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Imagine an average brother from Michigan then schooled then practicing engineering at General Electric then visiting Africa for the first time. Even leading up to the trip was exciting. Flew from Kansas City to New York then New York to Milan, Italy then to Cairo, Egypt. Remember taking my detachable speaker boom box with earphones. When the plane touched down and I deboarded plane the site was "out of the world". All the people, speaking Arabic mostly and some French. Remember carrying an Arabic Language Quick Learn pamphlet. A surprisingly high number of people could speak some limited amount of English. It was in year 1986 Took a cab from outside the airport to the fabulous Hile Hilton Hotel. The cab driver steadily blowing his horn, talking to me, crowds moving around was the order of the day. The cab driver asking me things like "Do you know Michael Jackson or Muhammad Ali". Some Asked me "are you friends with Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson". Of course, I said ...No but, was asking him all about Egypt and where to go and where to avoid. Upon arrival at the Nile Hilton and reaching the main desk service counter was so beyond belief that I could have cried but was way to happy to do that. Why the Nile Nilton was chosen was because Nile Hilton Hotel in Cairo is along the River Nile in Cairo, Egypt commanding panoramic views of the river. A 5 star Cairo hotel adjacent to the world-famous Egyptian Museum. More to follow...What do you say !
Posted By: jamal Abraham
Thursday, December 31st 2009 at 2:02PM
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Wa Alaikum Salaam
From my conversations, I got the impression that they felt they were not really African much less Black. It it as if they were more Egyptian then African. And when they say me they argued that I look Egyptian as if to claim me.
Thursday, December 31st 2009 at 3:03PM
jamal Abraham
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I studied with the Professors of AlAzhar that went on Hajj with AbdulMalik in Egypt. I was not told I was a color, Most of the tribes and clans of the continent named Africa, did not know that they were "black"-until the european introduced the pagan concept of color differences in the Family of Adaam. My wife is of East African origin, or the place where many say the Firaun came from and they also do not believe that skin colors can think or reason as paganEuropean thinkers do.
Anyway, I love Egypt, and have a home in Ma'eeda. I like many Egyptians and as Believers we consider the pharoahs---fodder for the fish.
Thursday, December 31st 2009 at 3:23PM
robert powell
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Very interesting Mr. Powell, will find Ma'eeda on the map and see how close I became. But, yes, Egypt looks great ! and did visit the University of AlAzhar, walking up and down stairs through hallways...of course, its a very old university. But, my interest in significant institutions of higher learning drew me there.
Thursday, December 31st 2009 at 3:31PM
jamal Abraham
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When do we leave again ...?:)
Passing the peace,
Thursday, December 31st 2009 at 4:25PM
agnes levine
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Peace to You, Evangelist Levine
Yes, no doubt you seem to be a people person....that you would love people energy of downtown Cairo. Even the outskirts are nice....the shops along each street you want to go in. And when you go in say a gift shop, the first thing is that they offer you some tea. Ask you to sit down or tell them what you want. Egyptian people are so very friendly. There were Egyptians that actually cried when I left. And I was pretty shaken up at what I would miss once the plane took back off.
Thursday, December 31st 2009 at 5:14PM
jamal Abraham
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"From my conversations, I got the impression that they felt they were not really African much less Black."
That's b/c they're not Black at all. Africa is a huge continent and just b/c someone says they're from there doesn't mean they share anything more than a chromosome with you. These people are more Saudi Arabian/Middle Eastern than Black.
Friday, January 1st 2010 at 3:57PM
Craig Amos
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Mr. Amos, Thanks for dropping by
Yes, that would back up reality in what I encountered. Certainly, their features appeared to be more Saudi Arabian/Middle Eastern that Black per se.
Friday, January 1st 2010 at 6:06PM
jamal Abraham
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It's a great experience, Jamal. I visited Egypt, too. Went on a cruise on the Nile. But I also flew from Cairo and visited places like Abu Simbel, Ashwan and Nubia. Trust me when you get out into the rural impoverished areas, you are more likely to see northern African (Mid EAstern) people with more African features. But mixture of races has made it impossible to determine if black is in a lot of folk right here in America. Ancestry is not as visible, even in America. It's cultural behavior that is more commonly identified --or way of living, talking, acting or eating, etc.. At any rate, Jamal, what I liked most about the Northern African area was the museums, the Valley of the Kings--where kings like Ramses II, or the Biblical Pharaoh, was buried. I saw the place where his palace was, where he held the slaves, the separate palace he built for his favorite Queen Nifertiti--a Nubian, one of the darkest of dark. Cairo, however, is like a New York City. It has modern architecture, hotels with casinos, 5th avenue type shopping, traffic--buses, cars and camels. ha ha ha lol. I'm sure, except for the long, long, long air flight, this must have been fabulous. Did you participate in bartering with the artisans? The art, cotton products and perfumes are remarkable!!!
Friday, January 1st 2010 at 10:59PM
g smallwood
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Ms. Smallwood, Good Day
Did not get to Nubia, but took the train among places to Ashwan, Luxor, Giza and Alexandria. There, visited the sites like the Valley of the Tombs in Luxor and Great Pyramids in Giza. Was real taking my first camel ride from the road actually to the front steps of the Pyramids. And yes, the bartering with the shop owners was some of the greatest funtimes of all. There were some shopowners who would have talked to me all day....but had to move on to the next shop. But the music, call to prayer, and people energy going on....it made for a bazaar like.....only every day. Since was there for about month, did have a chance to get into the cities like Heliopolis. A neighboring suburb of Cairo known for descent living accommodations for middle class. The artifacts were pretty unique....just had to keep in mind how much could be taken back considering weight and luggage room. Did check out the casino....was not that differant than a casino in U.S. but the food was off the hook. If you liked lamb and fish....Egypt is like heaven. Yes, sister, for sure it is a trip of a life time and plan to go back.
Saturday, January 2nd 2010 at 12:04AM
jamal Abraham
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The Arabs and Turks that went to Egypt to bring AlIslaam and Intermarry helped destroy the Multitheistic Paganism of the Pharoahs...
A story of my stay in Egypt:
Long ago I was at a pharmacy and the Owner asked me;
where you from? I told him I was American.
He looked at me puzzled, maybe he thought I was lying-I did not have blond hair or blue eyes.
He said, "No! Are you from Sudan, Lebanon, Iraq?"
Again I said No.
Finally I said I'm, blackAmerican, just like Muhammad Ali!
He laughed again and said Muhammad Ali is not black!
True story-----
And the guy that asked me was a desert sun colored dark brown.
I think the concept of liking pharoah, cause he was dark brown and full lips, is not that great a thing, he could have killed Moses and our Monotheistic Journey may have been different.
Saturday, January 2nd 2010 at 12:51PM
robert powell
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Mr. Powell, Hello
My encounter in Egypt was very similar. They attributed to me being an Arab or Egyptian. Reference to Black in Egypt is not apparently a good thing. Conversation and dialogue is not going to change this. Black Africans must thru deeds in other countries of the continent do things to turn this around. But, as long as civil, strife, poverty and HIV/AIDS continue to dominate the news coming out of much of southern countries in Africa, then we probably can expect a general avoidance of Northern Africans considering themselves as black or AFricans.
Saturday, January 2nd 2010 at 1:02PM
jamal Abraham
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Oh yes, Menes, ruler of 3000 BC, black and powerful. Exellent reference bro. solomon. I had done extensive studying of King Menes....he had a very advanced civilization which shows that Blacks once ruled with majesty and industrialization
Saturday, January 2nd 2010 at 1:54PM
jamal Abraham
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