Written By  Heaven Berhane

On that particular Sunday, I was in church later than usual, standing in our lobby and preparing to leave when I read the headlines on Instagram: Nipsey Hussle shot outside his store. My heart sank deep in my stomach as I attempted to make sense of the words. I began praying under my breath, pleading with God to save him. The next text I received sent me into uncontrollable weeping. Nipsey Hussle was tragically pronounced dead. Many of us can recall when we learned of Nipsey Hussle’s untimely death. It sent shockwaves of pain and heartbreak through the world and, in particular, the Eritrean Community. Nipsey’s life and tragic death illuminated the spirit and value of our community.

As we approach the anniversary of his passing, I honor his family and close friends who publicly shared their grief with the world by sharing my own story of how his passing brought my community together. The cycle of grief can be unpredictable and repetitive because the journey through these feelings is not linear. However, through this process we – the Eritrean community – have held each other in spirit and come together to honor the life of an artist and community leader who made us proud. Eritreans around the world shared in this grief with each other because Nipsey was one of us. That sense of community is why we all felt like we lost someone we knew, and understood the grief that must have engulfed his family and friends.When we see each other on the street, we customarily acknowledge one another with a simple bow of the head as to say I see you. Despite having never exchanged any words, we feel connected.

When Nipsey tragically passed away, Eritreans all across the globe came together to host vigils in his honor. Virtually witnessing countless Eritreans gathered together to honor his memory spoke volumes about the significant power and influence Nipsey possessed. He was our community hero. You didn’t even have to be a fan of his music to love him; you were just proud of his success. We celebrated him even if it was from a distance, evoking the phrase “I’m rooting for everybody Eritrean.”

The first time I ever heard Eritrea mentioned in pop culture was via Nipsey. He spoke about his visits to Eritrea when he was younger. That sacred pilgrimage that many of us have taken in our teenage years. That journey exposed him to his cultural roots and firmly placed a sense of identity and belonging in him. On the Breakfast Club, I recall the radio hosts inquiring “Eritrea?” in bewilderment as folks often do when we tell people where we’re from. I felt a sense of pride and joy that someone was speaking about our country on a public stage. His love for Eritrea and desire to be connected with his cultural identity has had a lasting impact. Eritreans carry a deep sense of honor and pride for our history and identity. We shoulder the resilience and hope of our parents and ancestors who sacrificed so much so that we could be independent.

Nipsey’s legacy as a philosopher, changemaker, and entrepreneur has inspired all of us but to this day we feel the void of his infectious presence in the world.  He taught us about the values of dedication, focus, tenacity, and knowing the worth of our unique identities. Inspired by Nipsey, we look to pour the best parts of ourselves into the larger narrative of this world, recognizing that our purpose is bigger than us.

Nipsey embodied the spirit of communalism; he invested his time and financial resources to rebuild his home of Crenshaw. And even in his death, how he lived his life continues to inspire many in that greater narrative. Above all, Nipsey had a deep love for people. In times such as these where the world is living in such turmoil, pain, and uncertainty, we can look to the life that Nipsey modeled. We take the best of ourselves during this crisis and love deeply all of our neighbors. I believe that’s what Nipsey would have encouraged us to do. As a community, let’s continue to carry out his vision for Eritrea and the world. In the words of Nipsey, “The Marathon Continues.”

Writer: Heaven Berhane – Eritrean, New Yorker, DMV Bred, Minister/Faith Leader, Social Worker, Clinician, Lover of Humanity, VCU-Howard-Yale