Person of Year

Monday, January 18, 2021 is  Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Tributes to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.  are held in the Unites States nationwide. The day is usually marked by massive commemorations including march protests to remember and celebrate the national civil rights leader who was instrumental in challenging the racial caste system that delineated how millions of Americans lived their lives and promoted racial injustices targeting minorities, especially Blacks.  This  year is unique:  Rev Martin Luther King Jr.'s  the birthday falls in a period of major political changes, including transition to a new presidency, and racial tensions in the United States and in the middle of a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic.

Kamala Harris, the US Vice-President elect, is currently California Senator and served as former district attorney and California State Attorney General. She is the first Black woman to be on a U.S. presidential ticket, hence will be the first Black Woman to be US Vice-president.

 General Evariste Ndayishimiye is one of the freedom fighters who liberated Burundians from years of oppression. He is the current President of  Burundi.  Democratically elected on May 20, 2020, he was initially due to take office on August 20, 2020 at the end of his predecessor Pierre Nkurunziza' s  term. The sudden death of the latter on June 8, 2020 at the age of 55 after 15 years in power changed the situation. General Evariste Ndayishimiye, was sworn in on Thursday June 18, 2020, becoming the 10th President to rule the country, but only the second to be democratically elected. 

Monday January 20, 2020 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Tributes to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.  are held in the Unites States nationwide. The day is usually marked by  massive commemorations including march protests to remember and celebrate the national civil rights leader who was instrumental in challenging the racial caste system that delineated how millions of Americans lived their lives. 

Ava DuVernay is director, producer, and screenwriter. She is known as the first Black woman to win the Best Feature Directing award at Sundance in 2012, the first Black woman to get a Best Director Golden Globe nomination, the first woman of color to direct a Oscar-nominated best picture film, and the first woman to direct a film that grossed more than $100 million domestically.

Julius Malema is young. Despite his youth, he is one of the top peaceful freedom fighters in Africa. He has been the leader of those seeking and struggling for social justice and equality. He is at the forefront of rejecting any form of discrimination, racism, and prejudice in South Africa. He has dedicated his life to fighting corruption. For that, he has called for a new revolution in South Africa and in Africa in general

Abiy Ahmed Ali was AfroAmerica Network Man of Year 2018 (see here). He is now the  2019 Nobel Peace Prize Winner. Under his leadership, Ethiopia has been going through an unprecedented democratic transformation.  Lieutenant Colonel Abiy Ahmed Ali was selected, in April 2018, to lead Ethiopia by the ruling party, Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).

January 21, 2019 is Martin Luther King Jr Day. Tributes to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. will be held in the Unites States nationwide,. The day will be  marked by massive marches,  protests, and statements from various groups, politicians, activists, and individuals. As we celebrate, let us listen to the 1964 song by Sam Cooke:  A Change Is Gonna Come.

Africa has some of the most ruthless, repressive, and corrupt dictators in the World. The most notorious took power following an armed rebellion, claiming to fight against repressive regimes and promising democracy.

Who would have thought in their youth, during the armed struggle, and in their early years of power, that these so called "revolutionary" leaders  would turn into ones of the worst dictators in the World?

Stacey Abrams may be mostly known for her unsuccessful Democratic bid to become governor of Georgia in 2018. She was narrowly defeated, almost becoming the first black to be elected governor of Georgia, and the first black woman anywhere in the United States.

Ethiopia is going through an unprecedented democratic transformation and an unusual man is leading it. The man is Ethiopia's new prime minister Lieutenant Colonel Abiy Ahmed Ali who was selected, in April 2018, to lead by the ruling party, Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).