An Inspiring Life of Hope and Optimism
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Loading... - Sam Kwadwo
- 12 Aug 2022
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In full disclosure, I believe that Dr. D. Elwood Dunn is at least primus inter pares among Liberian scholars, arguably he is primus, for his substantive contribution to academia (imagine if he had been able to spend 35 years teaching Liberian university students), and for his scholarly engagements and publications about Liberia. Dr. Dunn is probably the most widely published Liberian academician (I counted at least 38 on a list in Appendix 6). He is also a relative, and he does mention my name in passing in more than one place in his memoir.
In his introduction, Dunn states: “It is my hope that my life’s experience will serve to inspire and motivate young Liberians and others to prepare themselves for self-fulfillment through a life of service to others.” This writer believes that he did and will you why. Please read on.
“A Liberian Life”, to paraphrase Dunn, is recent history in the form of autobiography. It is his story from birth through its publication, and his country’s story from the mid-1970s through the years of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf presidency. It contains thoughtful analyses, evidence-supported findings, and presents his views of the long-list of unfinished and unresolved Liberian subjects that are necessary to transform the country and create a sustained nation.
Regarding his Liberian scholarship, Dunn states that his “motive for research and writing was a desire to better understand my country with a view to enhancing its development and hopefully contribute to the broader advancement of knowledge.” Liberians today are still living through the windfalls and shortfalls from those long-ago events in the 1970s that are presented in historical details in the book and offered by someone who was present. Read More...
