Obama On What It Means To Be A Man

Whether it’s in hip-hop, sports, or entertainment, Barack Obama shared some hard truths about toxic masculinity and the black community.

Transcript

00:00If you are very confident about your sexuality,

00:05you don't have to have eight women around you twerking.

00:09I mean, I've got one woman who I'm very happy with.

00:20Right?

00:30The notion that somehow defining yourself as a man is dependent on,

00:46are you able to put somebody else down instead of lifting them up?

00:50Are you able to dominate as opposed to support?

00:54That is an old view.

00:57I think we live in a culture where a lot of times our worth is measured

01:01by how much money we have and how famous we are.

01:04A lot of hip hop and rap music is built around me showing how I got more money than you.

01:11I can disrespect you and you can't do nothing about it.

01:14Ironically, that actually shows the vulnerability that you feel.

01:18If you are really confident about your financial situation,

01:22you probably are not going to be wearing an eight-pound chain around your neck.

01:28You know, oh, I got banked.

01:30I don't have to show you how much I got.

01:32I feel good.

01:49A lot of young men in this society, particularly young men of color,

01:55have difficulty finding the space and the resources and support to deal with their issues.

02:01And they've got issues. We've got issues.

02:03Oftentimes racism historically in this society sends a message that you are less than and weak.

02:11We feel like we've got to compensate by exaggerating certain stereotypical ways

02:18that men are supposed to act.

02:20If you're confident about your strength, you don't need to show me by you putting somebody else down.

02:27Show me how strong you are that you can lift somebody else up and treat somebody well

02:31and be respectful and lead in that fashion.

02:36So anything you want to add, sir?

02:38I've just been mentored right there.

02:42That's amazing.