Spinner

Tom Morello Reflects on Racism, Obama

While Barack Obama takes the oath as the 44th president of the United States -- and the first African-American U.S. president -- on Tuesday, Tom Morello reflects on the racism he's encountered in his own life. "I had a noose in my garage when I was 13-years-old and was called the 'N' word countless times growing up," he tells Spinner.

It's those difficult experiences that left Morello touched by Obama's victory. "On election night, I was moved in a way that I didn't anticipate," he says. "There's a unique experience that African-Americans have, who have been exposed to prejudice. I never thought I would live to see the day when the country, whose history is just replete with racism, was able to elect a somewhat progressive African-American to the highest office in the land."

Though he is optimistic about Obama, Morello is not ready to give up his one-man revolution just yet. "Obama's stated positions are much too centrist for my taste," he says. "I always laugh when the Republicans would say, 'He's a Socialist or he's a Marxist.' I'm thinking, 'Man, if we really did have a black Marxist as president, that'd be fantastic.'"

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Darrel Collins

First of all, I'd like to thank De La Rocha AND Morello for giving me a thorough marxist brainwashing as a vulnerable child, apparently the marxist brainwashing i received in public schools was not enough. So now I hate western civilization, white people, heterosexuals, and christians. I happen to love everybody else though. I think it's great that Morello decided to become black, I know it wasn't an easy decision to make in his life.

December 18 2011 at 1:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Fred

"I was called the 'N' word countless times growing up,"

I've lived 49 years and I have NEVER used the "N" word against another person. In addition, I have never heard anyone use the "N" word publically against another person. This is not 1935 Morello. I know it's good for your pitiful career to have "suffered" but you can quit pretending.

October 22 2009 at 10:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Fred's comment
Rob

I don't know where you've been living the past 49 years, Fred, but I've heard it countless times in my 29.

December 27 2009 at 2:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lorna

I laugh at you Tom Morello! If this country is so bad why don't you move to a real communist/Marxist country and then let us know how that's working out for you? I love these celebrities that complain about everything and how bad the US is. The great thing about the US is you can LEAVE any time you want!

January 21 2009 at 12:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Lorna's comment
David Witt

Lorna,

Tom is not complaining about the geography (the "country") but about the limited and very flawed leadership that has been in place, the last 8 years being the biggest pointer as to what can happen when the American people just lay back and allow a man to destroy it. Speaking about what you believe is wrong with this country is the only power those of us who are not in positions of elected power can do.

Think of celebreties "complaining about everything" as one would complain if you were given your favorite foodstuff, but that was being ruined by dirt ground into it. The ideal that the founding fathers put into this country with the constitution, is the highest ideal, and people, well meaning or now, keep screwing it up. But when we stop TRYING to achieve the greatest good this country can offer, and just whine and tell people who state their opinion to "love it or leave it"... well then we get the leaders we deserve (see Bush and -almost- Sara Palin). But once in a great while the people get SO fed up, they actually get off their butts, and HOPE for more. :)

January 23 2009 at 1:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply