Liberian American
Encyclopedia
Liberian Americans are American citizens who are of Liberia
n descent. This includes Liberians who are of African American
descent. It also includes the descendants of Americo-Liberian
people in America. Immigration to the United States
by Liberian
s began after the First Liberian Civil War in the 1980s and after the Second Liberian Civil War
in the early 2000s. An estimated 100,000 Liberians live in the U.S. as of this time. The diplomatic relationship between Liberia and the USA goes back over 150 years since Liberia's foundation by returning African slaves freed by abolitionist societies whom set aside land for the freedmen and paved the way to its' independence.
However, still after the war, more than 6,000 Liberians moved to Providence, Rhode Island. About 10,000 other Liberians settled across the U.S. and most of them decided to stay after the war ended. Although the INS revoked the status in 1997 following national elections in Liberia, many of these Liberian Americans refused return back to Liberia. As of mid-1999, the U.S. Congress decided to give la legislation to give the Liberian refugees permanent status in the United States.
(1999-2003), large numbers of Liberians settled in Rhode Island, Virginia
, Georgia
and Minnesota
. By 2010, Liberians established another sizable community in California
primarily in West Los Angeles and San Francisco-Oakland.
and Washington, D.C.
; other cities with significant numbers of Liberians include Atlanta, Boston
, Chicago
, Detroit, Fort Worth, Texas
, Hartford, Connecticut
, Houston, Los Angeles
, Miami, Minneapolis, Oakland, California
and Philadelphia.
However, it is thought Rhode Island
(specifically Providence
) is the state with the largest Liberian population in the country, about 0.4% of the city's population (est. 200,000) are of Liberian ancestry.
The Most of Liberian American live in the east of United States (New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina). While that most Liberian Americans living on the west coast living in California, especially in Los Angeles
, San Francisco, Oakland y Stockton
. In fact, the Liberian Community Foundation in Vallejo, California, estimated that about 4,000 Liberians living in Northern California. Meanwhile, the Liberian Community Association of Southern California, estimates that another 2,000 Liberian Americans living in Southern California
Many of the liberian have formed families in United States, but some still vow to return to his country once the political and social situation stabilizes, which, however, according to the president of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, Joseph D. Z. Korto, it seems unlikely to happen in a "near future".
, a Creole language, influenced by from the Gola ethnic group of Liberia. It speak in small group of people in the Carolina Sea Islands and middle Atlantic coast of the United States.
The majority of Liberian American (unlike the people of Liberia, who are predominantly of African cultures) are Christian, while a much smaller number is Muslim
. Christian
Liberians have numerous denominations, including Lutheran, Episcopal
, Methodist, Baptist
and Catholic
.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
n descent. This includes Liberians who are of African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
descent. It also includes the descendants of Americo-Liberian
Americo-Liberian
Americo-Liberians are a Liberian ethnicity of African American descent. The sister ethnic group of Americo Liberians are the Sierra Leone Creole people who are of African American, West Indian, and liberated African descent...
people in America. Immigration to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Liberian
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
s began after the First Liberian Civil War in the 1980s and after the Second Liberian Civil War
Second Liberian Civil War
The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy , emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and...
in the early 2000s. An estimated 100,000 Liberians live in the U.S. as of this time. The diplomatic relationship between Liberia and the USA goes back over 150 years since Liberia's foundation by returning African slaves freed by abolitionist societies whom set aside land for the freedmen and paved the way to its' independence.
The first Liberian in U.S.
