Chance The Rapper Discusses President Obama & Systematic Racism

HAS OBAMA BROUGHT CHANGE TO AMERICA?

(AllHipHop News) Chance The Rapper is best known as the creator of the critically acclaimed mixtape Acid Rap and a member of the music group Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment, but Chance has also been very active in the political arena.

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The 22-year-old Chicago native once worked with then-Senator Barack Obama. Of course, Obama went on to become the first African-American president of the United States, and his role in confronting racism has been a central news item during his time in the Oval Office.

In an interview with the BBC’s DJ Semtex, Chance was asked – in the wake of recent racial tensions in the U.S. – if he felt President Obama has achieved anything during his term.  The “Pusha Man/Paranoia” performer responded:

I think Barack Obama achieved a lot. There’s a lot of monumental establishments that have come from him being in office, but I think the problem of systematic racism and second class citizens – it’s something that’s perpetual through history. Especially with darker people. It doesn’t just stop in America. I don’t think it’s necessarily something you put the first Black man in office to change. I don’t think putting the first Black man in office is a sign of change.

I think there are certain things – like I said – systemically, politically, socially that need to take place on both sides of it, from the people and the people that we put in place that could change stuff. But I think Barack Obama has done some great things.

That’s objective, because I’ve worked with the city. I’ve worked with the neighborhoods, and one of the people I consider allies would be the president. He’s done dope things in the city of Chicago. I’ve worked with the city on a lot of projects. But do I think everybody is doing everything that they can? No, and that includes me.

Over the last several years Chance has implemented different events and initiatives to help combat the violence in his hometown. He hosted the free “Teens In The Park Fest” in June and a Non-Violent Youth Poetry Festival in March.

In 2014, Chance was also instrumental in starting the #SaveChicago campaign with his father. The stop the violence effort is credited with keeping Chicago peaceful during last year’s Memorial Day weekend, a period that is often one of the most deadly timeframes for the city.

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