Date:  July 27

Subject:  President Obama in Africa

Dear Friends:

On July 10 the President traveled to Africa.  The trip was historic and his travel to sub-Saharan Africa so early in his term was welcome.  Unfortunately, unlike President Obama’s groundbreaking presentations in Trinidad at the Summit of the Americas, and at the Cairo University in Egypt, his comments were underwhelming.

Considering that the issue that moved young Barack Obama to politics was apartheid and the divestment movement of the 1970s, I expected to hear a speech of historic proportion, one that would mirror the extraordinary significance of his very presence in Accra – that of our first African American president. 

I expected that President Barack Obama’s speech would parallel Senator Barack Obama’s 2006 speech in Cape Town, South Africa, in which he noted:

Freedom from want and fear, personal and material security, intelligent trade policies, these were the issues that I expected the President to address. 

At TransAfrica Forum we understand the intense pressures and enormous difficulties facing President Obama, a reality of which Senator Obama could only imagine.  We also understand that Africa has never been a top priority for this Administration.  However, we also know that we are presented with a political opportunity, and that together we can forge a comprehensive policy toward Africa. But, it can only be done with your assistance.  Power concedes nothing without a struggle, we know that.  And the forces that continue to skew U.S. policy toward Africa will continue to hold sway until you and people who care and think like you, force a change.    Together we can make a difference. 

In solidarity,

Nicole C. Lee, Esq.

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