Liberia
Kelley writes, “Liberia was to be a black man’s utopia, the land where race prejudice was a thing of the past and every person in the republic enjoyed the fruits of citizenship. Unfortunately, this is not what happened. In their haste to defend Liberia, most commentators ignored or played down the role of the United States (via the Firestone Rubber Company) as an imperialist presence in the colony and the position of Americo-Liberians as a new, exploitative ruling class.” Liberia was intended to be a paradise where blacks would dwell far from discrimination and slavery. The application of the American class prototype in Liberia imperils the natives who become subjects of oppression. Americo-Liberians project the oppression they endured in America on the indigenous Liberians. As a result of the oppression, Liberia ceases to be utopian; oppression creates a dystopian ambiance of the lowly individuals who are oppressed.
Rebellion
Kelley explains, “Some heard the idea of a black American alliance with the nonaligned world in young Malcolm X, who gave a speech as early as 1954 comparing the situation in Vietnam with that of the Mau Mau rebellion in colonial Kenya. The Mau Mau rebellion was an uprising of the predominantly Kikuyu Land and Freedom Army, which waged an armed movement during the early 1950s to force the British colonists off the Kikuyus’ land. In Malcolm’s view, both these movements were uprisings of the “darker races” and thus part of a “tidal wave” against U.S. and European imperialism.” The rebellions are introduced to secure black people from colonial suppression. Malcolm endorses the rebellions because they are indicative of the black nations ‘ coming of age’ and readiness to rule themselves. The rebellions justify the formation of ‘ black American alliance’ which would spearhead the struggle for Black Americans’ civil liberties.
Jourdon Anderson’s Letter
Kelley expounds, “By even the most elementary principles of liberal capitalism, Jourdon Anderson presents a sound, reasonable case for receiving compensation for years of unpaid labor. He was the colonel’s property, to be sure, but the fact that he could write such a letter and make such a brilliant case distinguishes him from “the horses and cows” that also served the needs of the plantation without pay. Indeed, by today’s standards Jourdon is being charitable by asking only for back wages and interest.” Anderson appeals to the ‘Labor Theory of Value’ by making a valid case for his compensation. Slavery denies him the chance to enjoy the wages of his labour. In his letter, he demonstrates that he is a human who merits considerable compensation for his labor and not a beast.
