"We see no Alps" was an oft-repeated phrase of Rev. Leon Sullivan, 79, who made his transition April 24 in Arizona. The phrase refers to the conquests of the great warrior Hannibal who crossed the Alps mountains with troops and elephants to do battle with the Romans.

"We see no Alps" is a phrase indicative of the spirit of Rev. Sullivan, who tackled many challenges during his life and made an impact in raising the condition and expectations of his people.

Even as he entered the twilight years of his life, the booming voice of Rev. Sullivan could be heard in many corporate boardrooms and in many meetings of Africans and Black Americans, challenging the corporate world to be fair in its dealings with Blacks; and challenging Black leadership, and Black people in general, to stop expecting less of ourselves and demand the full value of our worth.

During the five African-African American Summits�held in C�ote D�Ivoire, Gabon, Senegal, Zimbabwe and Ghana�Rev. Sullivan worked with the energy of a man half his age to witness African heads of state and leaders of Black America sit down and strategize a united future for Africa and Black America.

Beyond his fight for Blacks in America, Rev. Sullivan�s initiatives helped to end apartheid, helped countless thousands of young Africans with education and health programs, helped African men and women build places to live. His works stand as high as the Alps.

Though Rev. Sullivan is no longer physically with us, we must become imbued with his energy and spirit and put that spirit into our youth. There are still many challenges in front of the Black world that stand as high as the mountains. We must make him proud as we complete his dream of seeing a united Africa and Blacks in the Diaspora.

But, as Rev. Sullivan said in 1993 as he addressed participants at the African-African American Summit: "As we leave Gabon, there�ll be Alps of doubters, jealousy, governments and leaders. But this is the work of God. I say to you, behold, we see no Alps."