. >> i remember reading a copy of my aunt's in jamaica queens. it was the first book ever written by a white writer that discussed racism in ways that was complicate and sophisticated. -- complicated and sophisticated. >> a touchstone in american literary and social history. it's a story gently tugged at the issues of racism. >> she was a champion of people who helped us get liberated from racism in this country. >> harper lee's first and only novel. >> a masterpiece is masterpieces not because they're flawless but because they tap into something essential to us, at the heart of who we are and how -- >> a masterpiece and a mystery. >> of course, one kept hoping and waiting for the next novel. sadly, that never came. >> i cannot imagine what drove harper to silence. >> thank you. i prefer to pass. >> what did you say? >> well, i have nothing relevant to say concerning the case. however, when i have something relevant to say i shall raise my hand. >> stepped on you. >> serious doubt about your becoming a mother. [laughter] >> you are a son of a bit

of england, scotland, wales, in northern ireland, and she is also the queen of 15 rounds around the world that include canada, jamaica, australia, new zealand, and others, and then there are 14 foreign territories. now, the commonwealth is the former british empire, that starting in the late 1940's, all the companies that had been part of the british empire, led by india and ireland and others, they began to become republics and they became independent. the commonwealth has stayed together. it now has 54 nations. it is a voluntary association. it is dedicated to promoting good government and the environment and a whole range of issues and the queen is the head of it. that is a kind of a ceremonial role. >> so, can countries topped out of the commonwealth? >> and they can be kicked out for human rights violations -- zimbabwe was, for example, and others have been throughout the years. and they can also apply to be admitted. >> she played kind of a behind- the-scenes role in south africa. >> absolutely. i have quite a few conversations with the former prime minister mulroney, who was very much involved in all the facti