Selome Hailu's LinkedIn page banner
Selome Hailu, who writes at the "mainstream" entertainment magazine Variety, has an article in the February 10, 2022 issue.
Many months ago, when Beshir's film came out, I warned Hailu to tone down her eulogy on an "Ethiopian" film that is about drugs, and on drug addiction, however it may be camouflaged.
Selome Hailu is a reporter at Variety. She is based out of Los Angeles, where she covers the TV awards beat and Hollywood’s creative community. Previously, she worked as a freelance film and TV journalist writing reviews, interviewing filmmakers and covering festivals for the Austin Chronicle, Letterboxd and Okayplayer. Hailu was born and raised in Austin, Texas and holds a bachelor of arts in English and a minor in media studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She is also a member of the Austin Film Critics Association.
Hailu does have to do her reporting, but as she is more than just a "reporter" and writes her commentary on her own website, as well as being a member of the Austin Film Critics Association.
About a year ago, I wrote this unposted article on Hailu:
Selome Hailu’s cheerful disposition gives her a wide range as writer for the Austin Chronicle, which includes her hair.Hailu is cultural writer for the Austin Chronicle, and whose tastes read like that of a privileged white citizen.Her optimism is contagious, with the cheerful smiles she posts on her Instagram pages, along with her Queen of Sheba bouffant. She displays the run-of-the-mill “Black is difficult” learned slogan, which is the standard language of all institutions now. Yet, she majored in English, and shows a talent for writing. And her “double major” is African and African Diaspora Studies, where she received her political/ideological training. She constantly shows this split-personality in her observations, her writings, and her associations.
Hailu hugs her male and female friends with equal affection, and with her wholesome smile. But, in the manner of her contemporaries, she dabbles in indie music, one called Vampire Weekend which combines cheerful melodies and melodious punk rock.
She writes:
Being a person of color navigating higher education is incredibly frustrating. Academia is an incredibly exclusive world, and there's a ton of resistance to recognizing the achievements of people of color within [it].
So, like many non-Whites living in the West (in Canada and America), Hailu has picked up on the grievances and stubborn sense of entitlement shown by activist Black Americans. Hailu has nothing to complain about. Her resume reeks of "entitlement" if I were to use her logic. I am sure she works hard, and is intelligent, but surely she got a few "benefits of the doubt" along the way, because of "affirmative action" everywhere now in American life.
I sent her an email a couple of days ago, as a conclusion to my critic on Beshir, and as a reaction to her Variety posting:
Hello Ms. Hailu,You may be interested in the various articles I have written about Jessica Beshir, her background, and her film Faya Dayi.Here is my recent published article at various Ethiopian online journals (links provided).[...]
I am an artists, [...] trained in film and video at Ryerson University, Toronto, and with exhibited films and videos. I am also a trained textile designer at Ontario College of Art and Design.More biographical information, along with my articles on art and culture at my website - Art and Commentary by Kidist Paulos AsratSincerely,Kidist Paulos AsratArtist and Writer
All information is some information that goes towards elucidation. Hailu did not reply, and I don't expect any replies. Sooner or later, my small endeavors that I make to expose Beshir's intentions will hit home, with Hailu and many others who have never been given the full picture.
