and West. A big "woot woot" to my Afri-Americans who paved the way for other "minorities" to make it in this country (America). Shouts out to my black East Indians (Dravidians, Siddis, Habshis). Shouts to any Spelman/ Morehouse folks. Shout out to people who are non-conformists and who live outside the box. Shout out to my mama for having me, shout out to my cat "Feisty" for keeping my feet warm at night and for her fishy breath that wakes me in the morning. Shout out to my ancestors and my ancestor's ancestors. Shout out to the Homo Habilis and the Homo Erectus for evolving into Homo Sapiens. LOL! Ok, I'm out!! Remember it's all about love and unity my African people. Smooches!