Ledlum
Recommendation for Non
Negroes Becoming Liberians
By:
Dr.
Leon Q. Ledlum
July
19, 2005
I
would like to be on
record as a Liberian
who is in favour of
extending the Liberian
citizenship to non negroes,
but with a stringent
adherence to the conditions
that would be set as
requirements. These
requirements would have
no presidential preferences
or waivers whatsoever.
All
who know the Liberian
Constitutions of 1820,
1839, 1847 and 1986,
have in each an exclusionary
article as it relates
to who can be a Liberian.
And that exclusionary
article is “Article
27 and 28 of the 1986,
and in the 1847, it
is found in Section
13 and reads:
“Section
13th. 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 Negroes or persons
of Negro descent shall
be eligible tocitizenship
in this Republic”.
Reasons
for my current position
are multiple, albeit
all the historical justifications.
And they are as follow:
(a)-It
is only human that a
child or children should
share the same citizenship
with their parents.
Unfortunately, the Liberian
Constitution before
and now says no. Under
past and present Liberian
Constitutions, a child
or children of mixed
race, e.g. Liberian
mother and father who
is non negro, or Liberian
father and mother who
is non negro, could
be Liberian(s), if he/she
or they so choose but
the father/mother cannot
be because he/she is
non negro. I find this
morally repugnant, and
psychologically damaging.
(b)-We
now live in a world
were the issue of race
does cast a negative
image on a person or
nation. I am aware of
the rational behind
this exclusionary section
or articles, and they
were in place then.
But we as a people need
to step back and look
at children’s whose
parents cannot be what
they can be as nationals,
just because they are
of a different race.
The reason for which
the exclusionary provision
was adopted is neutered
when a non negro marries
a negro spouse, and
therefore, warrants
our recognition of such
act of love and belonging.
My
recommendation in view
of the above example,
is that people who are
non negroes and married
to a Liberian spouse,
and with children, should
be given that legal
option to share Liberian
citizenship with their
child/children.
Note
the emphasis is on “having
children who are Liberians
or can be Liberians.”
Dr.
Leon Q. Ledlum, 5212
Parker Street, Richmond,
Va 23231
lqledlum@hotmail.com
