Child-soldier-activist discusses his memoirs

Anti-war activist and author Ishmael Beah shared his personal story from child soldier to rehabilitated man at "The Real Life Forum" Nov. 15 at K.R. Williams Auditorium.
Beah began his story by telling students that he lived a joyful life before being recruited as a child soldier.
He was born and raised in Sierra Leone.  Beah said there was no electricity.  Yet, it was a "simple, beautiful and remarkable place," he said.
He grew up listening to traditional storytellers who were older people in the community that imparted knowledge and wisdom on younger generations. He described the community as one that worked together to make sure all needs were met.
He said everyone ate from the same table.
"No one knew who was poor."
"At a young age, Beah
learned to speak English and, after learning the language, he developed an
interest in American culture."
One of his first introductions to American culture was hip-hop music.  He was introduced to the music of MC Hammer, LL Cool J, and Grand Master Flash.
"This was the era of 'Yo MTV Raps'," Beah said.  
"I was fascinated by people that looked like us."
Beah said he imitated American culture by filling his shoes with rocks to resemble the sole of Nike shoes.
He explained the misconceptions about African life are not true.
"We are not all poor and homeless," Beah said.
"The entire continent of Africa is not a jungle."
After the Sierra Leone Civil War began, Beah lost his parents and his siblings to warfare. He said the war was due to political and economic turmoil.
"My life was devastated by war."
The war climate was completely opposite of his former life.
Food was scarce, rivers flooded with blood and young people were recruited to kill in the same communities that raised them.  
In the same community, where a child would never raise his voice to a parent, children were now forced to kill their parents.
"Children were forced to inflict violence on their own communities," Beah said.
After he lost everything, Beah was recruited as a child soldier.
"I hadn't anything to live for."
As a child soldier, Beah said drugs helped him function.
"I became addicted to Brown-Brown."
Brown-Brown is a combination of cocaine and gunpowder.
At age 13, Beah became a member of the military.
Three years later, Beah said he was removed by UNICEF and was placed in a recovery facility for eight months. While at the facility, Beah ended his drug addiction and insomnia.  
"I am extremely lucky," he said.
Beah's opportunity to come to the United States came in the form of a written competition.  
He entered a contest to tell his story as a former child soldier.  Winners were given the opportunity to come to New York and tell their story.  After winning the contest, Beah was confronted with American embassy rules.
"When I tried to obtain an American visa, the man at the American embassy required that I have two forms of documentation such as a bank statement and proof of land ownership.
"This was to ensure my return to Sierra Leone," he said.
At this point he realized how little the outside world knew about war.
"When you're faced with being gunned down, you're not thinking about bank statements," Beah said.
"You're in fear for your life and nothing more."
Once Beah arrived in New York, he said he found the culture and climate foreign.
He was used to a climate that did not drop below 60 degrees.
 "I thought to myself, 'this is the most uncomfortable place in the world'," he said.
He expected New York to look like the music videos. He said he was overwhelmed by the number of white people.
"I saw that whites came in woman versions and children versions too."
  Beforehand, he only knew of white men.
Beah said the food was unlike any food he had tasted.
"It was nasty."
After living in America for several years, he has adopted some American practices.
"I am a Sierra Leonean with some American tendencies."
However, Beah said he is committed to changing the perceptions of Africa and war.
"The human spirit is strong enough to recover and triumph."    
With his platform, he has tried to empower Africans to be at the forefront of change.
"The West isn't the only source of freedom; look inward."
Students said they were moved by Beah's story.
"The lecture reinforced for me that people are people everywhere you go and should be treated as such," said Tia Wheeler, a junior social work major from Charlotte.  
"Being in America can sometimes blind us to the reality that even though someone is different; they are not so far removed."
[The lecture] "was an eye-opening experience on how capable and adaptable human beings are to violence but also to love, peace and change," said Gerrod Williamson, a senior political science major from Baltimore.
Beah encouraged students to be empowered by their education.
"Education is the one thing that can't be taken from you.
The event was sponsored by the Office of Student Activities.

Edited by DaYona McLean