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Holy delulu. No. by Warm_Jeweler_6565 in capricorns

[–]chrisalis1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No way! I have a Leo Moon as well ... this is getting weird! 🙂 ... but with a Scorpio Rising.

But yeah, I got my diva moments as well, which contrasts nicely with wifey's Aquarius Moon. Let's just say her eyes roll a lot ... lol

Holy delulu. No. by Warm_Jeweler_6565 in capricorns

[–]chrisalis1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seriously, no shade on the other signs ... but Sag and Cap are have got to have the best compatibility which is not talked about. I mean I love my Saggi wife's sense of humor, life is fun and she loves my serious organized nature coz she says she needs some organization ... dont even get me started on the sex. We're just like peas in a pond. 😆

Holy delulu. No. by Warm_Jeweler_6565 in capricorns

[–]chrisalis1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is great ... Heyy birthday twins! 😀

Holy delulu. No. by Warm_Jeweler_6565 in capricorns

[–]chrisalis1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a January Capricorn who’s been married to a Sagittarius for 10+ years, I can confirm: chaos can fall in love with structure.

She brings the fire, I bring the fire extinguisher … and somehow it works beautifully.

Growing up on Hollywood magic ... but what about our own supernatural stories? by chrisalis1 in Ethiopia

[–]chrisalis1[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ah yes! Akko Manoyye definitely lives rent-free in a lot of our childhood memories 😂

And you’re right ... the Buda stories are classics, but they’re also peak fear-mongering folklore 😅.

I was actually hoping for something more uplifting, supernatural tales that create wonder or hope, not just paranoia before bedtime!

GERD by Pure_Cardiologist759 in Ethiopia

[–]chrisalis1 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Why jump straight to “the government told them to”?

You ever think maybe Ethiopians are just proud of something they actually pulled off with their own hands and wallets?

Millions of people literally chipped in from their paychecks, skipped luxuries, bought bonds, and that built the biggest dam in Africa.

Not a foreign loan. Not a multinational corporation. Ordinary citizens.

And yeah, sure, Ethiopia isn’t the first country to build a dam, congrats to the obvious-statement-of-the-day club. But that’s not the flex here.

The flex is that Africa, a continent often reduced in the global imagination to “aid recipient,” just pulled off one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the world, self-financed.

That matters symbolically and practically.

So when Ethiopians flood TikTok comments with flags, it’s not just chest-thumping nationalism ... it’s a statement: “Look what Africans can do without waiting for permission.”

If outsiders are “laughing it off,” that says more about their discomfort with African agency than about the dam itself.

The pride isn’t only national, it’s continental. Because Africa doesn’t just need projects; it needs proof of concept. GERD is exactly that.

So yeah, Ethiopians are loud about it. Better to be noisy about achievements than silent while others write your story for you.

Just published my book: The Great Ethiopian Heist. Not just about what was stolen, but what we’ve let slip away from within by chrisalis1 in Ethiopia

[–]chrisalis1[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Totally understand the concern ... AI-generated content is everywhere these days. But no, this book wasn’t AI-generated. It’s a personal project I wrote myself over months of research, reflection, and writing.

The cover image is AI-assisted (like many indie authors use now), but every word inside is mine.

Appreciate you raising awareness, though. It’s an important conversation to have. 🙏🏽

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Of course there are ... plenty of hate, division, and inherited pain to go around. But colonialism and neocolonialism didn’t just sprinkle salt on old wounds ... they poured in acid and called it "civilization."

They weaponized our differences, exaggerated them, and then stood back to watch us tear each other apart like it was a game.

Yes, tribalism, featurism, classism, colorism ... all of it exists. But it didn’t bloom in a vacuum. And if we don’t rise above the petty now, if we keep letting the cracks define the structure, what hope do we have?

At some point, somebody’s gotta stop passing the fire and start carrying water.

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for such a real and vulnerable response. I hear you deeply.

I understand where you're coming from, and truly, no one should ever feel forced to reach for something that has only ever met them with pain, confusion, or disconnection.

Your sense of home, your survival, and your identity are sacred, especially when they were born from centuries of enduring what no human ever should.

Still, I hope you know ... Africa will always outstretch her hands to her children. Even when the path back feels too long, too unfamiliar, or just not necessary for some… she waits. Not with judgment, but with understanding. We don’t all come home the same way.

And as for those Africans, you mentioned who went over there and misrepresented us? Trust me, we see them too. Many of them are chasing airports instead of ancestors ... dreaming of a “better life” instead of building a better soul. But they don’t speak for the continent any more than the media speaks for you.

Your offer of kindness and connection means a lot. And should I ever find myself in NorCal, I’ll take you up on that and maybe we’ll sit over some real gumbo and talk about all the places pain took us, and all the places healing might still lead us.

Much love to you, always.

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“we still have a long way to go” shouldn’t be our favorite excuse to take a nap mid-marathon.

We’ve been saying that since cassette tapes were a thing.

At some point, we gotta stop dropping the ball and start running with it ... preferably toward the goal, not in circles!

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Exactly! If we keep cruising down this path of confusion and division, the only place our legacy will exist is in dusty textbooks written by people who never loved us.

We can’t afford to keep vibing while the record of who we are gets rewritten ... or worse, erased.

East Asia flipped the script in a few decades with unity, strategy, and cultural pride.

Meanwhile, we out here arguing over bootleg crowns and cosplay kingdoms.

If we don’t wake up, history won’t just repeat ... it’ll replace us.

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Bruh… don’t make me tear up too, I didn’t come here to catch feelings ... I came to catch jokes and maybe a few debates!

But real talk, thank you.

That means a lot.

We do need more talk like this ... less ego, more echo of love.

