The U.S. Aid to Liberia: For a very long time, the civil war served as a stepping stone for countless Liberians to obtain vast opportunities, ranging from travel to obtaining job and college admissions, once the experience of war was chipped into the application. I appreciated this privilege for a while, entering the U.S.A., a 17 year old, fresh out of Liberia with the mentality that (because i was from LIBERIA) it was unfair to place me in a pool of competitors. It was better to incubate me...forever...wherever I went. So people followed suit. I was seen as the sweet young lady from the war zone, the Charles Taylor country, Liberia. People forgave my errors, my lack of puctuality, my poor grammar, my limited conceptualization, my poor ettiquette...because I was from Liberia! People gave me jobs for which (I knew) I did not interview well...because I threw in the Liberia card! Yep, I milked it! But what happens when over time, this privilege begins to keep you sustained at the low end of everything? When many many years after the civil war, you are being introduced as a Liberian and get a reaction of pity...followed by questions that breed more pity and an instant grading of where you stand intellectually, economically, etc. What happens when people automatically assume they have to break down information to meet your understanding? What happens when people blame what you did or failed to do, on your being Liberian/African. What happens when people tell you how strong and smart you are, when, really,they dont see you as fit as one of them when it comes down to the wire. But then what happens when people are comfortable with a sympathetic relationship towards you until you begin to excel beyond what they ever anticpated of you; when your intellect begins to be heard much louder than your accent; when you decline to take those extremley shabby hand me downs as donations and purchase your own to give to your people, when you decline to talk about the war anymore; when you can critically analyze the state of your country and demonstrate an undertanding of the need for autonomy rather than how others can continue to help with THEIR hard earned resources; when you are taking on projects independent of assistance that taint your vision; when they feel threatened by you, a Liberian! Im thinking of those of us in the diaspora who made up our minds to end the pity party. Those who are called on for what they are worth because of what they can contribute (indiscriminately) and not because of where they are from or because of an obligation to a requirement of inclusion. Im thinking of virtually every sister and brother of mine to name a few... the Tenn Lipps Brownells and Conchetta Gidi Still Standing and Kolu Clarks and Pah K. Suku Jr. and the Alfred Jah Johnsons and Percy Harris and the Gracie Brownell-Gracie Brownell-Vintons and the Bendora Jayqui Browns, the Musu DeShields and Miatta Tyler Wangolos and Fernon E. Flomo and Yankah Quiqui, Adjeiley Taylor, Marcia Gooding, not forgetting my very own Ezeagus and Verdier and Fred Williams (again, to name a VERY few...and i hate to do this bcz I KNOW i am forgetting some very necessary names smh..) So im thinking of these people listed above and MANY MORE more (whose efforts at building an identity independent of the pitiful Liberian story) has once more been unravelled by the Crisis of EBOLA AND ALL OF THE SUBSEQUENT PITY AND INTERNATIONAL AID ATTACHED TO THIS. Im wondering how long again would it take us to show the world around us (our employers, workmates, schoolmates, spiritual friends, critics)... that we are NOT our countrys lack! we are NOT our countrys corruption! we are NOT our countrys indiscipline and unpreparedness! we are NOT our countrys inaccountability! we are NOT our country illness! we are NOT our countrys dependence! And if we are flawed, we are a working progress like anyone else; NOT products of civil war or a disgraceful epidemic!!! About 70% of those I consider my confidants are Americans (and there are probably only 5 in total). I would give just about anything to keep these people close to me. I would however draw the line between me and ANYONE who anymore stereotypes me based on what my forefathers failed to do. Ive worked too hard for my independence, of course on the foundation of Christ. The leadership of Liberia CHOSE to relax until a controllable situation got out of control and hit the world stage. That America is stepping in to assist Liberia in such a massive way does not scare me because it DOES NOT and SHOULD NOT subject me to anyones pity or indulgence. I want to be STRETCHED by my friends, not contained. I want you to tell me the truth and not what you think would boost my esteem. I also want you to step out of your comfortability with my dysfunctional background. Allow me your opportunities fairly and critique me fairly and watch me make a supersize sweet cake out of lemons. Maybe you could begin by introducing me as Mrs. Nina Collins, DFC (Devout follower of Christ), MSW ....and not Nina the Liberian girl, unless absolutely necessary. THIS is how you help me rebiuld my country!!! THIS MESSAGE IS BOTTOM LINE TO LIBERIANS IN THE DIASPORA! PLEASE PLEASE STOP HIDING BEHIND YOUR BACKGROUND AND MAKING EXCUSES FOR YOUR COMPLACENCY. STOP MAKING OTHER NATIONS FEEL OBLIGATED TO YOU...THATS CALLED ENTITLEMENT! STOP ALLOWING PEOPLE TO EMPOWER YOU TO BE DISEMPOWERED. By now you should be used to my long posts :-) THATS ALL-
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 12:30:41 +0000
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