Citizen of where?

Koromah Boykins wants to be Don Quixote. "Boykins is among a growing number of African-Americans seeking citizenship in Liberia."

Charles L. Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer of Restore Negroes Heritage to Africa says the thing that stands out the most in his mind is, "there are lots of ordinary Liberians who believe that Liberia was founded as a homeland for freed slaves from America, their descendants, and all people of color who want to live free. That premise we can say is long forgotten, and is totally unfulfilled. Many of the founding fathers descendants who are citizens of Liberia continue to serve the Caucasians of the Western world until this day," says Jones.

Jones says he himself has been involved in trying to reclaim his citizenship from Liberia. "I've been doing this since 1999, when I got back from Liberia, went to the U.S. State Department to seek help for Liberia because the country was in turmoil. Jones says the state department said they could not provide the kind of help that he was seeking, but you can help if you go to Liberia and run from president.

" How can I stand for president in a country I'm not citizen of. Jones says the state department official informed him: "that's where you are wrong, You and every black American are citizens of Liberia."

Jones says when he asked whether there any documents to that effect he was told to conduct research which he eventual did.

"I went and found them on the internet, on the archives and the Liberian congress. It has what is known as Article 9. 1839.

"I'm not a stranger to Liberia or Africa. I have spent fifteen or more years in Liberia. I found many people in the country who agreed with my philosophy. So that's how long I've been involved, he says.

"Once we claim our citizenship to Liberia then we will be restoring our heritage to Africa," says Jones. Jones said the problem now facing him and others seeking Liberian citizenship is whether to put Liberia in a court of law and let the courts interpret the issue as whether they are legitimate citizens of Liberia or not. Or apply for the rights to become citizens of Liberia.

Where do I start? Jones wants to dredge up superceded laws to give him access to another country. I have a picture of a State Department functionary, sick to death of a boring pest, who decides to play on the credulity of his tormenter. Or perhaps State has some genuine nutcases who dislike their own country aboard--there's some evidence for that.

Do we know this family?

Boykins says the meeting was timely and nice. "My family was happy to know that they have a background in Liberia. My grandfather was born in Liberia from the Koromah and massaquoi family. My father, Robert Boykins, is a resident in Baltimore, Maryland.

And Koromah wants to get the British government to persuade Sierra Leone to give him some property that his family may or may not have had a right to back in a day when there was no Liberian government control of the region in question.

In 1989, following the death of Koromah's grandfather George M. Koromah Sr, the family discussed what what was going to be done with the property in Soulema, Sierra Leone. "Our portfolio left by grandfather led to the research of the Berlin Conference of 1884-85 These deeds led me to London to inspect the registrar and found everything to be legitimate," says Koromah

"England takes the territory so long in dispute, and which covers a line of sea coast of some forty miles, by cession direct of the so-called King of the Gallinas and Chiefs of the neighboring country, in an " Agreement" concluded at Solymah, March 30, 1882 with Governor Haveloc, which agreement was not ratified for nearly a year, as appears by the Governor's Proclamation of March 19, 1883, conveying "Her Majesty's confirmation and acceptance."

The Region "annexed is described as bordering on the Atlantic Ocean and Extending a "Distance inland of half a mile from high water," and intended " as part of the colony of Sierra Leone." The consideration is an annual stipend of 210 pounds distributed among fifteen native princes and headmen in sums of from 5 pounds to 30 pounds, payment to begin at once.

Somebody needs to take Koromah aside and remind him that the law is generally quite practical. Hundred-year old claims in a land where government has been a rarity are worth precisely nothing. The US is fairly generous with dual citizenship, but not that generous. And blaming all your woes on the "Caucasians" will get you lots of shoulders to cry on, but not a lot of practical help.