Who’s zooming who? – It takes a village
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Caribbean Life, June 5-11, 2020 11
A Jamaican resident of Ethiopia,
Africa was not about to
yield to COVID-19 restrictions
which upended formal, traditional,
graduation ceremonies
for two of her children — son
Gebre at Morehouse College in
Atlanta, Georgia and daughter
Shema from Georgia State University.
Disappointed that travel
restrictions prevented her from
travelling to America to witness
the culmination and public
reward rite ceremonies for
one of her last sons – (one of a
twin) and last daughter of the 10
children she birthed Dr. Desta
Meghoo along with US-based
daughters Aiyana in Ocala,
Florida and Ajahweh in Atlanta,
Georgia quickly mobilized
to coordinate a virtual Village
Zoom ceremony.
Together they optimized a
capacity to execute the “it takes
a village” African mantra by
inviting friends and family to an
international gathering.
First responders included
Academy award winner Louis
Gossett, Jr., and family friend,
Dr. Erieka Bennett, ambassador
to the African Union, friends in
Ethiopia, South Africa, Ghana,
Jamaica, England, California,
New York, New Jersey, Texas,
Florida and Georgia.
The invitation requested a
noon presence on May 24 and
suggested that guests wear African
attire.
At the precise time, crossing
many time zones, virtual hugs
from Africa extended past continents
to resonate with a virtual
Desta nation that embraced the
graduates.
Following prayers and a keynote
address by the “Officer and
a Gentleman” Oscar winner, a
real-life Princess Mariam Senna
Asfa Wossen, the granddaughter
of Ethiopia’s Emperor Haile
Selassie I zoomed in to congratulate
the graduates.
She extended kudos and
greetings from the continent
with an invitation to visit her
glorified birthplace.
For Gebre the sentiments
she extolled resonated with
particular significance because
although he was aware that
distinguished guest to his college
included President Barack
Obama and former South African
leader Nelson Mandela when
he learned that in 1971 the princess’
grandfather — perhaps the
most travelled Ethiopian monarch
— had visited his Georgia
campus, it seemed his cap and
gown became more than a symbol
but a virtual reality.
His own grandmother,
Pauline Neill seemed proudest
beaming from a Zoom square
that identified Village participants.
Gebre Meghoo-Peddie, the
2020 graduate from Morehouse
College with a bachelor’s degree
in biology and maintained a 2.8
grade point average. Throughout
his college career he and his
twin brother Zakia were active
members of the Maroon Tigers
tennis team.
For four year Gebre also
served as a member on a governing
board that focused on
supporting student athletes at
the college. In his role, he also
engaged with youths in the
community. During his biological
studies program he took an
interest in public health and
environmental sciences focusing
on topics such as health
equity, environmental racism,
and the health and environmental
effects of pollution.
He is credited with publishing
three informative articles
which concentrated on newly
found bacteriophages and their
sequencing.
Catch You On The Inside!
Dr. Desta Meghoo.
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
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