In today’s climate of renewed Black consciousness and ancestral reclamation, the global call for connection to Africa is growing louder. But amidst this rising tide, there is one country whose bond with African Americans is not merely symbolic—it is historical, spiritual, and deeply rooted in shared struggle. That country is Liberia.
By Rufus S. Berry II, MBA, [email protected], Contributing Writer
Founded by free and formerly enslaved Black men and women from the United States, Liberia is not just an African destination—it is a living, breathing embodiment of Black America’s centuries-old yearning for liberty, dignity, and self-determination. It is the only African nation created with the express vision of being a homeland for those who had endured the horrors of slavery and systemic racism in America.
Now, more than ever, Liberia must boldly and unapologetically reassert her rightful identity as the true and only honest home of return for African Americans.
A Powerful Presidential Moment
President Joseph N. Boakai Sr.’s recent visit to the White House—particularly his private meeting and presentation with U.S. President Donald J. Trump—may prove to be a pivotal moment in resetting the narrative. It was more than just a diplomatic exchange. It was a chance to reignite awareness among the American public, especially African Americans, about the sacred historical ties that bind Liberia and the United States.
This moment must not be allowed to fade into the background. Liberia must seize this opportunity to reintroduce herself, not as a forgotten colony, but as the ancestral homeland that liberated Americans helped build—and can once again call home.
A Nation Born of Liberation
Liberia’s very foundation is steeped in the liberated American experience. The American Colonization Society facilitated the migration of freed African Americans—many of whom had never known Africa but longed for a land to live freely and fully. In 1847, Liberia declared its independence, making it Africa’s first and oldest republic. And that independence was claimed not by European colonizers, but by African Americans.
Our first president, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, was born in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1809. Like many of Liberia’s early leaders, he was a liberated Black man in the United States who saw in Liberia the promise of true freedom. All of Liberia’s presidents until 1883 were African American men born in the U.S.—pioneers like Stephen Allen Benson of Maryland and Edward James Roye of Ohio. They brought with them American values, customs, and democratic ideals—but infused them with a distinctly African spirit.
One especially remarkable figure is President Daniel Bashiel Warner, Liberia’s third president (1864–1868) and the author of our national anthem. Born on Hookstown Road in Baltimore County, Maryland, Warner remains the only Baltimore native ever to become the president of another country. He now rests in an enclosed plot between Camp Johnson Road and Warren Street in Monrovia—his final resting place a quiet symbol of this transatlantic story.
Liberia’s Capital Named After a U.S. President
Liberia’s capital city, Monrovia, was named in honor of U.S. President James Monroe—underscoring the profound political and historical relationship between the two nations. This isn’t merely a footnote in history; it’s a living narrative that still shapes our national identity.
Ties of Blood, Culture, and Contribution
Liberia’s story is filled with African Americans heroes whose legacies span oceans.
During a recent interview with a African American radio station (Port of Harlem) in New York, I shared some of this forgotten history with the listeners—many of whom were hearing it for the first time. I spoke of Dr. Solomon Carter Fuller, a pioneer in Alzheimer’s research and the first African American psychiatrist in the United States. He was born in Monrovia, Liberia—the grandson of a formerly enslaved African American man who had purchased his freedom and returned to Liberia with hope in his heart.
I also highlighted Martin Henry Freeman, a trailblazing educator who became the first African American to serve as president of an American university—Allegheny Institute (later Avery College)—before emigrating to Liberia, where he continued shaping young minds, as President of the University of Liberia..
These are not isolated stories. They are threads in a larger tapestry—one that affirms, again and again, that Liberia is Black America, and Black America is Liberia.
The Flags of Both Nations
In a powerful and intentional act of symbolism, Liberia’s founders designed the national flag to closely mirror that of the United States, reflecting the nation’s deep historical ties to Black America. While the American flag features fifty stars, Liberia’s flag bears a single white star—representing its status as the first independent Black republic in Africa. This design choice was no coincidence; it was meant to forever honor the shared history, ideals, and ancestral bonds that connect the two nations across the Atlantic.
Liberia: The Only True and Honest Home of Return
Today, many African countries invite the diaspora to “come home.” But only Liberia is home. Only Liberia was founded by and for African Americans. Only Liberia carries this sacred and shared legacy in her very soil, in her governance, in her culture, and in her soul.
Let no one hijack or dilute this truth. Let no marketing campaign or passport program elsewhere overshadow what Liberia uniquely represents. This is not a competition; it is a call to historical honesty and cultural clarity.
As the world reexamines its past and reimagines its future, Liberia must rise again—not just as a symbol, but as a living bridge. We must tell our story with clarity, confidence, and pride. We must reconnect with our brothers and sisters in America—not simply to invite them to visit, but to embrace them as family returning home.
Liberia was, is, and will always be the true and rightful homeland for the return of African Americans.
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Rufus S. Berry II, MBA, is a Liberian and former president of the Liberia Community of Northern California. He is a financial expert, the author of the book Liberia’s Promise, and a passionate community development advocate. He writes extensively on Liberian history, governance, and the African diaspora.
