Two countries separated by a common language.

I was done. It was the end of my effin road. As a person of color in the oasis of he United States that is supposed to be the greatest country in the world, I feel like that I have been played a pawn. I was only 7, but. I had always had a curious nature. Even at a young age I felt that I had something to say. On my 7th birthday my mother asked me what I would like. I only asked for a little black notebook so that I could write down my thoughts and my dreams for the future. I was, and I am, always curious. I did everything right, that society told me to do. I was the first to finish high school in my family, and against all odds, the first to finish college in my family. We are second a generation family descended from American slaves, brought here by Europeans, and sent back home to Liberia as free persons.

My first project as an adult was with the United Nations. We were lucky enough to be be welcomed by Ambassador Winston, at the time he was Kofi Anan's Special Envoy to West Africa. Through a Grant by USAID and a generous Grant from a Private Lebanese Citizen, we were able to build a School / Rehabilitation Facility for both young men, that were enlisted as child soldiers and young women that were taken as sex slaves. My God Father was President for 27 years, prior to all of this. He was a man that by today's measures would be looked at as a Dictator, but we called him the “Benevolent President” because of all the good he did for the country. My father, who was a good friend of the “Ole Man” as they called him told me a story after the President passed away to explain his character. He said, “Old Man Tubman would climb the nicest fruit tree. He would take the nicest fruit for himself, but would shake the tree on his way down, so we can all get some. The new guy just takes the best for himself.” I have such a torn soul between my heritage and my soul in Liberia. I have learned that if you have the heart of a warrior, than the opportunity to go back to your “home base” is the best thing that you can ever do in your life, if your heart has the call. Money , status, etc are not what I see as measures of success. I see it in the eyes of people that I help facilitate in projects that improve the livelihoods of their family and friends. What ties this all together. What I wrote on that little black notebook. I read it every day. There are eight words. “We can do better. I can help.” Imagine for a second, the best possible thing that we can do for the undeveloped parts of Africa. Its completely un-sexy. Highways. A method to get everything from Aid to Vaccines to Emergency Supplies. It can take weeks or months to truck supplies that the most vulnerable people like yesterday. If Covid has taught us anything, I think that we can all agree that we are grossly unprepared. If we cant get things together so that we can have a seemliness vaccine roll out in Oregon, how can we be expected to do it abroad.

So, this may just be a collection of thoughts. It does tell a story. One that does resonates with many many people all over the world. My point to all of this, sometimes a few lines on a little black not book can change the trajectory for you life, and possible the lives of many others.