Posted on 02/27/2014 6:31:38 PM PST by Libloather
President Obama announced a $200 million philanthropic commitment Thursday to catapult the lives of young men of color.
The program, dubbed "My Brother's Keeper," will look to coordinate businesses and government "to give more young Americans the support they need to make good choices and to be resilient and to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams, the president said.
During the White House ceremony, he empathized with black and Hispanic men who believed they were facing impossible odds and were angered by absentee parents and harsh consequences.
"I made bad choices," Obama admitted. "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. Sometimes I sold myself short."
The president also announced that he was naming a task force to examine how government policies impact boys of color. Colin Powell, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, NBA hall-of-famer Magic Johnson, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver were in attendance.
The parents of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis, both black Florida teens whose shooters avoided murder convictions, were in the crowd and acknowledged by the president.
"In the aftermath of the Trayvon Martin verdict, I spoke about the need to bolster and reinforce our young men," Obama said.
Efforts receiving funding through the program will include those targeting early child development and school readiness, parenting and parent engagement, third grade literacy, and school discipline reform.
Programs helping reduce minority interactions with the criminal justice system and improve health and economic opportunities will also be among those evaluated by the task force, which has three months to design an plan for coordinating the $200 million in commitments.
According to the White House, the panel will also work across the federal government to assess the impact of federal policies on boys of color, create an online portal of programs that have a proven record of success, and recommend ways the White House can continue to partner with the private sector on outreach efforts. The effort will be chaired by Assistant to the President and Cabinet Secretary Broderick Johnson.
Still, Obama stressed the role that parents and neighbors had in helping young men of color navigate the world.
"We can reform our criminal justice system to make sure it's not infected with bias, but nothing keeps a young man out of trouble like a father who takes an active role in his son's life," Obama said.
Obama stressed that "My Brother's Keeper is not some big new government program."
"Parents will have to parent, and turn off the television and help with homework," he said.
The president also acknowledged Fox News host Bill O'Reilly, saying he was evidence that "the urgency of the situation requires us to move past some of these old arguments."
"If I can persuade [Rev. Al] Sharpton and O'Reilly to be in the same meeting, then it means there are people of good faith who want to get things done," Obama said.
During an interview with O’Reilly ahead of the Super Bowl earlier this month, Obama defended his administration’s efforts to address problems within minority communities.
“We address it explicitly all the time. … Talking about the importance of men taking responsibility for their children. Talking about the importance of young people delaying gratification. Talking about the importance of when it comes to child rearing, paying child support, spending time with your kids, reading with them. So, whether it’s getting publicity or not is a whole different question,” Obama said.
The program also corresponds with the president’s “Year of Action” messaging campaign, which has focused on Obama’s efforts to use his regulatory authorities and ability to corral philanthropic support to achieve policy proposals without needing legislation. Earlier this year, Obama rallied private corporations, foundations and universities to improve school access for poor children and end discrimination against the long-term unemployed in hiring practices.
Yeah, sure. $200M will do magic after the hundreds of billions they’ve thrown at all the other “magic” programs, including Head Start. At this point, I’m just glad its ONLY $200M.
His lips are moving so the word are meaningless.
If so, am I the only one that noticed the huge diamond in the ear of the one directly behind obama?
Or am I racist for pointing this out?
Can someone find a screen grab of that?
I'm technologically challenged on such things.
I really should not be, after all, I'm a white man.
Not so fast......
will look to coordinate businesses and government "to give more young Americans the support they need to make good choices and to be resilient and to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams, the president said.
The devil, or in this case, the taxpayer funding, is always in the details.
“Why is this directed at only male black youths?”
It’s A Wonderful Race...
snip-”I said I wish us White people had never existed!”
“Well, George, you’ve got your wish.”
.
George asked: “Where am I? What’s going on here? And who are you?”
.
The old man answered: “I’m Clarence P. Oddbody, Angel 2nd class. You’ve got your wish George. I was sent here to show you what the world would have been like if Europeans, or Whites, had never existed.
http://www.tomatobubble.com/wonderfulrace1.html
“I made bad choices,” Obama admitted. “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. Sometimes I sold myself short.”
Funny how he admits he was a stoner and did not excel in school but he gets into an Ivy league school and was is considered brilliant. AA and AA only got him to that point.
I think it a bit unfair it is all about black and Hispanic people he always divides people. I hate him and I wish he had never been elected and not because he is black but because he is a racist and does not like white people.
>> to improve school access for poor children
Only for Black and Hispanic children. Well I hope he onlys uses money from black and Hispanics then.
BO just made another pretty speech. I doubt if he does anything beyond this. I heard he and the Mooch are planning another vacay.
The so called parents are not educated and have no idea how the “help” with homework.
They will just think it’s cool that BO got high. That will be the take from that statement. I always wondered how a poor student like BO admits that he was, could go to elite ivy league schools. Someone needs to ask him this.
They warp everything they touch, even the Bible. We know who quotes the Bible out of context to his own benefit. Now no one will ever hear that phrase without the stink of favoritism to one group being on it.
“Yea but the parent needs to have some knowledge of the subject related to the homework they are helping with..”
Maybe Obama just needs to make some minor tweaks:
Two dime bags plus a kilo is worth how many dead white presidents?
Needed killin' yer honor.
anyone want to contribute to a fund to benefit White male youth? Maybe we can raise over $200m to help the disadvantaged Anglo males who are being taught that they should bow down to every minority and homosexual group out there?
While I was reading his statement I was waiting for him to say who his mentor was or what program helped him but he stopped after his getting high exchange and went on to something else.
If people would just listen to what he says and does they would see he is lying. He says one thing and does another it is unbelievable to me that people are so blind. I never bought his lines and he has always given me the creeps.
want bet if he still gets High?
Bet he does,
want bet if he still smokes?
Bet he does..cause he LIES.
want bet he lied about his residency to get into college and get grants/loans?
bet he did
want to bet he locked up his records because he LIES
yep..bet he did…
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