joining me is nicole lee, president of transafrica, and add because the group dedicated to -- advocacy group dedicated to justice for the developing world. good to have you on the program. let me start by asking whether this has and more about the orissa course -- symbolism substance. >> it is top. tough. there are a lot of issues that could have been dealt with. you have exploitation by corporation. he chose to focus on building africa for africans. he talks about small and middle class businesses. he also touched on some of the nuances, some of the problems africans have been dealing with. you have exploitation, and so many resources are being used for other are best is. too little, too late? been no shortage of commentators who complained the president has not given enough attention to africa. i guess his track record has not been as good. there are a number who complain not enough has taken place. too is your sense that little, too late? complicated. every day amazing children are born in africa, and they deserve at cap. far too many are being born into poverty. i think and you com

it was under the leadership of randall robinson and transafrica and the congressional black caucus leded in the struggle in a profound way to free nelson mandela and end apartheid. i was profoundly moved and inspired by nelson and winnie mandela. the free south africa movement played a role in weekly boycotts and actions protested in front of gold and diamond dealers in beverly hills. we spoke at city halls. throughout the 1980's, we organized marches and rallies. we led -- and put our freedom on the line. when i was arrested for protesting the apartheid regime in front of the south african consulate in washington dc. in 1986, as part of the assembly i called corporations doing business with south africa and made a call for divestment a national movement sweeping from state to state and city to city. i did this with authoring an assembly bill to divest from pension funds in california and fortifying california's opposition to the apartheid regime. the divestment movement grew. there are over 40 state legislatures that were considering a divestment bill. in 1987, the los angeles movemen

stirring words inspired and instructed us, and that instruction continued with randall robinson of transafricaon, our former colleague, with bill gray, whom we thought was going to be with us today, but i understand his wife, andrea -- and i want to recognize bill gray's work and the great family's contribution. [applause] mr. clyburn, our distinguished assistant leader and, of course, with maxine and the list goes on and on. and that leadership continues with the congressional black caucus under the leadership of marcia fudge. as deputy mandela stated then, to deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. to have deprivation is to dehumanize them. four years later he returned to the house chamber this time as the democratically elected president of south africa. [applause] following one of those addresses, some of us had the privilege of having lunch with president mandela in staff wear hall. you remember that. and -- statuary hall. you remember that. and he talked in very personal terms about what it was like all those years in prison. he talked about his family. he tal