Liberia at 166 (July 26, 1847 –July 26, 2013) Remembering J.J Roberts, Jehundi Ashmund, James Monroe and many others. Remembering the past and how great men fought for the redemption of Liberia and making it an independent state is worth applauding. Today, the independence we are enjoying was for the common good of us all and to applaud them it is for us to realize that during that time the society contended that the emigration of blacks to Africa was an answer to the problem of slavery and the incompatibility of the races. Over the course of forty years, about 12,000 slaves were voluntarily relocated. If my memory can serve me right (remembering my history lessons) Americans opposed to slavery back in the early 1800s were divided over the issue of colonization (forming separate colonies) for African Americans instead of integrating them into the United States. It was a very controversial notion among both blacks and whites. A group called the American Colonization Society was formed in 1816, with members such as James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Daniel Webster, and Francis Scott Key. They knew the nation would face many difficulties in becoming a truly integrated country, so they bought a colony on the West Coast of Africa and named it Liberia. In 1822, Reverend Jehundi Ashman led the settlement effort and negotiated with native people for a piece of land at Cape Mesurado. The colony grew as it became a home for freed African Americans, slaves released from the West Indies and slave ships, and many native tribal people. By 1847, A young African American man from Virginia named Joseph Jenkins Roberts declared the colony of Liberia in West Africa an independent republic on July 26, 1847. The following year he became the first elected president of the new country. Roberts had moved there in 1829 at the age of twenty from Petersburg, Virginia. At that time, Liberia was a colony owned by a group of people in the United States. Today, after many years of civil unrest that cost the lives of so many Liberian, we still continue to enjoy our independence. We must congratulate all of our past presidents, the current President, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, CSOs, youth groups, women groups, Traditional Council, Leaders from around the world, and most especially the common people (we called the Marginalized groups) for making it possible for the peace we enjoy today. I pray that we all enjoy this 166 Independence with peace and Love…..Long Live Liberia, Long Live our Children…. Wish you all a Happy Celebration Haskie
Posted on: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 22:19:24 +0000
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