A lot of the violence and pain we suffer in our communities arises out of young men who nobody has said to them what it means to be respected. So they are looking around and thinking, ‘Well, I guess being respected means I can make you back down.'

Former President Barack Obama, speaking to a group of young black, Latino and Native American boys at a My Brother's Keeper event. Obama started the public-private initiative, which has spread to nearly 250 cities, to help minority boys who face systemic disadvantages.