eric liu is eric liu is an author, educator, and civic entrepreneur. he is the founder and ceo of citizen university. and jelani cobb is an associate professor of history and director of the institute for african american studies at the university of connecticut. he is also a contributor to the new yorker. he's been filing from ferguson and joins us from st. louis. >> woodruff: jelani cobb, something the former mayor of ferguson said a few moments ago is this could happen anywhere. you have been on the streets of ferguson for the last few days. do you agree with that? >> well, i think recent history shows that not only could it happen anywhere, it has happened in several other places. there are some really terrible overlaps here, one of which is a striking irony that tracy martin, the father of trayvon martin, who was slain two years ago under circumstances i think we're all familiar with, he was scheduled to actually be in this area for an event that will take place on august 24th promoting non-violence called peace fest, and he agreed to attend this

. >> next, eric liu, former speech writer and adviser for president clinton, talks about the history of chinese-americans and the experiences of his own family members in the united states. mr. liu spoke at the world affairs council in san francisco. .. unlocking the power of possibility. the latest book is entitled a china man's chance, one family's journey in the chinese american dream. please join me in welcoming eric lewis. >> the question begs to be answered, why the title? >> have in this conversation, gathering dust together today. i am really excited to talk, and this title in particular, the phrase "a chinaman's chance" by think many people know the phrase that has fallen into most to pub of this review and out of use. it is slower, and in essence, and a phrase that has its origin really from the earliest days when chinese immigrants first began to arrive here in the united states and laborers from china were given some of the most thankless, dangerous to life threatening jobs and labor wrote mining mounds and so forth such that they often had slim to none chance of survivin

. >> next, eric liu, former speech writer and adviser for president clinton, talks about the history of chinese-americans and the experiences of his own family members in the united states. mr. liu spoke at the world affairs council in san francisco. ..

liu in ferguson, missouri. protests here have quieted down after a violent week. last night, police made zero arrests. the sense of calm came after attorney general ericr spent wednesday in ferguson, reassuring residents that the justice department is serious about a federal investigation into the shooting. he told residents, quote, i understand that mistrust. i am the attorney general of the united states. but i am also a black man. i can remember being stopped on the new jersey turnpike on two occasions and accused of speeding. pulled over, let me search your car. end quote. joining me now, bradley, a student at st. louis community college who met with the attorney general and karen finney, msnbc political analyst and columnist for "the hill." bradley, what did it mean to meet the attorney general? i remember you were very well addressed. you had your suit on. you said, hello, mr. attorney general. >> i can't explain the words. it was epic. epic is the word i can use i guess. very exciting. >> what were you thinking before he was to arrive? >> i was thinking about what the purpose of the meeting was, what things i can ask him about, things he was go