A House with Two Rooms - The Advocates for Human Rights

he is also part of the Quardu Borni Chiefdom Mandingo Association; he is
a part of the Liberians in Pennsylvania-ULAA 467 chapter; and, obviously a
part [of] the umbrella ULAA. Beside these six organizations with almost
the same objectives (development back home), this friend is also [a] member
of the Movement for Political Reform in Liberia and his high school alumni
association. Let us not forget that he is [a] family man and part of a local
congregation in addition to attending graduate school and working a full
time job. 468
This quote not only illustrates the complexity of Liberian diaspora socialization and accompanying
responsibilities, it also demonstrates the proliferation of groups based on ethnic, regional, and political
persuasions in the Liberian diaspora.
Umbrella Political Organizations
In the early 1970s, Liberian students across the United States organized an umbrella organization to
advocate for the interests and welfare of Liberian students and immigrants throughout North America
as well as to provide a sense of a national community in the Americas and to impact economic
and political decisions in their homeland. 469 This organization ultimately was named the Union of
Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA). 470 Many key figures in Liberia’s civil crises were also
key leaders in ULAA. Today, ULAA has remained active throughout the United States, with chapters
and branches in most states where Liberians are populous. 471
Organization of the Liberian community in the United Kingdom and Europe is similar to that in
the United States. For example, the European Federation of Liberian Associations is analogous
to ULAA. 472 Liberians in Europe have also established country-based umbrella organizations, for
example the Union of Liberian Organizations in the United Kingdom (ULO-UK) 473 and the Liberian
Association of Belgium, 474 which are analogous to state-based entities in the United States. 475
County and Ethnic Organizations
Liberian counties are organized in large part based on traditional home territories of particular ethnic
groups. For example, Grand Gedeh County is traditionally the home of the Krahn people, Maryland
County is traditionally home of the Grebo people, and Grand Kru County is traditionally the home
of the Kru people. For every major county in Liberia, an association exists in the United States.
Where counties are not surrogates for ethnic associations, such as for Mandingos who are settled
across Liberia, an association in America represents that ethnic group. 476 These associations are one
of the mainstays by which members socialize and network in America. 477 In these groups, members
enjoy their traditional practices unique to the individual ethnic group. For example, on Mandingo
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Chapter Thirteen