is silver spring the ethiopian capital of the USA? (living, legally)

[thealfa]

does anyone know? especially the part of silver spring closer to downtown silver spring.

[Tiger Beer]

If so, I so want to live there!

I did read that 50% of Silver Spring's African population consists of African immigrants.

So, the Ethiopian population must be a decent size population of that.

[Terps99]

The DC Metro area (including Silver Spring) is an incredibly diverse area.

I love living here.

[westsideboy]

Yes, DC is the second largest Ethopian City in the world, behind only Addis Abbaba. I know many Ethopians from Silver Spring.

[kjg1963]

I work in the area of Silver Spring that has most of the Ethiopian-owned businesses. It is the area just beyond where all the revitalization has taken place. Most of the businesses are located on Fenton Street (near Silver Spring Avenue). Many of the individuals I see in this area appear to be Ethiopian (not trying to say that there is a definite "look" but you get the idea). I like this area and these businesses have given this little slice of Silver Spring an interesting flavor.

[htownterp]

Enough Ethiopians to allow Dulles to have frequent (maybe even daily) flights to Addis Ababa, which is pretty amazing. DC is an amazingly diverse place.

[GeorgeSpelvin]

Approximately what percentage of them are in the U.S. legally?

[westsideboy]

I don't know, let me consult the crystal ball.......................................

Probably most since it is awfully hard to trek across the Sahel and swim across the Atlantic

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by GeorgeSpelvin

Approximately what percentage of them are in the U.S. legally?

They mostly came as political refugees. I don't think there was ever a strong desire to 'come to the U.S.', it was mostly fleeing repressive politics in Ethiopia, that brought them to the U.S. In 1980, there was a Refugee Act, the first that I know of, that began bringing in African refugees. So, as Ethiopians fled political problems in Ethiopia, they were granted the ability to come to the U.S.

Because of that, I'd imagine most are very legal.

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On that note, since most of you are in Washington DC, and probably come across many Ethiopians. Any interesting attributes you can attribute to them?

I've actually only met a handful in my life, (I'm not in DC), but certainly noticed a certain pride in being Ethiopian, and Ethiopians seem very friendly/nice/interesting with a strong unique culture.

Are there certain stereotypes that someone might use to apply to Ethiopians? Do African-Americans and European-Americans view them differently, or have different relationships with Ethiopian-Americans?

From what little I know of Ethiopians, they seem to strongly assert their own identity of Ethiopianness well beyond being African. But not sure if in Metro DC, that is the same or not.

Nontheless, might be interesting conversation here...

[popnet]

Ethiopean ladies are pretty. That's been the main observation I've made...lol.