duvall patrick did not grow up with a lot of money but he grew up with a different kind of wealth, a social capital which is people surrounding him, telling him that he was worthy, telling him -- >> not necessarily members of his family, by the way. >> yeah. >> and that goes to your question, you know, that each of us has the power to be an angel for someone else. to pass a message on to a child to tell them that you can succeed, to push them on the path and the other thing they had in common was a stellar education, access to a very good education >> in the end that's really the thing that closes all the gaps. >> yes. >> it may not be a combination of economic which is earning potential on one side and education on the other. the whole concept of a meritocracy and if you don't get the education you don't get the job. and we live in a society in a sense it dumbs it down and not raises them. >> so the question is -- >> what about -- instead of just race as a question, what about education and the opportunity to quality education and the opportunity to get quality jobs and if you don't

massachusetts governor duval patrick discusses his life at the national press club in washington. this program originally aired live on-line. it is about 45 minutes. >> in january 2007 duval patrick became the first african-american governor of the commonwealth of massachusetts. one of only two african american governors elected in american history. that was just when tramp in step in along the improbable journey that began on the south side of chicago. from a chaotic childhood to an elite boarding school in new england to a soldier doing relief work in africa to the board rooms of fortune 500 companies and add to a career in politics governor patrick has led an extraordinary life. throughout his journey he was guided by the advice of his grandmother. hope for the best and work for it. now is my pleasure to introduce governor patrick. [applause] [applause] >> thanks you very much. thank you all for coming out this evening. i appreciated very much. .. >> i am not running for anything, and as for political scores, there's some staff here who know i like to settle political scores in