LIBERIA’S HISTORY THEY DIDN’T TEACH US IN SCHOOL.
LIBERIA’S HISTORY THEY DIDN’T TEACH US IN SCHOOL.
In 1822, a ship came to our coast.
Who was inside? Black people from America. Some were free-born. Some escaped slavery. They were looking for freedom, looking for home.
Who brought them? American Colonization Society — ACS. White people in America and some Black leaders said “free Black people should go back to Africa.” So they organized the journey.
But here is the part they never told us in school:
This land was NOT empty.
Kpelle were here.
Bassa were here.
Gola were here.
Grebo, Kru, Mano, Gio — WE were already here. With our own kingdoms, our own laws, our own land.
So what happened when ship landed?
Two groups of Africans met. One group running from slavery, looking for freedom. One group already home, protecting their land.
At first they tried to buy land. There was confusion. There was conflict. There was war over land and power.
Then in 1847, we said “We are free.” We declared independence. First Black Republic in Africa. Joseph Jenkins Roberts became first President. We all proud of that.
But here is the painful truth we must talk about:
That independence was for one group.
For 133 years, from 1847 to 1980, native Liberians — the people who were here first — could not vote as equal citizens. Could not become President. Could not be part of real government. The settler elite from America controlled everything. Country people stayed outside.
When you leave majority outside, one day the house will fall. That is why we had tension. That is why we had 1980. That is why war came.
Today, we are ONE Liberia. Settler blood and native blood mixed. We all suffered war. We all want better.
But my question is simple:
Can we heal if we don’t tell the TRUE story?
They taught us to sing “All Hail Liberia Hail.”
Did they teach us what ACS really did? Did they teach us what happened to the Kpelle, Bassa, Gola who were here first?
How much of this true history did YOUR teacher teach you? Tell me in comment. Let’s talk true history.
