In the heart of Clifton, on the island of Staten, lies a community of Liberians who have made their home amidst the shadows of a tumultuous past. Here, the essence of their identity thrives, shaped by the echoes of history and the resilience of their spirit.
Little Liberia: The Past Into the Present is a visual journey that explores the complex interplay between the Liberian identity and the land on which they stand. Against the backdrop of a nation fragmented by decades of war, these exiled souls have found sanctuary in a country that once colonized them. But what of the paradox of this newfound freedom? Liberia was established as a segregated system by the American Colonization Society, who failed to acknowledge the 16 native tribal groups that called the land home long before the arrival of freed American slaves. The effects of this segregation have been profound, contributing to the destabilization of the nation, even as the descendants of the colonizers celebrate their own liberty. This thought-provoking exhibit explores the history, contradictions, and triumphs of a community that has found a home in a land that once rejected them. Come and witness the living testament to the Liberian spirit, embodied in the vibrant, tenacious community of Little Liberia.
