Obama Encourages Students to Abandon Hopes of Becoming Great Rappers

Because, you know, hope is crazy audacious, but not that audacious. Obama was in Georgia yesterday (talk about audacious hopes), and in a speech to a town hall meeting in Powder Springs, gave the mostly African-American audience a message of "tough love." Speaking about the importance of staying in school, he seemingly aimed some comments directly at young black men:

“You can’t find a job, unless you are a really, really good basketball player which most of you brothas are not. I know you think you are, but you’re not,” he said to murmurs and laughter in the crowd. “You are over-rated in your own mind. You will not play in the NBA. You are probably not that good a rapper. Maybe you are the next Lil’ Wayne, but probably not, in which case you need to stay in school.”

Okay, I know I'm not the next Lil Wayne, but couldn't I just be the next Yukmouth? That's all I ask, is one top-20 hit, then I promise I'll go back to school. You know, Obama may be mistaken about the path to rap stardom, since even if you do stay in school, you might accidentally end up a hip-hop superstar: as Vulture points out, Lil Wayne attended the University of Houston. Sure, in poli-sci, but still. More importantly, what happens after Obama's president for eight years, and then in 2020 we suddenly have a shortage of great rappers and basketball players? That doesn't seem like sound economic policy, since those are two of the only things America still corners the market on.

Comments

I'm not sure how long the US is going to corner the market on great rappers, check out this episode of SexyBeijing about hip-hop in China's capital:

http://www.sexybeijing.tv/new/video.asp?id=7

Posted by: Robert on 07/09/08 at 12:49 PM Respond

Oh no, it's already starting! Damn you Obama and your message of hope-abandonment!

Posted by: Party Ben on 07/09/08 at 1:07 PM Respond

awesome photoshop work there!

Posted by: nic on 07/09/08 at 2:44 PM Respond

Glad he said it because it's true. Everyone wants to get rich quick as an athlete or a rapper, but the odds are against them.

Funny how it was ok for him to say it, but had the politician been white it would have been considered racisit. Being a 50/50 mix has some advantages that allows him to speak to all demographics.

p.s. He's not African American. He's just American. He was not born in Africa therefore he's not African. Same for all black people born in this country. We're all Americans unless born somewhere else. If a white president was elected he would still be considered white, not 75% dutch or something stupid like that (the first Dutch-American president).

I really hate when people label each other.

Posted by: Yep, it's me alright. on 07/09/08 at 3:00 PM Respond

I can't think of anything that would make my parents vote for Obama more than him giving speeches talking to the "brothas" about b-ball and rappin'. I know that the core of his speech was heartfelt - sure kids need to stay in school, and yes it's bad that blacks are led to believe via media that they have few outlets to wealth, but is this the time for that as part of the campaign? If he wants to be honest AND pick up some votes - tell those kids how the American credit system works, how to recognize a subprime loan, and how the Fed deals with banks.

Posted by: Justin on 07/10/08 at 7:00 AM Respond