Jabbeh Massaquoi

by Salimatu Mansaray

This oral history was prepared by Salimatu Mansaray, a student a Bladensburg High School, for his World History Class.

Jabbeh Massaquoi is about 72 years old; she was born in the town of Grand Cape Mount County Liberia, West Africa. She comes from the Vai tribe. Vai is one of the 16 tribes in Liberia. She is a countrywoman, who can not read and write because she did not go to school. She is married to a man with four wives and she is the head wife. She has eleven children, twenty-three grand children, five great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. She has lots of kids and teenagers around her telling them some good and bad things in life.

What are your earliest memories of your childhood?

"Well, I remember, when I was a child I liked to catch fish. My father taught me how to catch fish and one day I caught a fish that was really big. I couldn't pull it out by myself. Then I called my dad to help me. Also, I remember one more thing, and that is playing soccer. I loved to play soccer. One day I was playing soccer game with my friends when my ball burst apart on the field. I started to cry. Some time I was alone by myself."

Why do you like for kids and young boys and girls to be around you?

I like children because I know how a child feels when he or she does not have a mother. When may be the mother is dead or for away from the child. I have felt it and I know how it looks like. This is why I like children that come around me and treat them, as they are all my children.

How did you decide to come to the United States?

I have some of my children and some relatives here in America, but I was not thinking of coming here. I was forced to come here when the Civil War broke out in my country. My children decided that I should come to America because I was getting old and I should not live in the refugee camps. They said that America has good doctors and health facilities that will help keep me well healthy.

What were your first impressions of the United States?

Two things impressed me about the United States when I first got here. The first one was the educational system. I like the way the government is doing every thing possible to educate every child by providing free school, free lunch and free transportation to and from school. In my country and most African countries have few free schools and most of the schools are private schools. Many poor parents do not have the money to send their children to school. The second thing is the law. Here in the United States no man is above the law.

What have you lost and what have your gained from your immigration to the United States?

  As an African who was born in Africa and spent almost all of my life there, I love and miss my culture and tradition and my children, friends and other relatives. I do not see and do most things I use to do back home. On the other hand, I had a sickness that could not be cured in my country for a reason that I do not know myself. Fortunately, doctors here in America worked on me and I am presently free from the sickness and in good health.

What was the happiest day and happiest time of your life?

The happiest time of my life was the day I arrived here in the United States and saw my children and some relatives that are here. I always wanted to see my children before I die.

What was the saddest day and saddest time of your life?

The saddest time of my life was the time that I was leaving Liberia, my beloved country, to go and seek refuge in another country because of the war.