3-17-99

Contacts:
Pat Miller, Committee on Lectures, (515) 294-9934
Arianna McKinney, News Service, (515) 294-6881

ROBINSON TO SPEAK ON AFRICA IN THE 21ST CENTURY

AMES, Iowa -- Randall Robinson will speak on "Africa in the 21st Century" at Iowa State University as part of Africa Week. He will speak on Wednesday, March 31, at 8 p.m. in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union. His talk is free and open to the public.

Robinson is president of TransAfrica, an organization working for more progressive U.S. foreign policy toward African and Caribbean nations. His efforts have led to changes in foreign policy that helped end apartheid in South Africa and return Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide to office.

Robinson served as executive director of TransAfrica since 1977 and as executive director of TransAfrica Forum since 1981. He was named president of both organizations in 1995.

Robinson staged massive daily protests for more than 400 days in front of the South African embassy during the apartheid. In his writings and speeches, as well as a 1994 hunger strike, he has protested U.S. policy in Haiti and the U.S. treatment of Haitian refugees. He also provides frequent testimony before U.S. Congress about issues of human rights and democracy.

Robinson holds a bachelor's degree from Virginia Union University and a juris doctor from Harvard Law School.

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Revised 03/17/99