This speech was given at the 50th Anniversary celebration of Africa Action which was formed in 2001 by the merger of ACOA, The Africa Fund and the Africa Policy Information Center (APIC). George M. Houser was a founder of Americans for South African Resistance and its successor the American Committee on Africa (ACOA). He served as ACOA Executive Director from 1954-1981, also founding in 1966 and directing ACOA's tax-exempt associate organization, The Africa Fund. He traveled to Africa more than 30 times, and he built close connections with men and women in both leadership and community roles in the freedom struggle. His extensive writings include an autobiography No One Can Stop the Rain: Glimpses of Africa's Liberation Struggle (New York: Pilgrim Press, 1989) and I Will Go Singing: Walter Sisulu Speaks of his life and the struggle for freedom in South Africa In Conversation with George M. Houser and Herbert Shore (Cape Town: Robben Island Museum, 2001).

Used by permission of George M. Houser.