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CNN Saturday Morning News

President Obama Visits Ghana

Aired July 11, 2009 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN HOST: And we also have filmmaker Spike Lee in the house today. It's the 20th anniversary of "Do the Right Thing." Can you believe it's been 20 years already? Well as you recall, this ground-breaking movie addressed racial stereotypes and forced a conversation on race relations across the country. Spike will be here to discuss the film and his friend, the late Michael Jackson.

TJ HOLMES, CNN HOST: But first, we want to start with the president on his trip to Ghana, set to speak over there in just about 40 minutes what we're told.

NGUYEN: Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux and CNN's Nkepile Mabuse both joining us from Ghana's capita, that being Accra. So let's begin with you Suzanne, quite a day there, a lot lined up in fact for the president.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's a lot of enthusiasm and excitement. I want to show you just some of the headlines, local papers, the great son of Africa and America arrives. You see him with the first lady Michelle. Here the whole family it's akwaba (ph), that means welcome here, the local paper and finally today's the day Ghana's world. You see Michelle Obama there and (INAUDIBLE) we think it's photo shop, but you get the idea that they really feel a sense of kinship with the first family. This is something that people are very proud of, a welcoming home if you will.

What we are seeing earlier today, we saw President Obama with the president of Ghana, that being John Atta Mills (ph) and both of them making statements, talking about the importance of the alliance and why Ghana, the big question, of course, because Barack Obama's father was from Kenya, but Barack Obama is here to really demonstrate and highlight the importance of this country's democracy, of good governance, stability of this country. It really is a favorite of previous U.S. presidents having been here twice before with President Bush as well as President Clinton and one of the underlying themes that he is going to bring before parliament and he said it earlier today, he said Africa is not separate from world affairs. That is why he came from the G-8 summit, from Russia, here to Ghana, to really kind of integrate the idea that African countries are a part of world affairs when you talk about the economy, when you talk about peace, when you talk about oil and trade, those type of things, that is one of the things that he's going to be emphasizing later today when he speaks to the Ghanaian people and as you have mentioned and you'll notice and my colleague in her report, a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of excitement around this trip and the first family. NGUYEN: No doubt. As the president says, Africa is a part of world affairs. Ghana is a part of world affairs. Do you expect to hear anything in the way of any policy change in his speech today?

MALVEAUX: Well, not so much policy change, but really a different approach if you will, really trying to integrate Ghana and other key countries inside the continent of Africa. One of the things that we heard from the president yesterday, it's a very simple statement, it's the obvious. He says Africa is a continent, not a country, that there are many different facets of different people and their needs and so it vary whether it's trade with South Africa, whether it's oil in Nigeria, whether it's security in the Middle East and Egypt, that all of these things should be integrated with the kind of world affairs and the kind of things that the president talks about when he goes to the G-8, when he goes to Europe, when he goes to Russia. So in that sense, Betty, it really is a different message to the American people and to the rest of the world that these are real folks that are players on the world stage, Betty.

NGUYEN: CNN's Suzanne Malveaux. She's been traveling a lot lately, joining us this morning from Accra, Ghana. Thank you so much for that Suzanne. TJ.

HOLMES: Our Nkepile Mabuse is there in Accra as well. She is keeping up with all the going on surrounding the president's visit. A lot of excitement there. Hello to you, Nkepile.

NKEPILE MABUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A little while ago, TJ, a motorcade went past this road behind me that people here believe was President Barack Obama and there was just an outburst of jubilation, people waving the American flags and waving their Ghanaian flags and screaming "we love you" to Obama. So people here are extremely excited. Many of them are wearing their Obama gear. They're wearing t-shirts with President Obama's face on them and traditional cloths that have also been made with President Obama's face on them, flags and all sorts of things, really, really exciting for Ghana at this moment. The spotlight is on this country and of course, President Barack Obama wants the spotlight on Ghana because of its good governance and its good record of peaceful transfers of power and of course, economic growth as well, TJ.

HOLMES: All right. Nkepile Mabuse in Accra for us this morning as well, thank you so much. We'll be checking back in with all of our correspondents there and hearing from the president shortly. Our Anderson Cooper also in Ghana this morning, he will be sitting down with the president a little later on for an exclusive interview.

NGUYEN: And they'll talk about the reception the president is getting, but they're also going to be discussing Ghana's painful past.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Betty and TJ, the president arrived in Ghana on Friday evening. He was welcomed at the airport. The entire first family was welcomed. The entire country of Ghana is incredibly excited about the presidential arrival. Drive down the streets there are posters, there are billboards, people wearing T- shirts with President Obama's picture on it. The fact that the president of the United States has chosen Ghana as his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president has really honored and thrilled a lot of people here.

There are obviously other countries he could have picked, in particular Kenya, where his father was from, where he's been before, before he was president on several occasions, but he picked Ghana because this administration considers the government of Ghana, the system here a thriving democracy. They've had successful elections. They've seen economic growth. They've seen development policies that seem to be working and they see this as a model for what they want to see in the rest of Africa and that's the message the president wants to bring to this country here in west Africa.

On Saturday, he's going to be visiting Cape Coast where there's a series of fortresses which were used by slave masters to hold slaves before they were sent to the new world, before they were sent to Europe and to the Americas. And the president and his family are going to visit one of those castles. I was there yesterday on Friday. I'll be there again with him today on Saturday, interviewing him exclusively. I got to tell you it is a haunting sight to be in these castles, in the dungeons, these holding pens, literally rooms with no windows, stone walls where hundreds of slaves were crammed in. Many of them died in these rooms, suffocated to death. It is truly a haunting place to be. The president will be there. I'll be talking to him not only about the way he sees the U.S. economy and other world issues, but about his experiences here and on this trip to Africa and what it's like to be in a place with such history.

NGUYEN: No doubt going to be looking forward to seeing that. But in the meantime the president is expected to speak at this hour and we will bring you his remarks live. Also this morning, our Josh Levs joins us with a little explainer on Ghana. Hey there, Josh.

JOSH LEVS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey there to you guys. Ghana's economy and also its religious breakdown are actually really significant for the president's trip. And we will hear directly from him as he explains how made this choice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

"DO THE RIGHT THING," COURTESY UNIVERSAL STUDIOS: This is the man talking

All right, all right, doctor. Come on, what?

Always do the right thing.

That's it?

That's it.

I got it. I'm gone.

