In strong, personal terms, President Obama called for vigorous efforts to reverse underachievement among young Black and Hispanic males.
From the White House East room President Obama kicked off the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative by appearing on stage with teenagers involved in the Becoming a Man program for at risk boys in his hometown of Chicago.
“By almost every measure, the group that is facing some of the most severe challenges in the 21st century, in this country, are boys and young men of color,” Obama said at a White House event, which has attracted commitments from foundations of more than $200 million over the next five years, as well as the involvement of business leaders and elected officials.
Darrin Chung, a junior at the University of Wyoming talked about his experience growing up Black in America. He said, “I am from New York, born and raised. When I was young I wasn’t aware of color, and I didn’t even consider myself to be Black because my family is mixed…my grandfather is Chinese. I remember I was in the fourth grade and I was called the N word by people who looked like me and I considered them my own. I was upset, and as a kid I told my mom about it. She told me that it was normal…something I would have to get used to because of the color my skin.”
He continued saying, “The first time I was frisked by the police was when I really began to understand what it meant to be black in America. I was coming home from the grocery store one night and the police decided to frisk my friend and me because there was a supposed shooting nearby and they suspected it could be us. Basically they saw two young Black men and labeled them public enemy number one… I think it is wonderful that Obama is developing a mentorship program for young black male because there are black youths who don’t have a sense of who they are. Most guys were raised by their mothers and are in search of a father figure. They may turn to people who may not have their best interest in mind…these people may get them involved with drugs or gangs …I was fortunate enough to have mentors and I made it to college. Many of the friends I left behind are not doing anything much with their lives…so this mentorship program is great.”
The Presidents goal is the “start a different cycle.”
“If we help these wonderful young men become better husbands and fathers and well-educated, hardworking, good citizens, then not only will they contribute to the growth and prosperity of this country, but they will pass those lessons on to their children, on to their grandchildren.” The President said.
“Fifty years after Dr. [Martin Luther] King talked about his dream for America’s children, the stubborn fact is that the life chances for the average black or brown child in this country lags behind by almost every measure and is worse for boys and young men,” he said.
But while “we just assume this is an inevitable part of American life,” the obstacles that young people of color face should be treated as “the outrage that it is.”
“These statistics should break our hearts. And they should compel us to act,” he said after admitting that he too could have been statistic.
“When I was their age, I was a lot like them,” the President recalled. “I didn’t have a dad in the house. I was angry about it even though I didn’t necessarily realize at the time. I made bad choices. I got high without always thinking about the harm it could do. I didn’t always take school as seriously as I should have. I made excuses. Sometimes I sold myself short.”
“We will beat the odds,” he said. “We need to give every child, no matter what they look like, where they live, a chance to reach their full potential.”
Addressing America’s young men of color directly, Obama told them to have “no excuses” and to “tune out the naysayers who say if the deck is stacked against you, you might as well just give up or settle into the stereotype.”
“Nothing will be given to you,” Obama said. “The world is tough out there. There’s a lot of competition for jobs and college positions and everybody has to work hard. But I know you guys can succeed.”
Many, especially those in the Black community believe that Obama has done too little for those who look like him in this country. However, the My Brother’s Keeper initiative demonstrates that Obama has a clear consciousness about the legacy he wants to leave.
