years ago. the question is, why is that? why have perceptions of black male criminality persisted for so many decades in this country? it can't be because we haven't made progress on race. he saying that as president. what's behind this perception? i would argue that it is hard statistical data showing young black males just like they did 35 years ago continue to commit a disproportionate number of crimes and that's what's feeding this perception. >> i thought he responded. you wrote a column making that point that was controversial in some quarters but got a lot of response. i thought the president was responding to you at one point in that speech where he said that doesn't mean the african-american community is naive. young black men are not. disproportionately and that was his words involved in the criminal justice system as victims and perpetrators. do you think he went far enough in that explanation? >> i think that needs to be the whole discussion. clearly i think president obama