(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: You got it. That's it. Do the right thing. That was the name of the movie 20 years ago. Can you believe it is 20 years old? Still ahead, Spike Lee going to be joining us here live in the studio talking about his groundbreaking movie about race relations, get his take on the film, if it became what he wanted it to become at the time.

NGUYEN: And also, you can stay connected with us every weekend, check us out, I-report, facebook, twitter, weigh in today too as well because as we said, Spike Lee is in the house. We're going to be asking him a lot of questions regarding "Do the Right Thing" and I know you have your questions as well, so send them in. We'll ask Spike Lee. Reach out to us on facebook and twitter. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: All right. Some new video just in to CNN, live from Ghana and we are seeing people getting prepared as the president arrives there. He's going to be speaking today around 8:30 Eastern time this morning at the Accra international conference center. And again this video is just coming in to CNN. Do don't have any exact details of what we know. This is a ceremony about to take place as the president arrives and that speech, when it does happen, we will bring it to you live right here on CNN.

HOLMES: We were talking a bit about Ghana this morning but for the most part, doesn't get a whole lot of attention but today the world is focused on this small African country.

NGUYEN: Absolutely and our Josh Levs is here to tell us about it and why President Obama has indeed, selected Ghana over many of the different countries that he could have chosen but instead he chose Ghana.

LEVS: It's really interesting guys. In fact, let's just get right to this map. We want to give everyone the big picture here. We're going to do this Google Earth animation. We're going to zoom in so you can see where it is over in that western section of Ghana. It is sub- Saharan, but you'll see here as we zoom in our two key places to know about, one we've been showing you some video from this slave site, Anderson Cooper was talking about it just minutes ago. That was over on the cape coast and the other one you saw there was Accra.

Now we have some video of what it looks like. Let me bring you some factoids too. I want you to learn some of the basics here as well. We're going to start off with the population which is 24 million. But one thing that's really striking, might surprise people, is this next one, the religious breakdown there. This country is majority Christian, 69 percent Christian. There is a substantial Muslim population as well. As we know that is significant as well for President Obama any time he travels, 16 percent Muslim there.

Now take a look at the next one, which is about the poverty line. It's big, 29 percent below the poverty line but for Africa, it's actually not that big and I was looking at some of the human poverty indexes and the things that rank these countries. Compared to other African nations, that's not that bad. But still, obviously, there's tremendous poverty in Ghana and that is something we expect him to address as well.

A couple more here. This next one, very important to understand, that this country is very heavily dependent on international assistance. So while its economy is doing well, the U.S. plays a major role in why its economy is doing well. Trade, including with the U.S., hugely important. And finally, one thing to note about the history of Ghana that I just learned, I find very interesting, the first nation in all the continents of Sahara that got its own independence. That happened back in 1957.

So when you take a look at that guys, it kind of lays the groundwork for President Obama coming in today and giving this information and saying, speaking directly to this population, you know, some things that are shared in common with the United States and some things that depend on the United States, but at the same time in some ways also an example of the things that continue to plague Africa. Betty and TJ

NGUYEN: No doubt. Thank you for that, that explainer, really good information.

LEVS: You got it, thanks.

NGUYEN: We want to switch to weather right now because boy, is it hot down south especially in places like Texas. Reynolds Wolf joins us with a look at that. Hey Reynolds.

(WEATHER REPORT)

REYNOLDS WOLF, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Now if you're hoping to get a break from the heat or just a break from the work week, you got the weekend, I'm sure many of you may have a few questions as to what to do for this weekend with your family. Well, look no farther, got a few ideas for you on this weekend's weekend getaway.

(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)

WOLF (voice-over): When you're ready to step away from the neon lights of Vegas, head three hours north to Zion National Park in Utah.

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WOLF: Entrance fees to the park are inexpensive. A full car load costs just $25 and passes are good for the week.

TOM HARADEN, ZION NATIONAL PARK: Zion Canyon is just a really unique canyon. We're surrounded by these red rock walls and all summer long, the sky is just this brilliant deep blue. It's fantastic.

WOLF: Camping is considered a great way to enjoy the park. Look for a spot right along the Virgin River. HARADEN: We get a lot of visitors here and one of the words I hear a lot is, intimate. This is a little canyon. It's a kind canyon. And when you're in it, you feel good about being here.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

NGUYEN: All right. Well, we do appreciate that. We're getting new information right now. The speech has been changing a bit in the time in which it's going to be delivered. We're talking about the president speaking in Ghana today and we're hearing that he will be speaking in about two minutes. Although we're also being warned that there might be a few audio problems. But you're looking right now at some tape that was shot just a little bit earlier.

HOLMES: And the president, of course, not an exact science with the time sometimes but for the most part has been on the time on this trip, making a trip over from the presidential palace over to the international conference center where it is there in Accra to speak. They moved to this larger place. He was planning on speaking to the parliament there in Ghana, but also moved to a larger place now so they can accommodate more people. All this excitement about this president, not his first trip to Africa as president but his first to sub-Sahara Africa if you will, going to Ghana to make a speech there, to really highlight the democracy, a beacon of democracy there on a continent where a lot of countries we see violence sometimes surrounding so many of the elections that happen in many other countries. So again, we were told a couple minutes, we are standing by. If the president starts speaking you will not miss a moment of it. Stay please here with us. CNN, as soon as we get something we'll have it right back to you. We're going to take a quick break.

NGUYEN: We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: The signal is back up as you see right there, President Obama stepping on stage in Accra, Ghana. He is going to be giving a speech today. You know, there was a lot of talk, TJ, about why Ghana, why did the president pick Ghana? He really summed it up in two words or three words, commitment to democracy and they're right now pausing for some the national anthem. I can't hear exactly which one that is.

HOLMES: We're getting --

NGUYEN: The audio is a little sketchy this morning.

HOLMES: ...worked out. We're going to continue to work on that and bring you that speech, but the president as Betty was just saying, a lot of people wondering if he would go to Kenya (INAUDIBLE). Kenya, necessarily, not a beacon of democracy as Ghana would be. There's been violence surrounding the elections there, Zimbabwe as well. So we do hear now, this is the American national anthem being played now. We're trying to get, you can see, a little sketchy with this feed here, with this, with the audio. We're going to try to get this worked out. The president just now walking in the room and taking stage at this international conference center in front of the parliament there.

