The Liberian Civil War

I had a very interesting encounter today. Definitely one of the more intriguing days at work this year. I met a fellow Hebrew from Liberia.

I asked him to give me the essence of the Liberian Civil War. He basically said that the following things fueled the civil war:
1. The slaves that went back to Liberia separated themselves by color. The lighter skinned Hebrews felt superior to the darker skinned Hebrews.

2. All the Hebrews that went back to Liberia felt as though they were superior to the locals. They saw the locals as being primitive.

3. The Hebrews that returned there totally lost their identity, as we do here. They embraced Christianity and European mode of dress. They looked down on the Natives there.

4. The Hebrews that returned became the political elites, and the West funded them. They encouraged the natives to drop their traditions, such as religion and follow Christianity.

We had a good discussion and I hope to make connections with the brother in the near future to talk about these matters.

He is aslo a published author. He co-wrote the book,

The Liberian Civil War Paperback – 1995

by Joe M. & Williamson, Aaron Von Bee