Barack Obama on the BBC: “The world can change, but you have to be part of it”

A summary, with some key quotes from Barack Obama's interview with David Olusoga on the BBC

Barack Obama spoke to David Olusoga on the BBC
VOTE: Former US President Barack Obama spoke at a rally (Picture via Getty Images)

Speaking to David Olusoga on the BBC, Barack Obama spoke candidly about his time in office and how events over the Summer had affected him. 

Of the global movement for racial equality that we have seen this year, the former President said he had watched events unfold with a mixture of  “despair and optimism.”

He spoke openly and honestly about the divisions in America, and said that economic inequalities contributed to them. 

Still, he said the growing trend towards fake news was a problem. 

He criticised the rise of a media industry where: “Facts don’t matter.” 

Obama added: “If you are someone who exclusively watches right wing media, I am unrecognisable as a figure.”

The former leader also raised concerns about the American political system. He believed its reform was necessary in order to avoid political apathy, and spoke of the difficulties he faced getting reform through. 

He added that a gridlocked political system was beneficial for certain members of society, but not for others. 

Post-racial USA?

Reflecting further on his leadership, Obama said: “I was never of the view that my election somehow signified a post-racial America.”

Though he noted the significance of many children being able to take his leadership for granted, he acknowledged that there had perhaps been pushback. 

“I do think that it exposed some fault lines in our culture that we have to work through,” he added. 

However, Obama remained hopeful about the possibilities of the future and explained: “If we are persistent and hopeful we can make things better if not for ourselves, for future generations”

He said: “America is full of flaws and contradictions and yet despite the cruelties, despite the obvious violations of our professed ideals…this remains an experiment that matters not just for Americans, but for the world”


A Promised Land by Barack Obama is available for purchase at all good bookstores.

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