“Despite countless statistics on the continent’s growing status, Africa imperatively lacks media attention and global perception of importance. In the coming decades, the continent’s economy will double. Its population will triple. Its foreign direct investment will quadruple. This data illustrates Africa’s coming status as a rising power – a power that American foreign policy refuses to acknowledge. With these imperative topics in mind, I had the honor of hearing Ambassador Mary Yates, former deputy commander at the United States Africa Command, speak about barriers between the western world and Africa.”