During a speech discussing his new “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative to aid disadvantaged youth, President Obama opened up about how he could relate to the difficult circumstances facing many minority young people across the country. During the event, he said, “The stubborn fact is that the life chances of the average black or brown child in this country lags behind by almost every measure and is worse for boys and young men.” He also said that growing up without a father in the house can often to even more difficulties, and said he knew the pain of growing up with his dad not around. “I didn’t have a dad in the house. And I was angry about it, even though I didn’t necessarily realize it at the time … I made bad choices. I got high without always thinking about the harm that it could do. I didn’t always take school as seriously as I should have. I made excuses.”
The president also cited stats that showed how fatherless, minority boys are more likely to be the victims of crime or end up in prison, adding, “The worst part is we become numb to these statistics. We just assume this is an inevitable part of American life instead of the outrage that it is.” According to this story, the new initiative is a partnership between government programs, private companies and non-profits to aid in “early child development, parenting programs, and those stressing literacy and discipline.” So far, a group of philanthropic foundations have already committed to contributing more than $200 million to My Brother’s Keeper in the next five years …
