roland: john, i have often used maynard jackson as the model for politicians. how do you propose us moving getting elected officials to think about maynard jackson within that way in terms of how you use political power and economic power to be able to affect the economic condition of your community? barry: i think that we are putting too much credit and too much pressure on politicians. the people that change the world were not politicians. the impact of politicians. dr. king in andrew young and others impacted politicians -- and andrew young and others impacted politicians. but maynard jackson was not sitting around for civil rights legislation, with the first one he was done until selma pressure was put on him. i was talking to nelson mandela and he was saying, what are you going to do for poor people and he said, what are you going to make me do? he said, represent -- >> true story? ok. [laughter] >> would he confirm it? barry: i have to represent everybody, make a case for me. let me tell you what i was trying to say earlier and i will get back to the ques

including john lewis and joseph lowry, jose williams became a good friend of mine and maynard jackson, all people i interviewed over the years. i really applaud them, incredibly brave courageous and made the world a better place including martin luther king jr. >> sure. >> i guess the question i have is with this president these comments coupled with three high profile race cases he injects himself into without any evidence in he's wrong, ferguson, trayvon and cambridge police. what is your thoughts as you put it all together? >> well i think this was a very historical occasion. commemorating it was perfectly appropriate. i saw the film "selma." i recommend it to anybody who wants background on this. i agree with what he said. people who have come to this country, holocaust survivors, former slaves, people coming all around the world to make it what it is. >> is he making race relation better or worse? >> i think it's fine to talk about the streams that create the great american river such as it is today, but i think there are many things the president attorney general people like al