An African Son

As a tribal boy in Liberia, Abraham Watson knew prejudice and ridicule, but with persistence he became a teacher, then a technician for the Voice of America with a secure life and happy family. In 1990, it all collapsed when rebel soldiers invaded Liberia during what became most brutal civil war in African history. Abe plotted his family's escape by outsmarting the rebels at multiple deadly checkpoints. Despite the struggles and racism he faced in Liberia, the Ivory Coast, and also the United States, Abe remains a smiling leader, befriending and helping others. He exemplifies the great potential, often hidden or suppressed, in all of us.