Biden reminisces about seeing ‘colored kids’ go to segregated schools in first post-presidency speech

Former President Joe Biden referred to achromatic children arsenic “colored kids” Tuesday arsenic helium explained what motivated him to get progressive successful authorities during his first nationalist remarks since leaving office.

Biden, 82, utilized the outdated and violative word portion telling an anecdote astir his puerility determination from Scranton, Pa., to Wilmington, Del., successful which helium noted that earlier his household relocated to The First State, he’d “never seen hardly immoderate achromatic people.”

“I was lone going successful 4th grade,” helium said arsenic helium recalled his parent driving him to Catholic schoolhouse successful Wilmington. “And I retrieve seeing kids going by, astatine the clip called ‘colored kids,’ connected a autobus spell by — they ne'er turned close to spell to Claymont High School.”

Biden said learning that achromatic children were not allowed to be nationalist schoolhouse with achromatic students “sparked my consciousness of outrage arsenic a kid.”

Former President Joe Biden speaks astatine a league hosted by the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) connected April 15, 2025 successful Chicago, Illinois. Getty Images

The 46th president’s remarks astatine the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) league successful Chicago mostly centered connected Social Security.

“Social Security is much than a authorities program. It’s a ineffable promise,” Biden argued, earlier accusing Republicans successful Congress of wanting to “cut and gut” the programme that provides benefits to retired Americans.

“Who the hellhole bash they deliberation they are?” an enraged Biden said earlier pulling back.

“I volition not spell further. I’ll get successful trouble,” helium said.

Biden didn’t notation to President Trump by sanction during his astir 30-minute speech, the archetypal since the extremity of his presidency successful January.

However, the erstwhile commandant successful main did allude to claims of fraud successful Social Security that person been made by Trump and Department of Government Efficiency caput Elon Musk.

“Those 300-year-old people getting that Social Security, I privation to conscionable them,” Biden joked. “I’d similar to fig retired however they unrecorded that long.”

“Hell of a thing, man. I’m looking for longevity.”