Obama: Our Kids Can’t All Aspire To Be Lil Wayne Or Lebron

Thursday night, President Barack Obama gave his first speech to the NAACP since he became president. He spoke about education and personal responsibility.

The speech marked another milestone in the young presidency of Barack Obama, whose address commemorated the NAACP’s 100th anniversary convention.

President Obama acknowledged that those born in the inner-city face stronger adversity in the realms of economics and violent crimes.

Still, he argued these elements were no excuses for students or parents to neglect their responsibilities.

With the undeniable huge influence of Hip-Hop and sports on African-American youth culture, Obama noted that education should be utilized by parents to show children their potential extends beyond entertainment.

During the interview he urges young black Americans to aspire to be doctors, scientists and engineers – not just sports stars and rappers.

“They might think they’ve got a pretty good jump shot or a pretty good flow, but our kids can’t all aspire to be the next LeBron or Lil Wayne. I want them aspiring to be scientists and engineers, doctors and teachers, not just ballers and rappers,” The President detailed. “I want them aspiring to be a Supreme Court Justice. I want them aspiring to be President of the United States. So, yes, government must be a force for opportunity. Yes, government must be a force for equality. But ultimately, if we are to be true to our past, then we also have to seize our own destiny, each and every day.”


Here is a snippet video from the speech: