Why Black Americans should commemorate the history of Liberia

The Republic of Liberia was controversial when founded by free Black emigrants from America during the darkest days of slavery.

Today , it stands as a symbol of a successful colonial experiment by African Americans .

The country holds little sway in the U.S. public imagination today , a neglect that needs correction during Black History Month .

The history of Liberia should be honored as much as the independence holiday of Juneteenth.

On July 26, 1847 , Liberia declared its independence to the world.

Edward Wilmot Blyden was appointed the first Black governor of Liberia , with an agenda to cut ties with the ACS .

Today , Liberia is a stable constitutional republic of 5.5 million people, one of only two African states (along with Ethiopia ) to avoid European colonization.