NAACP Statement on My Brother’s Keeper Alliance

BALTIMORE, MD — President Obama has helped to launch My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, a nonprofit to assist young men of color. In light of this development, the NAACP has released the following statement.

From Cornell William Brooks, NAACP President & CEO:

“The NAACP applauds President Obama’s decision to create the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, as it will ensure the sustainability of the programs created by the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative well after President Obama’s term ends in office. My Brother’s Keeper Alliance will serve as a helpful tool in placing more young men of color on a path to success. These young men will become our nation’s leading entrepreneurs, scholars, lawmakers and law enforcement officials.  Just as the GI Bill fueled the growth and development of thousands of young people a generation ago, today’s young people deserve our investment today. As our nation begins to address the unrest wrought by racial profiling in cities like Ferguson, Cleveland and Baltimore, the NAACP looks forward to working collaboratively with My Brother’s Keeper Alliance to ensure that all young men of color are maximizing their full educational and professional potential.”

From Sammie Dow, NAACP Youth and College Director:

“We applaud President Obama for bringing the private sector, businesses and foundations together to create My Brother’s Keeper Alliance. Too often, young men of color are forced to overcome impossible odds in the face of low expectations. The success of our country is contingent upon our collective ability to educate all of our children and properly position them for success. Our hope is that the newly announced Alliance will create an abundance of educational and professional opportunities for young men of color throughout the nation, and equip them with the training, resources and support they need to be high achievers.”