There's a wider shot of it you can make out, but they wanted other people to be able to come in as well. So much excitement around this president even though he is politically (ph) from Kenya, has Kenyon roots, the entire continent claims him as one of their own essentially.

NGUYEN: Absolutely and people have been coming out, pouring into the streets not only with welcome signs and billboards, but shirts have been made and really, welcoming the president and Mrs. Obama with open arms. We're going to just take a listen as the national anthem plays.

So we are listening to the national anthem, I assume there, in Ghana. This speech very important as the president has been traveling, making several trips over the past few days. This one specifically dealing with democracy, democracy in Africa. And he's made that a very important point as he's chosen Ghana as a site for today's speech. But following this speech, he's also going to be traveling down to Cape Coast where those fortresses, castles many will call it, are still standing today, places where thousands of slaves were put down into dungeons. Many of them did not survive, but those who did in fact were put on boats and sent to countries around the world, America included. Let's take a listen now as we see them being seated, getting prepared for the president's speech. All right. We might be having some more audio difficulties.

HOLMES: We want to remind our viewers, that we are working out the audio issues here, not the cleanest audio feed we have seen, we have had, but we still are getting this thing worked out and we want to make sure you don't miss a minute of the president's speech which is expected really in a matter of minutes, but you are looking at a live picture this is. We have been able to get the picture again. Kind of some satellite issues, not the best picture either, but we still are working through some of the technical issues to bring you this event, a significant event, many saying a historic event.

The president, his first trip to sub-Saharan Africa as president, making a speech there, again doing what a lot of people are hoping many other countries around the continent of Africa can do, which is to have a thriving democracy, a peaceful democracy and this is one he chose to highlight there in Ghana. The parliament, the crowd you're seeing there is made up of parliament members there in Ghana but also other members of the public. Let's see if we got it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The president of the United States of America, Mr. Barack Hussein Obama and his family are in the country for a two- day visit. May I on behalf of leadership and honorable members of this house, say akwaaba (ph), a happy welcome to the first family of the United States of America. It is my hope that they will have a wonderful stay in Ghana, enjoy the alluring charms of Accra and Cape Coast and also the (INAUDIBLE).

Honorable members, we have in our midst this morning the historic president of the United States of America who is to deliver a message to this house. It is, therefore, my pleasure and privilege to formally welcome into the house. Honorable members, our guest is accompanied to this house by our own president, John Atta Mills and the vice president, Mr. John Drnama (ph). I also recognize in the house, the chief justice of the Republic of Ghana and his (INAUDIBLE) and his Excellency, Blythe Rashard John Rolly (ph) and (INAUDIBLE) former president of the Republic of Ghana.

Honorable members, Ghana has played host to three consecutive sitting presidents of the United States of America, since 1998 (ph). The uniqueness of this occasion is formed by the fact that this is the first time a sitting president of the United States of America is addressing this house. Equally worth noting, is Ghana being the first country south of the Sahara to play host to such an illustrious (INAUDIBLE) of change, yes, we can -- beyond the borders of the United States of America and kill (ph) the slumber and despair out of many people around the world.

Permit me to say on a lighter note, but significant to Ghanaians, Africans and all people of African descent of this memorable visit of the 44th president of the United States of America and his family is a spiritual reunion to ancestral (INAUDIBLE). Many of us sit right (ph) in his presidency as the first black American president of the United States of America. Indeed, we have seen in our lifetime the true realization of the (INAUDIBLE) human equality as passed by the declaration of American independence invoked by President Abraham Lincoln's address on November 19th, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. We note with great appreciation that the United States of America is undoubtedly (INAUDIBLE) of freedom, liberty and democracy for the world. Today, we (INAUDIBLE) with the United States of America, a renewed bond of friendship, committed after deepening governance and democratic values of our respective countries.

NGUYEN: We are going to break away just for a moment from the speaker of parliament there in Accra, Ghana. We're going to keep that picture up for you because it's quite a historic one and bring in Charles Cobb. He is a visiting professor, Brown University, also a diplomatic correspondent for allafrica.com and he joins us live. Charles, let me ask you this, as we were seeing that picture just moments ago of President Obama sitting there on that stage, Charles, can you hear me?

CHARLES COBB, SR. ANALYST, ALLAFRICA.COM: Yes, I can.

NGUYEN: Great. Sitting on that stage, I mean this is truly an historic moment, not only for the people of Ghana, but for the people of sub-Saharan Africa.

COBB: For certain. This is as much an African trip as it is a Ghanaian trip. It is important to the entire continent, I would argue.

NGUYEN: Do you expect us to hear any kind of policy change? I know there's been a lot of talk, especially from the president, saying that he's chosen Ghana because of its commitment to democracy and that is part of the world order, but at the same time, we know that much of Ghana is funded by international aid, despite its own natural resources and an abundance of natural resources. Do you expect to see any kind of policy change that will not only help Ghana, but Africa on the whole?

COBB: No. This trip essentially lays down a marker around governance. If there is any change -- not so much a change of policy but a shift of emphasis; greater emphasis on governance. And that's why he came to Ghana, to lay down that particular marker.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And Charles, T.J. here, along with Betty in Atlanta. Do something for us -- I don't know if you are able to see the picture of the president this morning on air here with us, but if you can, or...

COBB: I cannot.

HOLMES: Or even -- you cannot. So I want you to put it in perspective, at least, I know you can envision. But this president, an African-American president, sitting in that room full of leaders of the parliament, political leaders, President of Ghana. But I guess just put that picture into terms for us if you will, just to have this black American President with a Kenyan background sitting in that room on the African continent with those leaders.

COBB: Well, you have this particular president sitting in a country that was a major slave port 400 years ago, sitting there as President of the United States with his wife and his daughters, descendants of slaves, makes this an extraordinarily historic moment, not just in terms of politics but in terms of history itself.

NGUYEN: And later today, we know that he is going to be traveling down to Cape Coast to visit that slave port there. And there's been, you know, so much talk about the "door of no return" and how it is such an emotional and even chilling experience.

What do you expect us to see and hear from the president after he takes that journey?

COBB: I suppose he will offer some thoughts on slavery. What I'm interested in is how he speaks to his wife and children about this particular experience at Cape Coast.

HOLMES: Now, why do you say that?

COBB: Because in a slightly different kind of way, I mean, the wife, Michelle, and the two children, Sasha and Malia, descend, perhaps, from people who exited that "door of no return." It's got to be an emotional moment for them. And I'm interested in how he will talk to that moment to his children.

