“De Beers set up a purchasing office in Monrovia in 1954 where they bought diamonds, with the intent of keeping as much of the diamond trade under its control as possible. However by 1956, while I was still in Monrovia, there were approximately 75,000 illegal miners, who were smuggling these valuable stones on a vast scale. At that time I was offered the opportunity to get involved in this bonanza, which I fortunately did not do since some of my friends who did, went missing never to be seen again. At that time I was the Captain of a Farrell Line’s coastal ship and made additional pocket money running booze into the Liberian interior. In those days when someone disappeared or fell off of the grid, as we would say, the chance that they would be found again was exceedingly slim. In 1984 the De Beers Group (SLST) from South Africa, sold its remaining shares, under duress, to the Precious Metals Mining Company controlled by Lebanese National, Jamil Sahid Mohamed Khalil, was a questionable local businessman, as well as a diamonds and commodities trader. He became known throughout the world’s diamond industry as a wheeler-dealer and a politician, influential in Sierra Leone, where the majority of the blood diamonds came from. In 1999, when South African mercenaries invaded Sierra Leone’s capital city Freetown, Jamil attempted to flee from this West African country but was stopped prior to leaving his home. During this altercation, one of Jamil’s sons was shot to death right in front of him. The following year, Jamil died of a stroke after having successfully made his way to Lebanon.” LiberiaWest AfricaMma Captain Hank BrackerSmugglingMercenariesBlood Diamonds Author:Captain Hank Bracker, The History of Liberia & West Africa
“In spite of being a relatively poor country, Cuba is one of the most committed in deploying doctors to crisis zones. It sent more than 460 Cuban doctors and nurses to West Africa. In October, Germany sent medical supplies, and later that month a hundred additional U.S. troops arrived in Liberia, bringing the total to 565 to assist in the fight against the deadly disease. To understand the severity of the disease, a supply order was placed on October 15th for a 6-month supply of 80,000 body bags and 1 million protective suits. At that time it was reported that 223 health care workers had been infected with Ebola, and 103 of them had died in Liberia.” EbolaLiberiaWest AfricaMma Captain Hank BrackerSierra Leone Author:Captain Hank Bracker, The History of Liberia & West Africa
“Present day interactions between the races are directly related to what happened many generations ago. Although we as a people are not directly to blame for what happened those many years ago, many of us do carry with us a collective guilt or shame that can only be attributed to these events. However, we are responsible for how we interact with people of all races now. I am of the opinion that how we feel and act towards others, to a great extent came to us from our elders and the society that we grew up in. Although some of us show more hostile feelings towards people of other races than others, we should all be aware of the bigoted feelings and attitudes that lurk deep within us and our society. Perhaps by overtly attempting to rid ourselves of these hostilities, we can better learn to live together....” BigotryAfricaWorld HistoryLiberiaWest AfricaMma Captain Hank Bracker Author:Captain Hank Bracker, The History of Liberia & West Africa
“In 1821 the United States government sent Dr. Eli Ayres to the Pepper or Grain Coast of West Africa, to buy the land discovered by Samuel Bacon prior to his death the preceding year. Dr. Ayres sailed aboard the U.S. naval schooner the USS Alligator, commanded by Lieutenant Robert Stockton, to the proposed new colony near the Mesurado River. After several days of negotiations in November of 1821, this valuable land was purchased at gunpoint from the tribal chief King Peter. Soon after this purchase, the colonists and their stores were landed on Providence Island and Bushrod Island, two small islands in the middle of the Mesurado River. Once the armed schooner sailed out of sight, the settlers were challenged by King Peter and his tribe. It took some doing, but on April 25, 1822, this group moved off the low-lying islands and took possession of the highlands behind Cape Mesurado, thereby founding present-day Monrovia, which was named after U.S. President James Monroe. It became the second permanent African American settlement in Africa, after Freetown, Sierra Leone.” LiberiaMma Captain Hank BrackerSierra LeoneAfrican HistoryMonroviaPresident James Monroe Author:Captain Hank Bracker, The History of Liberia & West Africa
“In the first twenty years after the War of Independence from the British, the percentage of black slaves in Virginia alone grew from 1% to 10% of the total population. The demand for free labor remained high in the South and the trading of slaves continued to flourish. From the 16th Century until the Civil War, it is estimated that a total of 12 million slaves were brought into America, of which two-thirds worked in the cotton industry under the harsh supervision of white overseers. For us today, it’s amazing that the Africans were thought of and treated as chattel, much the same as farm animals that just happened to be able to speak. The practice didn’t end until 1865, when the original eleven southern states that formed the Confederate States of America were defeated by the Union of Northern States.” HistorySlaveryAmerican HistoryLiberiaWest Africa Author:Captain Hank Bracker, The History of Liberia & West Africa
“The Liberian flag was fashioned after the American flag by seven women: Susannah Lewis, Matilda Newport, Rachel Johnson, Mary Hunter, Mrs. J. B. Russwurm, Collinette Teage Ellis, and Sarah Draper. On August 24, 1847, the flag was flown for the first time and that date officially became Flag Day in Liberia. The flag is referred to as the “Lone Star.” The resemblance to the American flag reflects the origins of Liberia, being the resettlement country for freed slaves, coming primarily from America. A previous Liberian flag had a white cross in place of the present single star.” MmaFlagsLiberiaWest AfricaLiberian History Author:Captain Hank Bracker, The History of Liberia & West Africa