User:J lovinger/sandbox

Testing this thing out.

Evaluating Freetown Article:

- tense was awkward at times.

Article Selection
I think the article for Milton Margai needs editing and expansion. There is not nearly enough information about him, given his centrality to Sierra Leone's independence movement and formation of government. Here are some things I think could use my help in particular:

- the introduction's final sentence is missing two citations. Additionally, I do not think the tone is neutral, and discussion of peoples' opinions of Margai is extremely general. =

- his "Early Life" section could use more information on his political upbringing, medical background, and ethnic status.

- the article's description of his political career is fairly sparse. It could definitely use more information about his role in the independence movement.

Sandbox for Milton Margai article
Sir Milton Augustus Strieby Margai (7 December 1895 – 28 April 1964) was a Sierra Leonean doctor and politician who served as the country's head of government from 1954 until his death. He was titled Chief Minister from 1954 to 1960, and then Prime Minister from 1961 onwards. Margai studied medicine in England, and upon returning to Sierra Leone became a prominent public health campaigner. He entered politics as the founder and inaugural leader of the Sierra Leone People's Party. Margai oversaw Sierra Leone's transition to independence, which occurred in 1961. He died in office aged 68, and was succeeded as prime minister by his brother Albert.

Milton Margai is widely considered the least corrupt and the best Sierra Leonean leader to present.

Early life
Margai was born on 7 December 1895 in the village of Gbangbatoke, Moyamba District in the Southern Province of British Sierra Leone to Mende parents. Sir Milton is the oldest of eighteen children. At the time of his birth, Sierra Leone was a British Protectorate. His father, M.E.S. Margai, hailed from Bonthe District and was an affluent businessman. Margai received his primary education at the Evangelical United Brethren School in Bonthe, Bonthe District, and his secondary education at St Edward's Secondary School in Freetown. He earned his bachelor's degree in history and was the first Protectorate man to graduate from Fourah Bay College in 1921. Margai went to medical school in England and in 1926, graduated as a medical doctor from the Durham University College of Medicine (which went on to become Newcastle University Medical School). Margai also attended the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. He was the first Protectorate man to become a medical doctor.

Margai played several musical instruments, including the piano, violin and the organ.

Medical career
Margai returned to Sierra Leone in 1928 after earning his medical degree and enjoyed an exceptional career in the Colonial Medical Service. He served in 11 of 12 districts in the protectorate. He waged informational campaigns on social welfare and hygiene.

Women's health reform
Margai trained health care workers to instruct female community leaders in the Mende women's association, The Sande, to give courses in hygiene, literacy and child care to young female members. In 1948, Margai wrote an article for African Affairs entitled "Welfare Work in a Secret Society," in which he discusses the difficulties of spreading English medical knowledge in the Protectorate of Sierra Leone due to local traditions.

Independence
Margai led the Sierra Leone delegation at the constitutional conferences that were held with British Colonial Secretary Iain Macleod in London in 1960. On 27 April 1961, Milton Margai led Sierra Leone to independence from the United Kingdom. The nation held its first general elections on 27 May 1962 and Margai was elected Sierra Leone's first Prime Minister by a landslide. His party, the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) won majority of seat in parliament. Margai then sought to heal divides between Sierra Leone's ethnic groups, as several northern ethnic groups felt underrepresented in the SLPP. To ameliorate their concerns, Margai appointed several elites from northern ethnic groups to key ministerial positions. However, this did little to lessen poverty in the north, and forced the SLPP to engage in clientelism in order to ease tensions with northern ethnic leaders.

Working in concert with local women's groups, Margai trained midwives and was the author of an instruction manual on midwifery in the Mende language.