NGUYEN: And despite the history that is there in Ghana, as well as Cape Coast, do you think this was a smart move on the president's part to make his stop in sub-Saharan Africa and Ghana being that destination of choice given his Kenyan background?

COBB: I think the Kenyan background is irrelevant to his choice to stop in Ghana, except that it kind of underlines his concern about governance in the sense that he chose Ghana over Kenya, his father's home country. Yes, it was a smart choice, I think, to emphasize governance. It certainly was the correct choice to pick Ghana as the place to, as I said earlier, lay down that marker about governance. And as he told us last week in the interview that we did, he wants to connect Africa in particular to the mainstream of economic discussion, such as those that took place at the G-8 in Italy.

So coming to Ghana immediately after the G-8 is certainly a smart move.

NGUYEN: We're watching right now the President of Ghana speaking live on our air. And then you, in fact, Charles, visited Ghana several times over the years.

How, indeed, has it changed, specifically when it comes to its commitment to democracy?

COBB: Well, we see a clear evolution in Ghana. You had, it was, of course, the first African -- sub-Saharan African nation to become independent and then that independent government is overthrown by a military coup at a time. For years you had military dictatorship and then that military dictatorship ends. And for the last 15 to 20 years, you've seen the steady growth in implantation of democracy in Ghana.

And of course, coming in and out of there, I've watched all of this evolve, including the celebrations of Ghana's 50th anniversary a couple years ago.

HOLMES: And we'll continue to remind our viewers, we are waiting to hear from President Obama shortly. He is in that room, that live picture you are looking at, with the President of Ghana speaking right now. This is the last stop on President Obama's trip overseas, it took him to the G-8, it took them Italy, it took him to Moscow; but now one more stop and last stop in Ghana.

He will be speaking after -- we understand -- after the president of Ghana there that you're seeing.

But Charles, to bring you back in here, talking about some of the policy changes and pushes toward democracy that President Obama might be calling for. Does he or is he more equipped to get things done than presidents past, whether from his mindset or whether from the fact he just has that personal connection to that continent?

COBB: While the personal connection is important, I mean the big difference between President Obama and past presidents is that he actually knows something about Africa. And that's a tremendous tool in his discussions about Africa and with African leaders.

And I should say right here, I suspect that the critical conversation or discussion that Obama had is not so much this public speech that is about to take place, but the breakfast discussion he had with President Mills earlier this morning.

HOLMES: And what do you imagine that conversation was about?

COBB: I think there are a number of regional concerns that the United States has, that Barack Obama has as president: oil, instability, the good governance. I think that conversation probably -- and I'm guessing, I'm not in Ghana -- I suspect that conversation had to do as much with what the region needed from the United States, as much as it had to do with what Ghana needed from the United States.

NGUYEN: Well, Charles, but in comparison to past presidents who have gone to Africa and spoken in Africa, how does President Obama's vision differ from previous administrations?

COBB: Well, as I said, one, he knows -- he may be the first President of the United States who actually has a substantial knowledge about the African continent. I think the last administration -- of course, the Bush administration -- placed a greater emphasis on security issues.

The Obama administration seems -- although we're early into the Obama administration -- seems to be emphasizing governance, which is a big difference policy-wise between the two administrations. And, of course, Obama has a cache in Africa, unlike any other president that visited that continent; Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George Bush.

HOLMES: Have we seen this president, President Obama, capitalizing on that cache as you just put it?

COBB: I think so. I think so. I think that's part of what's going on both in his private discussions as well as his public statements.

HOLMES: Now where else -- you talked about those private conversations and public statements, but that cache, you said he's going to capitalize on it but have we seen anything else; anything publicly you can point to? He's only been in office a short time.

COBB: Exactly. He's been in Office -- what -- six months, so that's a question that may be more appropriate two to three years from now.

NGUYEN: Do you think because there is so much excitement on the continent about President Obama being there and speaking today in Ghana, but as you look at the realities that, once he has come and gone is there a sense of people thinking too much is going to come from it? Over expectations?

COBB: Yes. You know, Ghanaians said that and some of them have been quoted in the Ghanaian newspapers in the last day or so. Bill Clinton came here, so did I think Jimmy Carter came here, and not a lot changed in our life. So while on the one hand there's high expectations; there's enough experience, perhaps, for at least some part of the population to also lower their expectations, despite the excitement around Barack Obama's presence.

NGUYEN: I mean, could he...

COBB: I think the excitement around Obama in some ways is separate from what he does or does not do policy-wise. NGUYEN: But realistically, could President Obama ever live up to these expectations? Because they are extremely high; not only in Ghana, but throughout Africa.

COBB: No, he can't. And he himself acknowledged that again, in the interview. And he said that what he hopes his legacy will be, will be to help Africa get started on this path that he wants them to follow.

NGUYEN: Yes and speaking of interviews, you interviewed the president not too long before he left for this G-8 trip. What was the most important thing that you've got from that interview?

COBB: I think it made clear to us how much he was going to be emphasizing governance during his administration. We suspected that, but the interview confirmed that.

The other thing that struck me in the interview was his determination to -- for lack of a better phrase -- integrate Africa into the larger global discussion. In a sense, he wants an Africa policy.

And U.S. policy has really, when it comes to Africa, has not been continental in scope but directed at individual countries.

HOLMES: All right.

Once again here, we've been chatting with Charles Cobb, a diplomatic correspondent for AllAfrica.com. Thank you and stand by here.

We're going to try to listen back in. Again, this is happening in Accra, Ghana, the President of the United States sitting on the stage with the President of Ghana. He's expected to speak shortly. Let's listen back in to the Speaker of the Parliament there in Ghana.

JOYCE BAMFORD-ADDO, SPEAKER OF THE PARLIAMENT OF GHANA: Pleasure, privilege to invite the President of the United States of America to deliver his message. Mr. President.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I like this.

Thank you, thank you. I think Congress needs one of those horns. That sounds pretty good. Sounds like Louis Armstrong back there.

Good afternoon, everybody. It is a great honor for me to be in Accra and to speak to the representatives of the people of Ghana. I am deeply grateful for the welcome that I've received as are Michelle and Malia and Sasha Obama.

Ghana's history is rich. The ties between our two countries are strong. And I am proud this is my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa as President of the United States of America.

