The most controversial word in the English language always raises eyebrows when someone says it, so imagine the reaction when the most powerful man in the world utters it.

While discussing race in America on Marc Maron's popular podcast on Monday, President Obama said the N-word.

Racism, we are not cured of it. And it's not just a matter of it not being polite to say n****r in public. That's not the measure of whether racism still exists or not. It's not just a matter of overt discrimination. Societies don't, overnight, completely erase everything that happened 200 to 300 years prior."

Obama's choice of words certainly has people talking. One of his advisers, Valerie Jarrett, said he has no regrets about saying it, reports Politico, noting, "It was a really important point for people to hear. I think he’s glad that he said it. And he is encouraged that people were able to hear his broader message."

Obama and Maron talked about the issue of race and gun control, once again highlighted in the wake of last week's church shootings in South Carolina.

Obama said slavery "casts a long shadow and that's still part of our DNA that's passed on."

As for gun control, the president said there have been times when he was frustrated about the government's lack of action to make changes. "I will tell you, right after Sandy Hook, Newtown, when 20 6-year-olds are gunned down, and Congress literally does nothing — yes, that's the closest I came to feeling disgusted. I was pretty disgusted."

 

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