Liberia’s Amusing Divide

By John E. Dio Williams

23 April 04

Recently, an Americo-Liberian friend and I were discussing something when he mentioned "country" derogatorily. He apologized, because he apparently thought I would be offended, embarrassed or ashamed for being a country or native man. Instead, I only laughed and urged him on, because it was funny. I know he would feel quite comfortable speaking in that manner among his people, so there was no need trying to teach old dogs new tricks. I have always been aware of the divide in the Liberian society, but it has never bothered me. Contrary to what some think that Liberia is made up of country people and "civilized" people, my grand mother told me at an early age that there are two groups in Liberia- descendants of natives and descendants of ex-slaves. And I have always been proud of my origin!

Before we parted, my friend said, "You have always baffled me. Do you ever get angry? Some guys would have been pissed." I told him there was nothing to be angry about because I am a country man and I prefer it to being an ex-slave. I told him I didn't have anything against ex-slaves, only pity because I realize that the effects of slavery are hard to die. He was shocked because he was not used to thinking about himself as an ex-slave, only as a "civilized" man. For many Americo-Liberians the notion of country man and "civilized" man accentuates their pseudo sense of superiority so they dwell on it and forget their origin. It is common to hear many Americo-Liberians referring to natives as country in a demeaning way that resounds their own pseudo sense of superiority. And this belief has its roots in ex-slaves returning to Africa and subjecting the aborigines, who were not schooled in western civillization,to the hardships they too had just escaped from. Oh! how depraved is man! Interestingly, it is difficult to know how civilized and Christian the returnees themselves were since the cotton fields of the south were definitely not the ideal breeding grounds for these things! Anyway, as it is said, "In the land of the blind, the one-eye man is the hero."

However, much has changed over the years.Children of both natives and settlers have acquired western education and civilization. Pathetically, some people have clung to the notion of superiority because it appears to be their only refuge. Through their day dreams it helps to disguise their own inadequacies and give them whatever joy there is.I pity a lot of these people because since 1980 when Doe and his PRC disrupted the political establishment , nothing seems to be going well for them. Not that things are going right for the rest of the country but they have lost their guaranteed privileged position. Prior to 1980, with no more monopoly on education, they relied on political power and the accompanying wealth that came through corruption. Unfortunately, since 1980 new players have entered the game and eroded that base also. Some new players are so corrupt that they have amassed in a very short time what others did in over a 100 years. So what is left with many settler descendants is only a silent lamentation disguised as an air of arrogance to crush the self-eteem of some natives who themselves still live under the shadow of inferiority complex. Of course, settler descendants of substance don't derive pleasure from trying to put others down to project their own importance. They have made themselves and are ready to face the world, irrespective of the divide.

As much as people would love to see it go away,the Liberian divide is not going to vanish into thin air. No. It is going to take some time to go away partly because it is a sense of fulfillment for some. However, its intent will evaporate soon because it is amusing to consider someone inferior because his illiterate ancestors welcomed your ex-slaves ancestors. The question is what is there for natives to be ashamed of? Is it because their their illiterate ancestors were taken advantage of by people who they welcomed because they considered them their brothers? And what is it that makes settlers superior? I know it can not be being descendants of a white man's slaves. Or is it being "smart" enough to suppress people you gave you a safe haven and self-respect? I just don't know why some settler descendants believe that they are superior to descendants of natives.

It definitely cannot be for good governance. Many settler presidents have demonstrated an cute deficit in vision. Even a semi-literate like Doe recognized that you cannot run a responsible government from private homes, subject to the whims and manipulations of landlords! Today many people consider Tolbert to be the settler president most dedicated to development yet he too did not consider the building of government ministries a priority. Perhaps he did not want to go against his own interest. I understand the National Patriotic Party (NPP) has moved into the Ministry of Agriculture building, obviously with the permission of the owner. This new development makes it imperative to elect a leader in 2005 who has the resolve and intent to extract Liberia from the clutches of landlords. But more than ever they must elect a leader who will breach the divide by pursuing unity and respect for each other. Otherwise let them acknowledge that there is a divide and the constant is this - the two groups in Liberia are descendants of natives and descendants of ex-slaves.