I want to thank Madam Speaker and all the members of the House of Representatives for hosting us today. I want to thank President Mills for his outstanding leadership. To the former President Jerry Rollins, former President Kufuour, Vice President, Justice, thanks to all of you for your extraordinary hospitality and the wonderful institutions that you've built here in Ghana.

And I'm speaking to you at the end of a long trip. I began in Russia for a summit between two great powers. I traveled to Italy for a meeting of the world's leading economies. And I've come here to Ghana for a simple reason, the 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but by what happens in Accra as well.

This is the simple truth of a time when the boundaries between people are overwhelmed by our connections. Your prosperity can expand America's prosperity. Your health and security can contribute to the world's health and security. And the strength of your democracy can help advance human rights for people everywhere.

So I do not see the countries and peoples of Africa as a world apart. I see Africa as a fundamental part of our interconnected world, as partners with America, a path of the future we want for all of our children. That partnership must be grounded in mutual responsibility and mutual respect. And that is what I want to speak with you about today.

We must start from the simple premise that Africa's future is up to Africans.

I say this knowing full well the tragic past that has sometimes haunted this part of the world. After all, I have the blood of Africa within me and my family is -- my family's own story encompasses both the tragedies and triumphs of the larger African story.

Some of you know my grandfather was a cook for the British in Kenya and though he was a respected elder in his village, his employers called him "Boy" for much of his life. He was on the periphery of Kenya's liberation struggles but he was still in prison I believe during repressive times. In his life colonialism wasn't simply the creation of unnatural borders or fair terms of trade -- it was something experienced personally, day after day, year after year.

My father grew up herding goats in a tiny village. An impossible distance away from the American universities he would come to get an education. He came of age at a moment of extraordinary promise for Africa. The struggles of his own father's generation were giving birth to new nations, beginning right here in Ghana.

Africans were educating and asserting themselves in new ways, and history was on the move. But despite the progress that has been made -- and though there has been considerable progress in many parts of Africa -- we also know that much of that promise has yet to be fulfilled.

Countries like Kenya had a per capita economy larger than South Korea's when I was born. They have badly been outpaced. Disease and conflict have ravaged parts of the African continent. In many places, the hope of my father's generation gave way to cynicism and despair.

Now it's easy to point fingers and to pin the blame of these problems on others. Yes, a colonial map that made no sense helped to breed conflict. The west has often approached Africa as a patron or a source of resources, rather than a partner. But the west isn't responsible for the destruction of the Zimbabwean economy over the last decade or wars in which children are enlisted as combatants.

In my father's life it was partly tribalism and patronage and nepotism in an independent Kenya that for a long stretch derailed his career. And we know that this kind of corruption is still a daily fact of life for far too many.

Now we know that's also not the whole story. Here in Ghana, you show us a face of Africa that is too often overlooked by a world that sees only tragedy or a need for charity. The people of Ghana have worked hard to put democracy on firmer footing with repeated peaceful transfers of power even in the wake of closely contested elections. And can I say that for that, the minority deserves as much credit as the majority.

And with improved governance in an emerging civil society, Ghana's economy has shown impressive growth. This progress may lack the drama of 20th century liberation struggles. But make no mistake; it will ultimately be more significant. For just as it is important to emerge from the control of other nations, it is even more important to build from one's own nation.

So I believe that this moment is just as promising for Ghana and for Africa as the moment when my father came of age and new nations were being born.

This is a new moment of great promise. Only this time, we've learned that it will not be giants like Nkrumah and Kenyatta who will determine Africa's future; instead it will be you -- the men and women in Ghana's parliament, the people you represent. It will be young people, brimming with talent and energy and hope who can frame the future that so many in previous generations never realized.

Now to realize that promise, we must first recognize the truth that you have given life to in Ghana. Development depends on good governance. That is -- that is the ingredient which has been missing in far too many places for far too long. That's the change that can unlock Africa's potential. And that is a responsibility that can only be met by Africans.

As for America and the West, our commitment is measured by more than just the dollars we spend. I pledge substantial increases in our foreign assistance, which is in Africa's interest and America's interest. But the true sign of success is not whether we are a source of perpetual aid that helps people scrape by. It's whether we are partners in building the capacity for transformational change.

This mutual responsibility must be the foundation of our partnership. And today I will focus on four areas that are critical to the future of Africa and the entire developing world: democracy, opportunity, health, and the peaceful resolution of conflict.

First, we must support a strong and sustainable democratic government. As I -- as I said in Cairo, each nation gives life to democracy in its own way and in line with its own traditions. But history offers a clear verdict, governments that respect the will of their own people -- that govern by consensus and not coercion -- are more prosperous, they are more stable, and more successful than governments that do not.

It's more than just holding elections; it's also about what happens between elections. Now, repression can take many forms and too many nations, even those that have elections, are plagued by problems that can put people into poverty.

No country is going to create wealth if its leaders exploit the economy to enrich themselves. Or if police -- police can be bought off by drug traffickers. No business wants to invest in a place where the government skims 20 percent off the top or the head of the port authority is corrupt.

No person wants to live in a society where the rule of law gives way to the rule of brutality and bribery. This -- that is not democracy. That is terrorism, even if occasionally you sprinkle an election in there.

And now is the time for that style of governance to end, in the 21st century capable, reliable, and transparent institutions are the key to success. Strong parliaments, honest police forces, independent judges, an independent press, a private sector, a civil society -- those are the things that give life to democracy because that is what matters to people's everyday lives.

Time and again, Ghanaians have chosen Constitutional rule over autocracy, and shown a democratic spirit that allows the energy of your people to break through. We see that in leaders who accept defeat graciously, and victors who resist calls to wield power against the opposition. We see that spirit in courageous journalists like Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who risked his life to report the truth. We see it in police like Patience Quaye, who helped prosecute the first human trafficker in Ghana.

We see it in the young people who are speaking up against patronage, and participating in the political process.

Across Africa, we have seen countless examples of people taking control of their destiny, and making change from the bottom up. We saw it in Kenya, where civil society and business came together to help stop post-election violence. We saw it in South Africa, where over three quarters of the country voted in the recent election - the fourth since the end of Apartheid. We saw it in Zimbabwe, where the Election Support Network braved brutal repression to stand up for the principle that a person's vote is their sacred right.

Make no mistake history is on the side of these brave Africans, not with those who use coups or change constitutions to stay in power. Africa -- Africa doesn't need strong men. It needs strong institutions.

