Abandoned Buildings: Remnants of Liberia’s Complex History
History of Liberia: Founded by Former Slaves
Liberia was founded in 1822 by the American Colonization Society as a haven for freed American slaves. However, the settlers, known as Americo-Liberians, established a society that replicated the inequality they had experienced in the United States. They denied political rights to native Liberians, known as Congos, and forced them to labor on plantations and rubber estates.
Tubman’s Presidency: A Symbol of Autocratic Rule
William Vacanarat Shadrach Tubman, Liberia’s longest-serving president, ruled from 1944 to 1971. During his autocratic regime, Tubman opened Liberia to foreign investment and industry. However, the benefits of economic development were not shared equally, and tensions between Americo-Liberians and Congos continued to simmer.
Harper: A Microcosm of Americo-Liberian Society
Harper, a city in southeastern Liberia, provides a glimpse into the world of the Americo-Liberians. The city’s oldest neighborhoods are reminiscent of the American antebellum South, with plantation-style mansions that now stand silent and ghostly. Photographer Glenna Gordon has documented the decay of these buildings, which she sees as artifacts of the inequality and exploitation that characterized Americo-Liberian society.
Americo-Liberians and Congos: A Legacy of Conflict
The conflict between Americo-Liberians and Congos exploded in 1980 with a violent coup led by the native soldier Samuel Doe. Doe’s regime ended Americo-Liberian dominance, but the legacy of conflict and division continues to shape Liberian society.
The Decline of Americo-Liberian Influence
Today, Americo-Liberians still wield political and economic influence, but they no longer enjoy the total control they once did. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, elected in 2006, is descended from native Liberians. Under her leadership, Liberia has made progress towards reconciliation and economic development.
The Memory of Americo-Liberian Society
Older Americo-Liberians recall the halcyon days of the 1960s and 1970s, when Liberia experienced a period of relative prosperity and development. However, many Congos still harbor resentment towards the Americo-Liberians, who they see as having exploited and oppressed them.
The Masonic Lodge: A Symbol of Americo-Liberian Power
The Masonic Lodge played a key role in Americo-Liberian society. Before the civil war, the descendants of American slaves who controlled the government often made official decisions at the lodge, which did not allow native members. Today, the Masonic Lodge remains a symbol of Americo-Liberian influence, although its power has waned.
The John F. Kennedy Medical Center: A Symbol of Decline
The John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia was once a state-of-the-art facility that attracted patients from all over. However, the hospital has declined in quality since the civil wars, and people now joke that JFK stands for “Just for Killing.” The decline of the medical center reflects the challenges that Liberia has faced in rebuilding its infrastructure and providing basic services to its citizens.
Tubman’s Mansion: A Symbol of Decay
Tubman’s former mansion in Harper is now occupied by squatters, a symbol of the decay and decline that has afflicted Liberia in recent decades. The mansion, once a symbol of Americo-Liberian power, is now a reminder of the country’s troubled past and the challenges it faces in building a more just and equitable society.