President Obama Tells BET That He Is A Victim Of Racism And Is Often Treated Like ‘The Help’

Since accepting the position of President of the United States, Barack Obama has been targeted by many political groups and activists for reasons such as failed promises, fluffing reports, threats against him and his family, and other issues that seem to taunt nearly all sitting presidents. However, during a recent interview with People Magazine, President Obama revealed that he and his family have also been victims of racism and forced stereotypes, an issue that he feels needs resolution within the United States.

In the recent Sony Hack scandal, two top producers were found to have exchanged emails that belittled many high profile individuals, including President Obama. In one instance, Amy Pascal, an Obama supporter, and movie producer Scott Rudin, made jokes at the president’s expense when conversing about what questions Pascal should ask during a fundraising breakfast. They joked about asking President Obama if he would like to finance some movies, but the jokes quickly became suspect when Pascal asked if President Obama liked a couple racially motivated movies, according to Fox News.

“I doubt it. Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO?12 Years. Or the butler, or think like a man?”

Rudin replied,

“Ride-along. I bet he likes Kevin Hart.”

Rudin did publicly apologize, stating that he made a few tasteless jokes and that he was not being serious.

The racism and stereotypes are not only contained within emails, however. Michelle Obama shared that racism against the Obamas began prior to his presidency. For example, he had a tough time catching cabs in his hometown of Chicago. It became evident that the acts of racism extended into his White House tenure when he was mistaken for a waiter and asked to fetch a cup of coffee for a guest, according to Good Morning America.

Michelle Obama shared that there was a time that Barack Obama was,

“was wearing a tuxedo at a black-tie dinner, and somebody asked him to get coffee.”

Michelle Obama also shared that her husband has been mistaken as a parking valet on occasion. However, she also claims that she was targeted during a highly publicized trip to Target.

“during the wonderfully publicized trip I took to Target, not highly disguised, the only person who came up to me in the store was a woman who asked me to help her take something off a shelf.”

Being a first hand victim of racism, even as president, Barack Obama is determined to stop the trend and usher in a new and accepting America. He shared his concern with BET.

“If you look at after what happened with Michael Brown, if you looked at what happened after Trayvon, if you looked at the decision after Eric Garner, I’m being pretty explicit about my concern, and being pretty explicit about the fact that this is a systemic problem, that black folks and Latinos and others are not just making this up,”

What are your thoughts regarding the ways the Obama’s are being treated while in the White House?

[Photo Courtesy: Turner]