Now, America will not seek to impose any system of government on any other nation. The essential truth of democracy is that each nation determines its own destiny. But what America will do is increase assistance of responsible individuals and responsible institutions with the focus on supporting good governance -- on parliaments which (AUDIO GAP) abuses of power and ensure that opposition voices are heard.

On the rule of law which ensures the equal administration of justice. On civic participation so that young people get involved and on concrete solutions to corruption, forensic accounting and automating services, strengthening hot lines, protecting whistle blowers to advance transparency and accountability.

And we provide the support. I have directed my administration to give greater attention to corruption in our human rights reports. People everywhere should have the power to start a business or get an education without paying a bribe. We have a responsibility to support those who act responsibly and to isolate those who don't. And that is exactly what Americans do.

This leads to our second area of partnership, supporting development that provides opportunity for more people. With better governance I have no doubt that Africa holds the promise of a broader-based prosperity.

Witness the extraordinary success of Africans in my country, America. They're doing very well. They've got the entrepreneurial spirit. The question is, how do we make sure that they're succeeding here in their home countries?

The continent is rich in natural resources and from cell phone entrepreneurs to small farmers Africans have shown the capacity and commitment to create their own opportunities. But old habits must also be broken. Dependence on commodities or a single export has a tendency to concentrate wealth in the hands of the few and leaves people too vulnerable to downturns.

So in Ghana, for instance, oil brings great opportunities and you have been very responsible in preparing for new revenue, but so many Ghanaians know, oil cannot become the new cocoa. From South Korea to Singapore, history shows the countries thrive when they invest in people and in their infrastructure. When they promote multiple export industries, develop a skilled work force, and have space for small and medium-sized businesses that create jobs.

As Africans reach for this promise, America will be more responsible in extending our hand. By cutting costs that go to western consultants and administration, we want to put more resources in the hands of those who need it, while training people to do more for themselves.

That is why our $3.5 billion food security initiative is focused on new methods and technologies for farmers -- not simply sending American producers or goods to Africa. Aid is not an end in itself. The purpose of foreign assistance must be creating the conditions where it is no longer needed.

Where there is good governance, we can broaden prosperity through public-private partnerships that invest in better roads and electricity; capacity-building that trains people to grow a business; and financial services that reach not just cities but the poor and rural areas. This is also in our own interest - for if people are lifted out of poverty and wealth is created in Africa, guess what, new markets will open for our own goods. So it's good for both.

One area that holds out both undeniable peril and extraordinary promise is energy. Africa gives off less greenhouse gas than any other part of the world, but it is the most threatened by climate change. A warming planet will spread disease, shrink water resources and deplete crops, creating conditions that produce more famine, more conflict. All of us - particularly the developed world - have a responsibility to slow these trends - through mitigation, and by changing the way that we use energy. But we can also work with Africans to turn this crisis into opportunity. Together, we can partner on behalf of our planet and prosperity and help countries increase access to power while skipping, leap frogging the dirtier phase of development.

Think about it, across Africa, there is bountiful wind and solar power; geothermal energy and bio-fuels. From the Rift Valley to the North African deserts; from the Western coast to South Africa's crops - Africa's boundless natural gifts can generate its own power, while exporting profitable, clean energy abroad.

These steps are about more than growth numbers on a balance sheet. They're about whether a young person with an education can get a job that supports a family; a farmer can transfer their goods to the market; or an entrepreneur with a good idea can start a business. It's about the dignity of work. Its about the opportunity that must exist for Africans in the 21st century.

Just as governance is vital to opportunity, it is also critical to the third area that I will talk about - strengthening public health. In recent years, enormous progress has been made in parts of Africa. Far more people are living productively with HIV/AIDS, and getting the drugs they need. I just saw a wonderful clinic, a hospital that is focused particularly on maternal health. But too many still die from diseases that shouldn't kill them. When children are being killed because of a mosquito bite, and mothers are dying in childbirth, then we know that more progress must be made.

Yet because of incentives - often provided by donor nations - many African doctors and nurses understandably go overseas, or work for programs that focus on a single disease. This creates gaps in primary care and basic prevention. Meanwhile, individual Africans also have to make responsible choices that prevent the spread of disease, while promoting public health in their communities and countries.

Across Africa, we see examples of people tackling these problems. In Nigeria, an interfaith effort of Christians and Muslims has set an example of cooperation to confront malaria. Here in Ghana and across Africa, we see innovative ideas for filling gaps in care - for instance, through E-Health initiatives that allow doctors in big cities to support those in small towns. America will support these efforts through a comprehensive, global health strategy. Because in the 21st century, we are called to act by our conscience but also by our common interest. When a child dies of a preventable illness in Accra, that diminishes us everywhere. And when disease goes unchecked in any corner of the world, we know that it can spread across oceans and continents.

That is why my administration has committed $63 billion to meet these challenges. $63 billion. Building on the strong efforts of President Bush, we will carry forward the fight against HIV/AIDS. We will pursue the goal of ending deaths from malaria and tuberculosis, and we will work to eradicate polio. We will fight, we will fight neglected tropical disease. And we won't confront illnesses in isolation - we will invest in public health systems that promote wellness and focus on the health of mothers and children.

Now as we partner on behalf of a healthier future, we must also stop the destruction that comes not from illness, but from human beings - and so the final area that I will address is conflict.

Let me be clear: Africa is not the crude caricature of a continent at perpetual war. But if we are honest, for far too many Africans, conflict is a part of life, as constant as the sun. There are wars over land and wars over resources. And it is still far too easy for those without conscience to manipulate whole communities into fighting among faiths and tribes. These conflicts are a millstone around Africa's neck. We all have many identities - of tribe and ethnicity; of religion and nationality.

But defining oneself in opposition to someone who belongs to a different tribe, or who worships a different prophet, has no place in the 21st century. Africa's diversity should be a source of strength, not a cause for division. We are all God's children. We all share common aspirations - to live in peace and security; to access education and opportunity; to love our families, our communities, and our faith. That is our common humanity.

That is why we must stand up to inhumanity in our midst. It is never justifiable to target innocents in the name of ideology. It is the death sentence of a society to force children to kill in wars. It is the ultimate mark of criminality and cowardice to condemn women to relentless and systematic rape. We must bear witness to the value of every child in Darfur and the dignity of every woman in the Congo. No faith or culture should condone the outrages against them. All of us must strive for the peace and security necessary for progress.

