0 >> when trayvon martin was first shot i said this could have been my son. another way of sating that, trayvon martin could have been me 35 years ago. 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. there are, frankly, very few african-american men who haven't had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. that happens to me. at least before i was a senator. there are very few african-americans who haven't had the experience of getting on an elevator and a woman clutching her purse nervously and holding her breath until she had a chance to get off. that happens often. and i don't want to exaggerate i ask people if trayvon martin was of age and armed, key have stood his ground on that sidewalk? and do we actually think that he would have been justified in shooting mr. zimmerman who had followed him in a car because he felt threatened. and if the answer to that question is at least ambiguous, then it seems to me that we might want to examine those kinds of laws. let me just leave you with a final thought that as difficult and challenging as this whole episode has been for a lot of people, i don't want us to lose sight that things are getting better. each successive generation seems to be making progress in changing attitudes when it comes to race. it doesn't mean we're in a it was very important for the president to say this. again, factors of racism that exist are not perpetrated just by people that are over outright racist. it's the people that look the other way because they don't want to look inside themselves and understand being part of the problem is just standing by while it happens. >> you know, clinton, we're surprised that it took the president six days to comment on the zimmerman verdict. after releasing that written statement, looking at a little bit co, the headline reads obama weighs in on race, reluctantly. do you think there was reluctance, clinton? >> no. i think the guy just decided to think on it for a while. the fact that he went off script. i mean, there was no prepared remarks. he just spoke candidly about the the heart about this shows you it's not something he has been thinking about. it is con just a contextual thing but reality. >> the timing, this is before the national action network. of course reverend al sharpton's network. they are asking for all of these demonstrations today. >> that's right. >> but a peaceful protest, these demonstrations to be calm. do you think the president was thereby lending his voice for calm and do you think this will have that effect? >> i think the demonstrations have been largely calm already. so i don't think there's any need for the president to try to hedge against some kind of violent outbreak. these protests largely have not been violent in any way. people want to express themselves. some people are angry and frustrated. in part because clinton raised a really, really important part. sometimes it's refusal to see the iniquities in our society. we have to move beyond that. people have to become more empathetic. that's the only way we can begin to erode some of those challenges. >> yeah. >> a lot of people poo-poo the conversation piece. the symbolic nature of trayvon martin case will shape younger folk who will ultimately have power over the criminal justice system. >> charles barkley, off outspoken, as we know, he said we never talk about race until something bad happens. and he also said this. >> when people talk about race, they always want to act like it's only white people who are racist. listen, there are black people who are racist also. that's one thing i always want to talk about. i consider racism the greatest cancer of my lifetime. unfortunately to some people i'm always going to be black. >> how do you think those statements advance the dialogue if at all? >> i don't think they do much. racism as perpetuated against blacks and other people of country has been most harmful. a lot of black people feel they have been raised and lived in a society which forced them to feel they have been put down. therefore they are racist. i don't think it is necessary. the point here is to let people genuinely be honest about what they feel inside so we can get to a point where we can bridge a gap. the fact is in this country if you are labeled a racist you are out cast. so nobody wants to bring up the issues. >> in terms of finding harmony, the president says when he listens to sasha and malia, they are better than we are. they are better than we were on these issues. is that your experience? do you think the next generation is better? >> i would tend to agree. if i look at the cross-sections of the college students i've taught the last 10 to 15 years, in that time span, students are coming with more open minds than we were when we were in university classrooms. mr. barkley i think is flat out wrong here. we're having conversations about race. it may not be on national news networks. but there are scholars, writers, thinkingers and organizers engaged. and the way we tend to define race is structures and systems. black folk can be prejudice but it's difficult for a black person to be racist. you have to have the tools of the system to make that racism hurt. yes, we do see progress. with each generation as long as we're prepared to connect them to these important histories, we'll be better than the previous generation. that's just sort of how it works. >> i want you to weigh in in terms of how much better is better if you agree with what james is saying and the president as well? is better good enough? >> no. better is not good enough at this current state. i would like to think i'm of the generation that's actually doing something and not simply saying, look at that generation. they happen to be getting it better. as an american and human i'm out to try to make this a better situation. kids were taking a summer class at georgetown university yesterday. they asked me about this. they said what do you do to try to make this better? i said you teach people that not everybody, just because they're different than you is a problem. say hello to people when you walk down the street. go for it and you will achieve it. >> absolutely. great discussion, guys. thank you so much. >> thanks, alex. >> all of you please share your thoughts on the president's comments on race. talk to me on twitter. my handle is @alexwitt. we will read your tweets throughout the show. what happened to send one of america's biggest cities into bankruptcy and what's next for the motor city? can it be saved?