US President Barack Obama has branded the plight of minority youths in America an "outrage" as he launched a program to improve the lives of boys in deprived and dangerous inner cities.
In a rare, explicit excursion into racial issues during his presidency, Obama warned that America had become "numb" to statistics showing African Americans were more likely to lack fathers, drop out of school and go to jail.
"The stubborn fact is that the life chances of the average black or brown child in this country lags behind by almost every measure and is worse for boys and young men," Obama said at an event in the East Room of the White House.
Obama, coming full circle with a program that recalls his past as a community organiser, appealed to young black men around America, seeking to inspire in a way that once defined his political image but which has been little in evidence as his presidency hit rough waters in recent months.
He said he saw a previous version of himself in young African American men he met close to his home in the Hyde Park area of Chicago last year -- some of whom travelled to Washington to stand behind him as he spoke.
"I didn't have a Dad in the house. And I was angry about it, even though I didn't necessarily realise it at the time," said Obama, the first African American president.
"I made bad choices. 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."
Obama said the difference between his upbringing and that of many other young minority men was that his childhood in Hawaii was more forgiving than that faced by many young black men in mainland America.
Obama reeled off figures showing that because of their circumstances, African American and Hispanic youths were more likely to have no father in the house, were more likely to be suspended or expelled from school, or to end up in jail, or be victims of violent crime.
"The worst part is we become numb to these statistics. We just assume this is an inevitable part of American life instead of the outrage that it is."
Obama was introduced at the event by Christian Champagne, a member of a "Becoming a Man" program in Hyde Park which helps African American men learn skills needed to stay in school and get to college.
Champagne said his meeting with Obama had changed his outlook on life.
"Meeting the president, and having him tell me that my life now is not different from the way his was, made me realise I have potential too," he said.
Obama also had a frank message for young African American men, telling them directly that though government, faith and philanthropic groups could help, they had to do their part.
"It will take courage, but you will have to tune out the naysayers who say if the deck is stacked against you, you might as well just give up or settle into the stereotype."