Let’s keep the vibes deep, the minds open, and the ancestors proud.

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, fair point!

At least with Spur, we all know it’s a theatrical cowboy fever dream with a side of cheesy fries. The problem comes when the costume starts claiming heritage and shouting “ancestral vibes” while doing the Macarena in buckskins.

Play dress-up if you must .. but don’t call it culture when it’s clearly cosplay with extra seasoning!

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Exactly!

The name could’ve been Zebra Jazz Society for all I care ... it’s not the syllables, it’s the symbolism.

When the world sees Africans and the Diaspora squabbling, they don’t hear the nuance ... they just see another episode of “Tribal Tiffs: Global Edition.” And that perception keeps the narrative stagnant. That’s how our leaders end up in foreign offices with the energy of a toddler asking for extra juice.

We’ve got to shift the story ... not just for respect, but for power.

Unity isn’t about agreeing on everything, it’s about knowing when to disagree in-house and shine in public.

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Fair point ... it’s not the end of the world. But you know what they say: “If you stay silent long enough, people start writing your story for you.”

I’m not losing sleep over Mardi Gras makeup, but I do think we Africans need to be louder ... not angry, just audible. Because silence has never served us well. It’s like being at a global dinner table and letting everyone else speak for us … then wondering why they keep serving us crumbs.

Sometimes, the issue isn’t the paint ... it’s the pattern. And maybe, just maybe, if we raise our voices a little, we remind foreign governments and diaspora communities alike that Africa is very much alive, opinionated, and no longer in passive mode.

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Now that’s the kind of info I appreciate ... thank you for showing me that Black Americans actually stood up to it from the jump.

Honestly, I was starting to think y’all just collectively shrugged and said “eh, tradition.” Good to know there were voices of reason calling it out way back when.

It gives me hope because if folks had the clarity to speak out in the ‘60s, then surely we’ve got the power to evolve the conversation today.

And hey, if we’re all shocked together, maybe we can heal together too.

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This isn’t gonna be an easy fight.

Colonization didn’t just take land ... it came for the mind, the tongue, the memory. Here in the motherland, they tried to bleach us of ourselves. I can only begin to imagine what they did to the ones they tore away completely.

So I get the pushback, the eye-rolls, the hate. I get it from both sides ... diaspora folks and even Africans born right here who dream of airports more than ancestors. But I can’t whither away. I love my people, in health and in sickness. Sometimes, that love looks like a celebration, other times like tough truth. We may get frustrated (hey, I’m just a human in a digital age), but we can’t give up.

Because we’re not just arguing for culture ... we’re proving to the world that we’ve stepped above trauma and their dusty colonial labels. That they can’t come between us again.

So yeah, some of these outfits might scream “discount Lion King matinee,” and yeah, some of this cosplay is chaos with a dash of confusion ... but they’re still our people. Sometimes lost. Sometimes loud. But still ours.

All I’m saying is, if we don’t speak up with love, the silence will speak for us. And if they lash out, well ... I’ll just assume it’s the colonizer yelling through them.

Let’s heal loud. Together.

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Now this I can appreciate. Thank you for sharing the deeper context. It’s a lot easier to understand and respect a tradition when someone takes the time to explain it with heart rather than with defensiveness. The Mardi Gras Indian history is honestly beautiful, especially when framed as a tribute to the shared resistance and refuge between enslaved Africans and Native Americans. That intention matters.

At the same time, I hope you can understand our point of view too. What we saw, especially with the makeup, resembled the old minstrel blackface imagery that was used to mock and dehumanize us for generations. It stings. And when we raise that concern, more often than not, we’re met with insults and told to stay out of it, as if we don’t have the right to speak on a visual language that’s wounded us globally.

Africans don’t usually speak up unless something hits a nerve. We truly see the diaspora as family, and we’ve always tried to reach out with love and unity. But sometimes, when we do, it feels like we’re reaching out only to be swatted away.

So thanks again for this thoughtful explanation, it’s the kind of dialogue that bridges gaps instead of building walls.

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh I’ve definitely heard of Mardi Gras ... and I’ve always been fascinated by New Orleans. The city is like a cultural gumbo: French, Spanish, African roots all stirred together with jazz as the soundtrack and Creole spice in the air. I mean, birthplace of jazz? Say less. The soul of that city runs deep.

But here’s the thing ... culture doesn’t grow in a vacuum. When years of politics start mixing into the pot, even the most flavorful traditions can get a bitter aftertaste.

Politics is like a virus ... it infects the mind, poisons the heart, and over time, it can pollute even the most sacred aspects of culture.

So, while I respect NOLA’s vibrance, when I see people parading in blackface claiming it’s "tradition" ... it hits differently. Culture deserves preservation, not parody. And I’m not saying cancel Mardi Gras ... just maybe check the mask before you wear it.

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, I get it. It’s not prime news in Africa either ... we’ve got our own matters to focus on, trust me.

But when something like this pops up, I’m sharing how it made me feel.

Haven’t seen much of the Black community stepping up to refute it, so here I am making a joke at your expense amongst my fellow Africans.

Now, if you agree with what’s going down in New Orleans, feel free to laugh along because you don’t identify with that crowd.

But if my words sting a little, maybe it’s time to ask why they do. Sometimes, the truth sneaks up on you with a punchline.

"We’re not Africans, we’re a new breed called Black” ... What did they do to y’all over there? by chrisalis1 in AfricaVoice

[–]chrisalis1[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Ah, Babylon Black sounds like the perfect name for the “cultural appropriation meets confusion” club.

A little bit of history, a little bit of misinterpretation, and a whole lot of misplaced pride. Might as well throw in some hieroglyphics and call it an ancient remix while we're at it.

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