Another America: The Story of Liberia and the Former Slaves Who Ruled It by James Climent is an utterly fascinating story about the unintended consequences of the “slave” republic established the American Colonization Society, which supported the settlement of freed slaves to Africa.
Climent presents us with a tragedy from the very beginning of Liberia’s founding in 1847. Former slaves establish a colony in Africa, under the best intentions of both the white people who financially supported the colony, and the slaves who settled it. Yet the settler class, who were often multi-racial, ruled the country to the exclusion of the native Africans. Liberia was two countries, one in which native Africans were ruled by arrogant and at times corrupt official in the capital, Monrovia.
A bloody civil war erupted in the late twentieth century, essentially ending the reign of Americo-Liberians. But their legacy remains: Liberia is still a much divided country and poor country, trying to recover from its searing legacy.
Climent presents a fascinating story of this alternate America known to few Americans. Our story is also their story. This book should be mandatory reading.
Climent presents us with a tragedy from the very beginning of Liberia’s founding in 1847. Former slaves establish a colony in Africa, under the best intentions of both the white people who financially supported the colony, and the slaves who settled it. Yet the settler class, who were often multi-racial, ruled the country to the exclusion of the native Africans. Liberia was two countries, one in which native Africans were ruled by arrogant and at times corrupt official in the capital, Monrovia.
A bloody civil war erupted in the late twentieth century, essentially ending the reign of Americo-Liberians. But their legacy remains: Liberia is still a much divided country and poor country, trying to recover from its searing legacy.
Climent presents a fascinating story of this alternate America known to few Americans. Our story is also their story. This book should be mandatory reading.
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