Ellen Barry has a fascinating article on the cover of the New York Times today about Augustus Massalee, a Liberian who fled to the States and ended up in Staten Island, New York. After getting involved with gangs and drugs, Augustus’ mother coaxed him onto a plane and sent him to live with his uncle in Liberia. His mother figured he would be better off there than in Staten Island. Four years later, Augustus returned to the States, having learned from his time back in Liberia that “life is about struggle.”

There is also a little section about Augustus’ mother sending money back to Liberia through Western Union. “More than anything, [Augustus' brother] wanted out of Park Hill [in Staten Island], where tired adults make weekly stops at Western Union to send their savings to Africa. He had watched his mother wire home enough money — $1,000 or $2,000 at a time — to build two houses, buy a Mitsubishi van and pay tuition for 11 children, relatives whose parents died in the war.”