Part of preparing my mind and heart for this trip to Africa is educating myself about where I’m going and the people who live there. Last night I watched Pray The Devil Back To Hell, a documentary about a small band of Liberian women who came together in the midst of a civil war, stood up to violent warlords, and won a long-awaited peace for their broken country in 2003. To say I was inspired is a complete understatement. The more I learn about the history of Liberia, the braver these women are to me. Their stories are incredibly devastating, and at the same time, inspiring.
“The women of Liberia are living proof that moral courage and non-violent resistance can succeed, even where the best efforts of traditional diplomacy have failed.”
You can watch Pray The Devil Back To Hell here. It’s 53 minutes long and worth every second of your time.
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Film Synopsis:
Pray the Devil Back to Hell chronicles the remarkable story of the courageous Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country.
Thousands of women — ordinary mothers, grandmothers, aunts and daughters, both Christian and Muslim — came together to pray for peace and then staged a silent protest outside of the Presidential Palace. Armed only with white T-shirts and the courage of their convictions, they demanded a resolution to the country’s civil war. Their actions were a critical element in bringing about a agreement during the stalled peace talks.
A story of sacrifice, unity and transcendence, Pray the Devil Back to Hell honors the strength and perseverance of the women of Liberia. Inspiring, uplifting, and most of all motivating, it is a compelling testimony to the potential of women worldwide to alter the history of nations.
