Inside the People’s Redemption Council Government of Liberia

Governments and leaders have appeared and disappeared throughout Liberian history. None may be compared to the People’s Redemption Council government. This government evolved without struggles or warnings. Although it was embraced by large number of people upon inception, it turned out to be the most corrupt, dysfunctional, disgraceful, inexperienced and myopic government to have ever been associated with the first Negro Republic on the African Continent. To this date and time, many Liberians, especially those within the intellectual community around the world continue to find it difficult uncovering the origin of the PRC government. As I write, many who could be held responsible for its evolution and why have faded away quickly from the surface of the earth. This government remains a misery in the minds of some Liberians who lived to see it come and go.

Founded purposely in efforts to address unbearable sufferings of Africans whose ancestors landed on the American side of the Atlantic Ocean as slaves, ideas underlying creation of Liberia are believed to have faced disapprovals among those for whom it was originally created (African-Americans). Few, however, departed the United States to establish Liberia unwillingly. Majority were compelled to choose between two prevailing evils at that time. 1. Live in the (USA) and bear all evils directed at African Americans, or 2. Leave the United States and live in freedom on the continent of nativity (Africa).

None ever thought about Africa while in captivity. Upon reaching Africa however, history teaches that dehumanizing conditions and circumstances that subjugated, degraded and oppressed them in the United States followed them and were incorporated within their thinking. Light skinned Afro Americans immediately began feeling superior to dark skinned Afro Americans. Upon easing this tensions that existed between the two, the ugly hands of dehumanizing conditions and circumstances they once experienced in the New World became directed at African natives they met upon arrivals on the African continent. This behavior laid ground work that that has produced corruption, discrimination, nepotism and segregation we still see in Liberia.

Liberia is a fertile ground for good things characteristic of the United States to flourish. Founders of Liberia were goodwill white Americans. These people spearheaded Liberia creation and may have thought the country would become photocopy of the United States that began on the eastern Atlantic coast of the American Continent and expanded westward to the Pacific coast. They may have envisioned that Liberia, from its beginning on the western Atlantic coast of Africa would have expanded in all directions to bring progress on the then Dark Continent. I believe such thinking was behind the motto of the American Colonization Society, “Lux in Tenebris” (light in darkness) that is now found on the University of Liberia diploma cover.