1. How does the author explain the meaning of his name in the Author's Note? Whose story does he assert Of Beetles and Angels tells in this preface?
Since the author came to the United States, he became known by the name Mawi Asgedom. However, his true name was Selamawi Haileab Asgedom. In his native language, his name means "peaceful power from above to make others kneel before him." He states that this is the story not just of his family, but of thousands of Ethiopian and Eritrean refugees.
2. How does the author describe his origins in the Author's Note? What is the political history of this region?
Mawi Asgedom originally came from Eritrea and Ethiopia, which had fought a civil war until 1991. Eritrea became an independent nation in 1993. Eritrea is a country in the Horn of Africa; its capital and largest city is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast.
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