In his new podcast on Spotify, President Barack Obama revealed he broke his childhood friend’s nose for using a racial slur.
With two episodes that launched early this week, the Renegades: Born in the USA podcast promises to be a “deep and revealing conversation with each other.” In the latest episode, entitled American Skin: Race in the United States, Obama opens up to music legend Bruce Springsteen about an altercation he had with a friend in a locker-room during his childhood.
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The former president reveals, “When I was in school I had a friend, we played basketball together, and one time we got into a fight and he called me a c–n. Now first of all, ain’t no c–ns in Hawaii, right?” the president laughs.
He goes on to explain, “It’s one of those things where he might not even known what a c–n was. What he knew was, ‘I can hurt you by saying this.’ I remember I popped him in the face and broke his nose. … It was just reactive; I said, ‘What?!’ and I popped him.”
Obama then details that his friend was shocked after he hit him, saying, “He was like, ‘Why’d you do that?’ and I explained to him, I said, ‘Don’t you ever call me something like that.’”
Later in the episode, Obama and Springsteen have a conversation on the root of racism and break down how it presents itself in everyday life.
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The former president reveals his inspiration for his joint podcast with the legendary rockstar in the intro episode.
He explains, “On the surface, Bruce and I don’t have a lot in common. But over the years, what we’ve found is that we’ve got a shared sensibility. About work, about family, and about America.”
“In our own ways, Bruce and I have been on parallel journeys trying to understand this country that’s given us both so much. Trying to chronicle the stories of its people. Looking for a way to connect our own individual searches for meaning and truth and community with the larger story of America,” Obama concludes.
Check out the first two episodes of the Renegades: Born in the USA podcast, here.
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