(The Root) — A week after facing heavy criticism from the black community for his initial comments on the George Zimmerman verdict, President Obama melted a few icy hearts by speaking more in-depth on the matter. In a press conference held earlier today, the president spoke candidly about what it's like for young black men to be profiled in America.
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He told the listening public that he himself had been racially profiled. "Trayvon Martin could've been me 35 years ago," he said. He later commented, "There are very few African-American men in this country who haven't had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me."
For the most part, blacks on Twitter lauded the president's comments, expressing shock and surprise that he spoke so candidly. For others, however, his comments seemed in stark contrast to his endorsement of New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, a champion of the stop-and-frisk policy.
Love it or hate it, both sides were very vocal online about the president's comments.
Read more at the Washington Post.
Tracy Clayton is a writer, humorist and blogger from Louisville, Ky.
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