Africans are standing up for this future. Here, too, in Ghana we are seeing you help to point the way forward. And that you should take pride in your contributions to peacekeeping from Congo to Liberia to Lebanon, and your efforts to resist the scourge of the drug trade. We welcome the steps that are being taken by organizations like the African Union and ECOWAS to better resolve conflicts, to keep the peace, and support those in need. And we encourage the vision of a strong, regional security architecture that can bring effective, transnational force to bear when needed. America has a responsibility to work with you, as a partner, to advance this vision, not just with words, but with support that strengthens African capacity. When there is genocide in Darfur or terrorists in Somalia, these are not simply African problems - they are global security challenges, and they demand a global response. That is why we stand ready to partner through diplomacy, and technical assistance, and logistical support, and will stand behind efforts to hold war criminals accountable. And let me be clear: our Africa Command is focused not on establishing a foothold in the continent, but on confronting these common challenges to advance the security of America, Africa and the world.

In Moscow, I spoke of the need for an international system where the universal rights of human beings are respected, and violations of those rights are opposed. That must include a commitment to support those who resolve conflicts peacefully, to sanction and stop those who don't, and to help those who have suffered. But ultimately, it will be vibrant democracies like Botswana and Ghana which roll back the causes of conflict, and advance the frontiers of peace and prosperity.

As I said earlier, Africa's future is up to Africans.

The people of Africa are ready to claim that future. In my country, African-Americans - including so many recent immigrants - have thrived in every sector of society. We have done so despite a difficult past, and we have drawn strength from our African heritage. With strong institutions and a strong will, I know that Africans can live their dreams in Nairobi and Lagos; in Kigali and Kinshasa; Harare and right here in Accra.

You know, 52 years ago, the eyes of the world were on Ghana. And a young preacher named Martin Luther King traveled here, to Accra, to watch the Union Jack come down and the Ghanaian flag go up. This was before the march on Washington or the success of the civil rights movement in my country. Dr. King was asked how he felt while watching the birth of a nation. And he said: "It renews my conviction in the ultimate triumph of justice."

Now, that triumph must be won once more, and it must be won by you. And I am particularly speaking to the young people all across Africa and right here in Ghana. In places like Ghana, young people make up over half of the population. And here is what you must know: the world will be what you make of it.

You have the power to hold your leaders accountable and to build institutions that serve the people. You can serve in your communities and harness your energy and education to create new wealth and build new connections to the world. You can conquer disease, end conflicts and make change from the bottom up. You can do that. Yes, you can. Because in this moment, history is on the move.

But these things can only be done if all of you take responsibility for your future. And it won't be easy. It will take time and effort. There will be suffering and setbacks. But I can promise you this: America will be with you every step of the way. As a partner. As a friend. Opportunity won't come from any other place, though - it must come from the decisions all of your make, the things that you do, and the hope that you hold in your heart.

Ghana, freedom is your inheritance. Now, it is your responsibility to build upon freedom's foundation. And if you do, we will look back years from now to places like Accra and say that this was the time when the promise was realized - this was the moment when prosperity was forged; when pain was overcome; and a new era of progress began. This can be the time when we witness the triumph of justice once more. Yes, we can. Thank you very much. God bless you. Thank you.

BETTY NGUYEN, CNN, ANCHOR: And you've been listening to President Obama speaking in Ghana today. He spoke a lot specifically on the issue of democracy and not only what Ghana has done, but what he hopes for the African continent. He went on to say that our commitment, meaning America, must be measured more than just by the dollars that we spend, but building on the capacity for transformational change. So again, he is continuing to push the need for some real change when it comes to many of the governments in the countries that make up Africa and he spoke a lot, too, about corruption.

JOYCE BAMFORD-ADDO, GHANIAN SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT: Mr. President.

NGUYEN: Let's take a listen as we hear the speaker of parliament.

BAMFORD-ADDO: On behalf of the leadership and member of this August house, I convey our outmost gratitude for your message. Mr. President, the house wishes you good health as you leave our shores. Mr. President, but come again soon.

NGUYEN: All right. The speaker of parliament thanking the president once again for his speech and asking him to come back again soon.

We want to bring you now to our Suzanne Malveaux who is standing by. She is in Accra, Ghana. She ahs listened to this speech. What is your reaction from it, Suzanne?

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (on the phone): Well, I thought it was interesting that he really - this is a tough love speech that he delivered. He talked about good governance and mutual responsibility as part of a new kind of partnership with the United States. He said that Africa's future is up to Africans.

Now, there is - there are some themes that we had heard before from President Bush and President Clinton who both visited Ghana in the past, talking about the need for the Ghanaian people to take more responsibility, but I do think that this message in particular has more credibility coming from this president. You talk to any number of Ghanaians here who refer to Barack Obama as their son, as a member of their family. They consider him one of their own. And so he does carry a message that does have more weight and more credibility.

And I think that the president is very much aware of that. The first line that got applause from this group was when he said, I have the blood of Africa within me and he talks about the fact that he is really an example and a product of the tragedy and the triumph of Africa and he talked about in a very personal way his grandfather, who was a cook for the British, who was called boy, that he was a respected elder in the villages, but simply disrespected back in the day.

He talked about his own father who started off herding goats who turned to the United States to get a better education and a better future, who ultimately went back to Kenya and died a lonely and broken man in part due to some own personal choices, but also, too, the system that broke him here in Kenya back in his home country of Kenya, and so the president I think acknowledges and recognizes that his message does carry weight and that people considered him to be one of the family, one of their own.

So perhaps he can deliver that message of tough love a bit more, with a bit more seriousness and credibility.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN, ANCHOR: All right. Our Suzanne Malveaux, we appreciate you on the phone for us there in Accra. Again, still looking at the pictures of the president wrapping up a speech and wrapping up his time there in Ghana. Not done just yet, he's going to be making his way down to Cape Coast to check out the slave fort there, a major slave port in Ghana. So the trip is not done, we will continue to follow him and his speech every step of the way and certainly bring you more highlights from that speech as we go throughout the day.

NGUYEN: There is much more to come right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Well, a Philadelphia area swim club president is responding to claims of racism. His club turned away a group of children from a day care this week, sparking mass controversy.

