JOIN USIt is not everyday that the President of the United States bows before someone and lets the person touch his head to feel the hair texture, but Barack Obama did just that for a five-year-old boy.
Jacob Philadelphia, son of an African-American former marine, asked Obama a question not many would dare or dream of putting to the President of the United States.
"I want to know if my hair is just like yours," Philadelphia said to Obama, when he accompanied his parents and elder brother to the White House three years ago.
His father Carlton was leaving the White House staff after a two-year stint on the National Security Council.
As departing staff members often did, the former marine had asked for a family photograph with Obama.
As the family was about to leave after the pictures were taken, Carlton told Obama his sons each had a question for him.
Jacob, then five years old, asked Obama if the hair on his little head felt the same as the hair on the president's head.
Jacob's hair style of closely cropped hair was similar to that of Obama's.
The young boy, dressed smartly in a crisp white shirt, dark trousers and a blue and red stripped tie, was barely audible when he asked the question and Obama asked him to speak again, the New York Times reported.
Jacob did, and Obama replied, "Why don't you touch it and see for yourself?" Obama then bowed before Jacob, bringing his head level with the hesitant little boy, who stood straight beside Obama's Oval Office desk.
"Touch it, dude!" Obama said.
"So, what do you think?" Obama asked.
"Yes, it does feel the same," Jacob said, his arm touching the president's hair as his parents and elder brother Isaac looked on.
The simple yet poignant moment was captured by White House photographer Pete Souza. The photograph has hung in the White House for the past three years.