We Had to Run: Liberian Journeys from War to Belonging

"Books can serve as an instrument for change, understanding, and empathy," says Master of Human Rights student Darlington Seghbean, who recently published his book, We Had to Run: Liberian Journeys from War to Belonging. The book tells the story of the shared immigrant experience of living in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and other temporary statuses, using the Liberian community as its lens. On April 14, the Human Rights Program and the Master of Human Rights program, with support from the Immigration History Research Center, the African Studies Initiative, and the Center for Race, Indigeneity, Disability, Gender & Sexuality Studies, hosted a book talk event with Seghbean. 

In a conversation with HRP Director Carrie Walling, Seghbean discussed how Temporary Protected Status (TPS) affects Liberian immigrants and others who are forced to leave their home countries and build a life in the U.S. while living in legal uncertainty. The book  helps readers understand how important it is to reform these systems. “I hope that this book creates solidarity between communities and people with shared experiences,” says Seghbean. 

The conversation highlighted the power of storytelling to document lived experiences and challenge systems that leave communities in uncertainty. By centering the voices of those living under TPS, We Had to Run invites readers to understand experiences that may be different from their own, empathize with them, and ultimately mobilize for change. By listening and learning from the experiences of others, we can see human rights not as abstract ideals, but as lived realities. Books like We Had to Run humanize abstract issues and spark the seeds of meaningful change.