HOLMES: Our Susan Candiotti spoke to the swim club's president and reports now for us from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Kids whose parents belong to Valley Club were back in the water and having summer fun one day after controversy kept them away. And youngsters who got to use that same pool for only a day got an apology from the swim club, but no invitation to return.

JOHN DUESLER, VALLEY CLUB PRESIDENT: It's just really unfortunate and we apologize deeply. We regret deeply that this had to happen.

CANDIOTTI: Here's what happened. A day care center catering to mainly minority black and Hispanic kids paid $1,950 for the kids to use the pool once a week for an hour and a half. But after one visit, their check was returned and summer swim trips canceled.

DUESLER: We severely underestimated the number of children and our capacity to handle these groups. We were not prepared for it and that's the only reason - it was a safety issue and that's the only reason that the children we felt it was not safe for them to be here.

CANDIOTTI: The day care center calls that a lie. It claims the club pulled the plug because of racist complaints from some white members.

ALETHEA WRIGHT, DAY CARE CENTER DIRECTOR: The children came running down the hill saying Miss Wright, Miss Wright, those people up there are saying, 'what are those black kids doing in the pool.'

MARCUS ALLEN, CAMPER: It's kind of like sad that like people were still thinking like this, when I felt like these days was over.

BERNICE DUESLER, WIFE OF CLUB PRESIDENT: If someone said that, I don't know. I didn't hear it. People are going to say things, but it's not our - one person saying it is not the position of the club or the board. Certainly not how we raise our children.

CANDIOTTI: The club flatly denies it discriminates and says two other day care centers were also canceled after one visit.

DUESLER: It's just unfortunate that this had to turn into such a firestorm because this has been totally misrepresented in terms of our club and how welcoming we are.

BERNICE DUESLER: He doesn't deserve this.

He is a kind, tolerant person, that would do anything for anyone and teaches our children, teaches me, you know, that everything can be resolved with conversation.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: And our Susan Candiotti spoke to the swim's club president and reports now from Huntington, Pennsylvania. All right. So Susan, it appears that the children aren't going to be allowed back in the pool after all this controversy?

CANDIOTTI: That's right. So far, anyway. The club keeps insisting that this was not about racism, it was a matter of space and safety issues. That explanation and apology is not being formally accepted by the day care center's director. She said I know what happened, the director of the pool knows what happened here, and as she put it a higher power knows what happened.

So it seems that conversation alone may not be enough to solve this and, perhaps, in part is why at this point, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission is investigating this. As a matter of fact, yesterday a group of parents went in and formally filed a complaint. So that could take some time to complete that investigation. And we've also learned that the Justice Department is also looking over the situation. They have not launched a formal investigation, but they are reviewing the matter. Betty?

NGUYEN: All right. Susan Candiotti joining us live. Thank you for that.

Still ahead, Josh Levs, cruising the streets. He's going to talk to us about an electric car and then we've got this other issue that we've got the latest word on. Well, there's the electric car with Josh Levs. Stay with us. There's much more coming right here on CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Man, I got to go. I'm working. I'm working.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the mayor talking.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Doctor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come on, what?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Always do the right thing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's it?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got it. I'm gone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: That's it. As simple as that. Do the right thing. Spike Lee.

SPIKE LEE, PRODUCER, DIRECTOR AND ACTOR: What's up, baby?

HOLMES: In the house with us. Good to see you again.

LEE: In the house.

HOLMES: Haven't seen a lot of you lately.

LEE: ATL.

HOLMES: In the ATL. 20 years. That's why you're here with us. That movie sparked a lot of conversation about race. Did it do what you thought it was going to do at the time? When you were making that movie did you have that plan in mind?

LEE: We had the plan but whether that was going to happen was another thing. We always had hope. And we're here 20 years later still talking about it. So we're very happy.

HOLMES: Can you believe that, 20 years later we're still talking about what this movie did?

LEE: Well, I think that's a testament to the power of the film and I'm glad it happened. And 20 years went fast too.

HOLMES: Yes.

LEE: At the time, I was not married, did not have two children. So a lot of things had happened. I never thought there would be an African-American president 20 years ago. I didn't think that three years ago.

HOLMES: And on that point, I'm going to roll a clip here in a second from the movie. You brought the president there. What was it now, it was his first date or the first movie he had seen -

LEE: The first date.

HOLMES: The first date and went to see your movie.

LEE: Michelle and Barack.

HOLMES: How does that feel?

LEE: Well, he told me that when he was running for the thing in Illinois. I didn't even know who he was.

HOLMES: You know now, don't you?

LEE: Well I said - it's great.

HOLMES: Let's take a quick look at one of the clips here. A lot of people will remember a lot of these. Let's take a quick look and I'll chat with you after.

LEE: All right.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Come here, your brother's going to war.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Man, ask Sal. All right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Sal, how come no brothers on the war here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My brother's on the war, get your own place and you can do what you want to do. You can put your brothers and uncles and nieces and nephews, your stepfather, stepmother, whoever you want. See but this is my pizzeria. American Italians on the wall only.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take it easy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't start with me today.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. It might be fine, Sal, but you own this. Really do I see any American-Italians eating in here. All I see is black folks. So since we spend much money here we do have some say.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: (Bugging}ph out. A lot of the characters you created and conversations you sparked, if that movie was released something similar today, would it play the same in 2009 as it did in '89 and why not?

LEE: I don't know. I'm in a different place than I was. The world is different than it was back then. So I really kind of steer away from the hypothetical what ifs. But the film is still relevant today even with a black president, still relevant today.

HOLMES: Why do you say that?

LEE: Because I don't deal with this post-racial whatever that thing is. That's insane. I mean, it's not like this thing has disappeared because Barack is in the White House. We still got a lot of work to do. At the same time, not only this country has made great progress -

HOLMES: Does that remain - here to wrap up with you, his finest piece of work? Something you're most proud of, do the right thing?

LEE: I mean, I'm proud of all my films. And I got over 20 years body of work, so that's the legacy.

HOLMES: All right. Well, I'll be with you tonight. "Do the Right Thing" the 20th anniversary over at the Fox Theater here in Atlanta. We'll be talking about it over there. Doing a little discussion after the film plays, part of the Coca-Cola Film Festival. We'll be chatting about that later. We're not done with you just yet. But we need to hand it over now to Gerri Willis, our personal finance editor with "Your Bottom line." Hope to see you back in 30 minutes. More live news.