Barack Obama takes on 'woke' call-out culture: 'That's not activism'

The former US president Barack Obama has spoken against call-out culture. 'I do get a sense sometimes now among certain young people ... that the way of me making change is to be as judgmental as possible about other people and that's enough.' Obama said that achieving change was a much more difficult issue than simply using social media. 'That is not activism, that is not bringing about change. If all you're doing is casting stones, you are probably not going to get that far,' the 44th US president said at the thir Obama Foundation summit on Tuesday.

The Guardian YouTube network:

[FLLENDRK]

This video needs to be shown to around half of all Twitter users.

[KillShot-lnmn]

This dude looks smart. He should try running for President.

[ALiTY]

When even Obama is Calling out Wokeness I think it's time to Make it Stop

[IAmNumber]

The real problem is that Twitter as a platform just sucks. I bet it’s designed to generate controversy (and therefore engagement) due to the misunderstandings created by its short character limit.

[anonymousperson]

I’m definitely a conservative and disagree with Obama on plenty. However the man is intelligent and I have a fair amount of respect for him. This is one argument where I totally agree with him.

[lmao.]

Love him or hate him, Obama spitting straight facts here

[Communist-Doge]

I think all of us on every side of the political spectrum can agree with this. Right-wing, left-wing, conservative, liberal, etc. Obama is just correct, here.

[Kefford]

I’m a leftie and I agree with this 100%

[killerkdawg]

My take on "woke culture" is this:

You have the right to believe whatever you want. That's totally fine. What ISN'T fine is for you to shame, and belittle others who don't share the same views as you do.

[Jocelyn_Jade]

The only reason cancel-culture and call-out exists is because the people who partake in it are wounded and unsatisfied with themselves, so it’s easier to focus on someone else to divert attention from yourself.

[terrencemunro]

Who in their right mind would dislike this video? Whether you like the guy or not, he is talking perfect sense.

[poshko]

As a conservative, these are true words of wisdom.

[nevenazMadwrld]

people want to change the world and others so bad but don't want to change themselves

[TeenageMutantZuckerTurtle]

“Thanks Obama”

For real on this one.

[michaelcameron]

This should be the first video you have to watch whenever you go onto social.

[alexanderjavier]

I don’t always agree with Obama but I can 💯 agree with him on this one.

[InfinityX]

“They find it more important to be right than to be effective” - Stephen Fry

[safe-keeper]

I'm glad this nonsense is finally facing a proper backlash.

[derkardinal]

I am conservative politically, but I'm not sure I have heard this point made better by any political figures, left or right.

[malcolmmagneto]

This should be shown every time someone opens a social media account and when a politician speaks.