# Liberia and "Right of Return" (à la Israel) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 1, 2006, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberia-and-right-of-return-a-la-israel/366869 "2006-08-01T13:10:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberia-and-right-of-return-a-la-israel/366869/1 "2006-08-01T13:10:04Z")
The African country of Liberia was set up by Americans as a sort of homeland for freed slaves of African descent, similar to how the modern state of Israel was created for the Jews. Liberia accepted thousands of African-American and Afro-Caribbean immigrants in the decades after its establishment. I know that Israel continues to actively welcome Jewish immigrants, granting them citizenship. Does Liberia also continue to actively accept African-American and Afro-Caribbean immigrants? How easy is it nowadays for American blacks (compared to people of other races and citizenships) to settle in Liberia? ---
**Author:** ![Stentor\_2.5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc8723/32.png) [@Stentor\_2.5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stentor_2.5)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberia-and-right-of-return-a-la-israel/366869/2 "2006-08-01T15:00:05Z")
Why on earth would anyone want to live in Liberia if they didn’t have to? ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberia-and-right-of-return-a-la-israel/366869/3 "2006-08-01T15:32:14Z")
[QUOTE=psychonaut] The African country of Liberia was set up by Americans as a sort of homeland for freed slaves of African descent, similar to how the modern state of Israel was created for the Jews. Liberia accepted thousands of African-American and Afro-Caribbean immigrants in the decades after its establishment. I know that Israel continues to actively welcome Jewish immigrants, granting them citizenship. Does Liberia also continue to actively accept African-American and Afro-Caribbean immigrants? How easy is it nowadays for American blacks (compared to people of other races and citizenships) to settle in Liberia? [/QUOTE] [Looks like it.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberian_nationality_law) > [@](#): > > Liberia is also one of the relatively few remaining countries in the world confering nationality on the basis of race. This policy of granting Liberian citizenship only to persons who are of African decent and excluding all other races, has begun to receive increasing criticism from the international community ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberia-and-right-of-return-a-la-israel/366869/4 "2006-08-01T15:34:44Z")
[QUOTE=Stentor 2.5] Why on earth would anyone want to live in Liberia if they didn’t have to? [/QUOTE] Indeed. Hmm… where should I emigrate? Somalia, Irak, North-Korea, Liberia? Difficult choice… Besides, I believe there are issues between the descendants of people who came back from the USA (who got the upper hand) and the descendants of the local population. I don’t know how serious are these tensions. Though anyway, even if they had been killing each other ( and maybe they did) it would still be a drop of water in a bucket given the recent history of Liberia. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberia-and-right-of-return-a-la-israel/366869/5 "2006-08-01T15:35:53Z")
[QUOTE=Duke of Rat] [Looks like it.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberian_nationality_law) [/QUOTE] No it doesn’t. What you quoted shows only that being of an African race is a prerequisite to acquiring Liberian citizenship; it doesn’t state that it is the only requirement. For all we know it’s just as difficult for a black American to acquire Liberian citizenship as it is for her to acquire Swiss citizenship. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberia-and-right-of-return-a-la-israel/366869/6 "2006-08-01T15:45:44Z")
[QUOTE=Stentor 2.5] Why on earth would anyone want to live in Liberia if they didn’t have to? [/QUOTE] Apparently at least some people. The distinguished African-American actor John Amos lived there for several periods in his life. It was largely because of this experience that he was selected for a starring role in the _Roots_ television miniseries. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberia-and-right-of-return-a-la-israel/366869/7 "2006-08-01T16:06:27Z")
[QUOTE=clairobscur] Besides, I believe there are issues between the descendants of people who came back from the USA (who got the upper hand) and the descendants of the local population. I don’t know how serious are these tensions. [/QUOTE] They’re extremely serious–about as serious as the tension between Arabs and Jews in Palestine, and for similar reasons. As one of [many quotes](http://www.theperspective.org/speeches/0413200501.html) which could be posted, > [@](#): > > Liberian native Nat Galarea Gbessagee set out to argue the Americo-Liberian vs. native-Liberian controversy this way. “It would seem to non-Liberians that Liberia lost her luster as a peaceful and progressive nation with the military takeover of government in 1980, and the brutal civil war of 1989-1997. Liberians, notwithstanding, know quite well that the 1980 palace coup and the barbarous seven-year civil war only brought to the fore the level of inequality, depravity, hatred, and resentment that had long existed, and continued to exit, in Liberia. . . . These problems still persist, and are most likely the root of our present predicament as a nation and people.” The coup of 1980 is generally regarded as the end of the domination of Americo-Liberians, although they have exercised some influence in the ensuing civil wars and successor regimes. Since (a) the demise of institutionalized segregation in the Americas; (b) the overthrow of the Americo-Liberians in 1980; and (c) the country’s descent into anarchy and civil war; Liberia has obviously been much less attractive as a destination for immigrants. I can’t speak as to the legalities, however; it may be that immigrants would still be welcome if there were any. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/liberia-and-right-of-return-a-la-israel/366869/8 "2006-08-01T16:06:39Z")
[QUOTE=psychonaut] No it doesn’t. What you quoted shows only that being of an African race is a prerequisite to acquiring Liberian citizenship; it doesn’t state that it is the only requirement. For all we know it’s just as difficult for a black American to acquire Liberian citizenship as it is for her to acquire Swiss citizenship. [/QUOTE] That was only a small part of the link. > [@](#): > > Interesting features of the first constitution that have been upheld until today include: > > Article V, Section 13 of the 1847 Constitution which states: “The great object of forming these Colonies, being to provide a home for the dispersed and oppressed children of Africa , and to regenerate and enlighten this benighted continent, none but persons of colour shall be eligible to citizenship in this Republic.” If people were dispersed, they must have lived elsewhere. If they lived elsewhere and were black, it appears they are eligible for citizenship. A few searches indicate that Liberia does not recognize any dual citizenships. Looking at [Article 27 and 28](http://www.theperspective.org/liberianconstitution.html#Anchor-16473) of the Liberian constitution: > [@](#): > > Article 27 > > a. All persons who, on the coming into force of this Constitution were lawfully citizens of Liberia shall continue to be Liberian citizens. > > b. In order to preserve, foster and maintain the positive Liberian culture, values and character, only persons who are Negroes or of Negro descent shall qualify by birth or by naturalization to be citizens of Liberia. > > c. The Legislature shall, adhering to the above standard, prescribe such other qualification criteria for the procedures by which naturalization may be obtained. > > Article 28 > > Any person, at least one of whose parents was a citizen of Liberia at the time of the Person’s birth, shall be a citizen of Liberia; provided that any such person shall upon reaching maturity renounce any other citizenship acquired by virtue of one parent being a citizen of another country. No citizen of the Republic shall be deprived of citizenship or nationality except as provided by law; and no person shall be denied the right to change citizenship or nationality. It’s pretty ambiguous, I can’t tell if simply renouncing any other citizenship and being black is all that’s needed, or if that’s just for people with one Liberian parent who have another citizenship.