|
|
|
|
|
Children at a fishing village. |
|
One of the first things I noticed upon my arrival in Liberia were the women. They all walked with such grace, often times carrying loads on top of their heads. |
|
.We arrived in Liberia on Sunday, the last day of campaigning for the elections. This is a picture of a "Devil", a mascot of sorts used in celebratory ceremonies. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Former President, Jimmy Carter, along with several US dignitaries, were on my flight. He is the head of the Carter Center, which promotes freedom, democracy and health. |
|
Producer, Photographer and Reporter all in one! On Election Day, I was trying to get a good shot of President Jimmy Carter as he made his way through the voting precinct. |
|
Locals campaigning in the streets. They are following the "Devil". |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At the Liberian Government Hospital, it was hard at times to balance camera, notebook, microphone and my pocketbook. I didn't want to miss a thing! |
|
At the first voting site I visited in Monrovia, there were children working; selling fruit, water and goods. A few of them gathered around me, curious about what I was doing.
|
|
WIPNET (Women in Peace-Building Network) had been coming to this open space called Sinkor Field field on Mondays and Thursdays for the past 3 years to pray and fast for peace in Liberia. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| A prominent surgeon at Liberia Government Hospital who chose to stay and practice to help his people. |
|
A local fishing village where the people survive from selling fish right out of their backyard: the Atlantic Ocean. |
|
Children of this fishing village wanted their pictures taken. Most of them had never seen a picture of themselves and were ecstatic when I showed them. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New Jersey Congressman, Donald Payne(D, 10th District) has been traveling to Liberia for over 15 years to represent his large Liberian constituency. We sat down at the US Embassy and discussed our hopes for Liberians in Liberia and in New Jersey. |
|
Two civil wars in 15 years have produced numerous refugee camps. This camp is in Kakata, about 200 miles outside of Monrovia. Conditions are poor with no running water or electricity.
|
|
Although I was in Liberia to work, I made time to finally meet my family. This picture is of my father's sister, Kpanna Kio. The young men are her sons, my cousins. I've been talking on the phone to them since I was a little girl. It is so good to finally match voices to faces! |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My aunt, Kpanna Kio, pulled out beautiful pieces of cloth and ceremoniously wrapped me in ivory, gold and blue lace, all the while bestowing blessings on me. I was moved beyond words.
|
|
I met my mother's two brothers, Uncle Boye and Uncle Pyme waiting for me on the side of the road, ready to take me on a tour of my grandfather's rubber tree farm. |
|
My mother grew up in this house. Still standing, my grandfather built this house in the early 1940s with his own hands. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| My cousin, Finda, and I met up at a church called, Chickensoup Factory.The congregation told me to always remember Liberia in my heart. |
|
Traveling
journalists group shot. We make up
the 2005 United Nations/ National
Association of Black Journalists
fellows. |
|
With my great-aunt, Clinto. The day before I was scheduled to leave, my aunts and uncles threw a Saturday morning feast for me at their home. |