The first people from the regions that form currently Liberia that emigrated to United States, were probably slaves exported there since the XVII to XIX. However, in the first half of the nineteenth century, with the abolition of slavery in the United States, many slaves returned to Africa, settling in sub-Saharan Africa and founding Liberia (integrating regions populated already since before). Thus, the Liberian migration in the United States not touched again until the twentieth century. In this moment, the first Liberian that came to United States, settled in this country already in the first half of the this century. However, in this moment, only several hundred of Liberians immigrated to the United States, a very small number compared with the people who emigrated from Europe, Asia and Latin America. Also in the 50's and 60 migrated hundreds of Liberian to the United States (232 and 569 respectively). It was not until 1970s when there was a considerable immigration of liberia, which amounted to 2.081 people. This low immigration was caused, probably because Liberia had one of the most stable democracies and prosperous economies in Africa up until the military coup happened in this country in 1980.First Liberian Civil War
When developing the First Liberian Civil War (1989-96), emigrated thousands of Liberian to the United States, becoming the first wave of migration from Liberia to that country. So, from 1990 through 1997, the INS reported 13,458 Liberians fled to the United States and that lived there permanently. During these years, there were also tens of thousands who sought temporary refuge in the United States. In fact, in 1991 alone, the INS guaranteed Temporary Protective Status (TPS) to approximately 9,000 Liberians in the United States.However, still after the war, more than 6,000 Liberians moved to Providence, Rhode Island. About 10,000 other Liberians settled across the U.S. and most of them decided to stay after the war ended. Although the INS revoked the status in 1997 following national elections in Liberia, many of these Liberian Americans refused return back to Liberia. As of mid-1999, the U.S. Congress decided to give la legislation to give the Liberian refugees permanent status in the United States.
Second Liberian Civil War
After the Second Liberian Civil WarSecond Liberian Civil War
The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy , emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and...
(1999-2003), large numbers of Liberians settled in Rhode Island, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. By 2010, Liberians established another sizable community in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
primarily in West Los Angeles and San Francisco-Oakland.
Demography
Liberian American organizations estimate there are between 250,000 and 500,000 Liberians living now in the United States. This figure including to Liberians resident in the country that have a temporary status, and to American of Liberian descent. The metropolitan areas with the largest Liberian immigrant populations in the United States are New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
; other cities with significant numbers of Liberians include Atlanta, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Detroit, Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
, Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, Houston, Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, Miami, Minneapolis, Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
and Philadelphia.
However, it is thought Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
(specifically Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
) is the state with the largest Liberian population in the country, about 0.4% of the city's population (est. 200,000) are of Liberian ancestry.
The Most of Liberian American live in the east of United States (New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina). While that most Liberian Americans living on the west coast living in California, especially in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, San Francisco, Oakland y Stockton
Stockton
-Places:Australia:*Stockton, New South WalesNew Zealand:*Stockton, New ZealandUnited Kingdom:*Stockton, Cheshire*Stockton, Norfolk*Stockton, Warwickshire*Stockton, Wiltshire*Stockton-on-Tees*Stockton-on-Teme*Stockton-on-the-ForestUnited States:...
. In fact, the Liberian Community Foundation in Vallejo, California, estimated that about 4,000 Liberians living in Northern California. Meanwhile, the Liberian Community Association of Southern California, estimates that another 2,000 Liberian Americans living in Southern California
Many of the liberian have formed families in United States, but some still vow to return to his country once the political and social situation stabilizes, which, however, according to the president of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas, Joseph D. Z. Korto, it seems unlikely to happen in a "near future".
Language and culture
That Despite the variety of languages of Liberia (where English, official language of the country, is spoken by the 20% of the population), the majority of Liberians in the United States speak English. kru is the most native widely spoken Liberian language in the United States. Another language spoken by some Liberian Americans is GullahGullah language
Gullah is a creole language spoken by the Gullah people , an African American population living on the Sea Islands and the coastal region of the U.S...
, a Creole language, influenced by from the Gola ethnic group of Liberia. It speak in small group of people in the Carolina Sea Islands and middle Atlantic coast of the United States.
The majority of Liberian American (unlike the people of Liberia, who are predominantly of African cultures) are Christian, while a much smaller number is Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
. Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
Liberians have numerous denominations, including Lutheran, Episcopal
Episcopal
Episcopal and episcopalian may refer to:*Bishop, an overseer in the Christian church*Episcopate, the see of a bishop – a diocese*Episcopal Church , any church with "Episcopal" in its name...
, Methodist, Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
and Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
.