[applause] >> he was born and raised in orangeburg, south carolina. that's where my mom is from. and earned his b.a. at the university of michigan where he was the first black student to be named co-editor in chief of the next -- michigan daily. he began his career at the "san francisco chronicle" and joined the "washington post" in 1980. where he has served in various capacities, including london bureau chief, foreign editor, and currently associate editor and columnist. he was a nieman fellow at harvard and served on the council of foreign relations. in 2009, robinson was awarded the pulitzer prize for distinguished commentary, the highest prize in journalism. [applause] >> the citation read, for his eloquent column on the 2008 presidential campaign that focused on the election of the first african-american president, showcasing graceful writing and grasp of the larger historic picture. robinson lives in arlington, virginia, with his wife and two sons. "disintegration: the splintering of black america" is his third book. so with that, let's show him some texas love. [applause]