NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports on the fallen fortunes of Liberia's Americo-Liberians (uh-MEHR-ih-koh ly-BEER-ee-unz), the descendants of the freed American slaves who founded the country 150 years ago. For much of Liberia's history, the Americo-Liberians dominated politics and business, and discriminated against native Liberians. Many say this set the stage for the warfare that has ruined the country over the past six years. Now the Americo-Liberians have been reduced to watching from the sidelines while the various militias battle for power.
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