Maron/Obama Podcast -- Episode 613 - President Barack Obama

Episode 613 - President Barack Obama
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I decided to listen to the entire Maron/Obama podcast before adding my little opinion to the mix of the potpourri of opinions that I'm sure are out there (most of which I have not read/listened to) regarding President Obama's use of the word "nigger".

While Maron wanted to have a conversation that wasn't policy driven, but more friendly and personal, it's kind of hard to have the President of the United States in your garage and it not turn political.

President Obama did discuss many of his agenda items including some that became more prevalent in the last few years: climate change, the ACA, common sense gun laws, education, poverty, policing, etc.

Then there was the discussion on race and how it's "incontrovertible" that progress has been made since the 50s, 60s, and 70s but that America still isn't "cured" of racism.

I'm sure there's no shortage of opinion out there over his choice of one word out of the many he uttered during the nearly hour-long conversation. I'm sure that many closet racists are now coming out and are low key satisfied that they now have a reason to repeat the word publicly in a feigned attempt at opining over the President's talk with Maron. (Tip from me to you, don't even think about it!)

I think it's important to consider the context in which the President used the word and the what that he was saying. Don't miss the message!

Here's a very small portion of what he said:
"And it's not just a matter of it not being polite to say 'nigger' in public. That's not the measure of whether racism still exists or not. It's not just a matter of overt discrimination. Societies don't, overnight, completely erase everything that happened 200 to 300 years prior."

The message:
Racism is not nonexistent simply because it's not nice to use the word 'nigger' in public and most may not. Racism is not nonexistent because it's not as "overt" as it once was. Racism still exists and it will take some time to get to a point where it doesn't exist.

I do not take issue with the President had to say, especially considering the context in which it was said and the message he was trying to convey.

And a little 411, a little post-script from the streets and the chairs of the barbershop, there is a difference in the use of the word ending in "er" and "a". That's a whole different post for a whole different day.