DE-RACIALIZATION OF THE LIBERIAN CONSTITUTION: A PRECONDITION FOR POST CONFLICT CULTURAL DIVERSITY, RACE RELATIONS AND DEMOCRACY

The 1986 Constitution of Liberia, Chapter IV, Citizenship Article 27 states: (a) All persons who, on the coming into force of this Constitution were lawfully citizens of Liberia shall continue to be Liberian citizens. (b) In order to preserve, foster and maintain the positive Liberian culture, values, and character, only persons who are Negroes or of Negro descent shall qualify by birth or by naturalization to be citizens of Liberia. In my opinion, the above statement has a profound racial connotation. Therefore, this study is strongly advocating for the de-racialization of the Liberian Constitution. For Liberia to be democratically and culturally conscious in race relations and diversity in its naturalization process, the constitution must be de-racialized. Based on many historical factors, the Liberia’s citizenship laws are explicitly racist, and sexist. For
instance, the 1847 Liberian Constitution was written through American colonial instructions, the architect of the Liberian State formation. Of course, one can allude that the 1847 Constitution was based on vengeance against white experience of enslavement of Free African American Hegemony Authorities in Liberia. Following the enactment of the First Constitution of 1847, the 1933, 1955, 1984 Constitution of Liberia repeated “only person of negro descent can become citizen and owned properties in Liberia”. Therefore, the struggle for the eradication of the racist Liberian aged-old constitution requires like-minded Liberians and the political institutions to
intervene in the de-racialization of the Liberian Constitution.