The duo urged youngsters from minority backgrounds to develop confidence without feeling compelled to build self-worth based on chasing women and money.
The event, which took place in Oakland also marked the fifth anniversary of Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance. Both Curry and the former president talked about challenges they faced in their formative years, while also speaking about other topics, such as hip-hop, policing in minority communities, discipline in schools, male role models, and manhood.
While addressing the societal pressures that young people face to act a certain way because of hip hop’s frequent portrayal of what it means to be successful, Obama says:
“We live in a culture where our worth is measured by how much money we have and how famous we are.
“I will tell you, at the end of the day, the thing that will give you confidence is not that. I know a lot of rich people that are all messed up.”
The 44th US president then took a shot at hip hop stars, saying: “If you are really confident about your financial situation, you’re probably not going to be wearing an 8-pound chain around your neck. If you’re very confident about your sexuality, you don’t have to have eight women around you twerking.”
