The Cast

The Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL) was an organization founded in the United States of America. The make-up of this organization embodied a group of Liberians granted free education abroad through scholarships from the Tolbert’s administration. Most of the members were of mixed ancestry of native Liberians and those returning from the Americas: either genetically or by family arrangement. Many were not granted the opportunity legitimacy through the union of marriage. They had limited knowledge about governmental procedures, and were ill qualified to theorize or occupy governmental posts. However, these poorly equipped individuals played key roles in the execution of Liberia’s most devastating revolution. 

Most knowledgeable historians realize that every successful revolution must have a receptive social climate, monetary resources and brilliance of vision; as each cast must have set-up and back-up crews. It is noteworthy to mention, there were deficits in Liberia’s social system as well as external forces that gained from the destabilization of Liberia; but the match was lit by PAL, and our country burned.

The Alibi

The Rice Riots were concocted in response to a proposal made by Florence Chenoweth (minister of agriculture) to decrease the government subsidies of imported rice from 78 dollars per bag of rice to 74. The proposal increased the price of imported rice for Liberians from 22 to 26 dollars per bag. The proposal was submitted by the administration as an attempt to make Liberia more self-sufficient, hoping that by making homegrown rice cheaper than imported rice, Liberians would buy the rice they produced. The Progress Alliance of Liberia used this as the launching pad for their campaign of corruption of the Tolbert administration, broadcasting that Tolbert had personal interest in the Liberians buying homegrown rice because he was a major rice grower in the country. Gabriel Baccus Mathews, the chairman of PAL, publicly promised the Liberian people imported rice prices at 9 dollars a bag if he were in charge of the distribution. 

On April 14 1979, without proper governmental authorization PAL headed by Mathews initiated the demonstration that progressed to the rice riots of 1979. As the night proceeded, the protest manifested waywardness. The demonstrators began raiding and looting, trashing and destroying, Liberia. The police force proceeded to bring order to the situation. Shots were fired, people were killed, the city was destroyed and the fabric of Liberian society was disintegrated.

The Plot

President William R. Tolbert delivered an “Address to the Nation, as he responded to the Rice Riots. Manifesting grace, honesty and determination, Tolbert proclaimed,

“It should be clear to all, that the occurrence was a direct result of an illegal demonstration on defiance of law and was designed and executed by a group of misguided persons calling themselves the Progressive Alliance of Liberia, aided and abetted by its internal and external collaborators, using the rice-price issue as an alibi. As I see it, the true objective of the illegal and diabolical action was to create a civil disturbance so as to adversely affect our economy and destabilize our government.”

He further expressed the government successes reminding that, “Revenue and receipts have increased from 77,5 million in 1972 to 185.5 million in 1978,..” He acknowledged that much of the financial increase was secondary to his administrations’ diligence in lowering taxes on necessary goods. He further pushed the essence of self-reliance and national comradary, as he continued to liberate minds through allowing all Liberians free education in junior and high-school at any government institutions. His administration’s dedication to the freedoms, health-care, and happiness of all Liberians well surpassed the position of previous governments as his administration implemented policies like, ‘From Mats to Mattresses’ and ‘Total Involvement’. He further proclaimed,
“I have been searching my soul for the answer, and certainly I can only imagine that the answer is: Continue to give the best within you, and even more sacrificially and faithfully serve the people of Liberia, Africa and mankind throughout our world. This I am committed to do, so help me God.” 

The Drama

The ideas and events in concert with the Rice Riots produced an incredibly visible rift in the Liberian society. The government was accused of corruption and disenfranchisement of those with ancestry native to the land of Liberia. Stated more clearly, the PAL claimed that government officials were using government funds for personal economic privilege, while mistreating the poor. Tolbert’s character and dedication to Liberia and diversification governmental posts were challenged as he was coined as a bigot that practiced nepotism in appointing officials. The most prominent and most destructive rift in Liberian’s society secondary to the propaganda of the Rice Riots, was the solidification of the distinction between ‘Country people’ (native) and ‘Congo’ (Americo-Liberian). This magnification of difference was not contained to those of ancestors from the Americas, Liberians nationalism was disintegrated. This tampering with the Liberian nationalism, lead to massacres of tribes by other tribes that continued for over two decades.

Besides the destruction of the cohesive fabric of a once peaceful nation and the introduction of hate amongst those who peaceful abided together, the Rice Riots represents the enigma of a cycle of violence estranged to this nation. Prior to 1979, Liberia received world-wide acknowledgement for its peaceful interactions within her boarders and internationally. The violence of the Rice Riots, allowed Liberians a taste of blood shed, an evil revelation of the power of the gun. The exposure to public acts of violence, (i.e.: the murder of 13 politically capable members of Tolbert’s government on light poles in the midst of thousands of civilians and brutalizing others, desensitized Liberians). This desensitization ultimately lead to the chaos of Liberian youth murdering innocent men, women and children; decapitations, castrations, caesarian-style murders of pregnant women along with their babies, and the acceptance of such grossest actions. These actions in-turn has lead us to a state of violent unrest, fear, disorder, and debasement of all moral engagement. 

PAL elaborated on such facades of injustice by the Tolbert administration, which flourished in Liberia. Liberians housed hatred, mistrust, envy and lies. Utilizing imagination, consider that the government was corrupt and the Tolbert family infested the governmental posts. Has the governmental official succeeding 1980 (or those proceeding) accomplished the feats accomplished during 1971-1980? Has the gap between the 'have' and 'have-nots' diminished? Has health improved? Is Liberia more self-sufficient? Are Liberians happier? Did the price of rice drop? 

The Sequel

As the nation moves into a new millennium, we must not allow Tolberts’ vision to escape our minds and hearts. We must be more self-reliant. We must not allow greed and hatred to manifest foolish decisions of reverting to a system less efficient for Liberia and her subjects. We must not allow time and distance to dislodge us from the truth and the people intimately involved with our present state of existence. We must demand an explanation and resolution from those responsible, with the intension of never repeating such atrocious consequence. We must forgive, but record pitfalls, to prevent future generations from falling into the same abyss of destruction. As clearly stated through the words of the urban poet, Nasir Jones(known as ‘Nas’), “I’m not going back”. Remember the old wise saying; Watch your PALS, for a man is known by the company he keeps.

The Message

With the motivating flame of black empowerment, blood filled holes in the ground of Liberia, and those that dedicated their lives to the progression of our nation, I propose, that Liberian’s new generation holds a higher responsibility to creating and assisting in generating hope for national unity, strength and prosperity of the Land of Liberty. We have educational opportunities, international experiences, and understanding of ancestral history in relationship to the craftiness of political promises: which was foreign to our predecessors. Embracing the realization that history is merely a perceptive remembrance of responses to stimuli; whether neuronal, made out of trees or both. We acknowledge and explore misconceptions, for they represent concepts from misled response or misrepresented stimuli to a situation. This soil is a tender median to search for answers to life questions in the quest for the truth. I am further persuaded, that though the ‘truth’ is subjective, it is beneficial to clarify reality as often and thorough as possible: personally and globally. The utilization of this quest rejects the repetition of past errors; steer life’s sails toward wise future plans and cultivates the ability to live life in abundance. ‘We will shine throughout all nations; for our ancestors, for our land, and for the glory of GOD’.

Author: Mark Holder, M.D.