During remarks on Ferguson, Mo., in his press conference Monday afternoon, President Obama acknowledged that “there are young men who commit crimes” and noted that blacks and Hispanics are suspended from school at higher rates than other races.
Obama: Young African American & Hispanic boys tend to be suspended from school at much higher rates. #Ferguson
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) August 18, 2014
#Obama discussing unfair aspects of criminal justice system in context of #Ferguson though "there are young black men who commit crimes."
— Lynn Sweet (@lynnsweet) August 18, 2014
He also made mention several times of his “My Brother’s Keeper” mentoring initiative.
Obama plugs My Brother's Keeper initiative
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) August 18, 2014
POTUS talks of the reality for some young men of color and the help of My Brothers keeper
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) August 18, 2014
Ebony’s senior digital editor, Jamilah Lemieux, wasn’t pleased to hear the focus shift from the Ferguson police department to “My Brother’s Keeper.”
Does My Brother's Keeper give young men snacks and Swishers so they don't have to go to the corner store? Because otherwise…
— jamilah (is in the crib like you should be.) (@JamilahLemieux) August 18, 2014
Can we get a My Brother's Keeper for the cops? They must not have dads, they keep killing people.
— jamilah (is in the crib like you should be.) (@JamilahLemieux) August 18, 2014
I don't expect President Obama to become a race man, I expect him not to reinforce notions of inherent Black deficiency.
— jamilah (is in the crib like you should be.) (@JamilahLemieux) August 18, 2014
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And, also, not to bring up My Brother's Keeper when talking about a police killing.
— jamilah (is in the crib like you should be.) (@JamilahLemieux) August 18, 2014
"Mr. President, how would you like your coffee?" "Black, like the children who need My Brother's Keeper dads."
— jamilah (is in the crib like you should be.) (@JamilahLemieux) August 18, 2014
If you're arguing President Obama didn't actually suggest My Brother's Keeper can save future Mike Browns, let me know why he brought it up.
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) August 18, 2014
@JamilahLemieux yes to ALL these tweets.
— Karla (@k_zac) August 18, 2014
What. She. Said. RT @JamilahLemieux: Can we get a My Brother's Keeper for the cops? They must not have dads, they keep killing people.
— brent lauren (@BrentLauren) August 18, 2014
.@JoyAnnReid @JamilahLemieux It's almost as if he should have said nothing at all.
— Jenn M. Jackson, PhD (she/her) (@JennMJacksonPhD) August 18, 2014
this is how you answer a question when you get called on and you haven't done the reading
— Rembert Browne (@rembert) August 18, 2014
https://twitter.com/tanehisicoates/status/501471969255391232
@tanehisicoates @rembert I pity him for obvious limited ability to understand Black life.
— jamilah (is in the crib like you should be.) (@JamilahLemieux) August 18, 2014
The line about “young black men who commit crimes” didn’t fly very well either.
Why do you mumble your away around everything else, but plainly state "there are young black men who commit crimes?"
— myles brown (@mdotbrown) August 18, 2014
@ProfessorCrunk Hearing that hurt. Young black men commit crimes but so do young men of other races. What about the black boys who don't?
— Bri Maddox (@BelovedPeep) August 18, 2014
https://twitter.com/Re_Newsit/status/501472289817645057
No talking about the police officer. He DID NOT just start talking about young black men who commit crimes. awful. @BarackObama #Ferguson
— Coya Hope (@coyahope) August 18, 2014
That "young black men who commit crimes" line is going to be painted everywhere…he didn't plan on that sound bite I bet.
— Pastor Kia Granberry-Moore (@pastorkiamoore) August 18, 2014