America’s history has not always been pretty. The interesting thing is, America seems to be more concerned with what is taking place around the world, rather than what is happening in our own backyard.

The question I ask today is, why? Why does it take the death of nine African Americans? Why does it take the disgusting manifesto of a racist being publicized for American citizens to realize that racism is alive and thriving? And finally, why has it taken so long to remove the confederate flag that is CLEARLY a symbol of hatred?

America is supposed to represent freedom, opportunity, and equality. Even so, these principles that America was built upon, continue to be difficult to obtain for minorities throughout our nation.

Monday, June 22, Governor Nikki Haley of South Carolina called for the removal of the Confederate battle flag from the State Capitol grounds. This only comes after Daniel Roof, 21, is charged with killing nine African Americans.

Tuesday, June 23, Amazon, Walmart, and K-Mart agree to ban all merchandise being sold with the Confederate flag symbol from their shelves. This also only comes after nine African Americans lose their lives due to racism.

Although some see this flag as a symbol of “southern pride,” to most, the flag stands as a symbol of hate and America’s disturbing history. The Confederate flag has often been associated with the Ku Klux Klan and even as a way to protest during the integration process throughout the 1960s.

President Obama has shared his opinion by stating in an interview conducted by Marc Maron, “Racism, we are not cured of it. And it's not just a matter of it not being polite to say n***er in public."

By making this statement, President Obama is confirming that racism is not dead and has never been dead in our nation. Although the United States has come a long way since the Civil Rights movement, we still have a long way to go. If we ever want to make sure domestic terrorists, such as Daniel Roof, never make their voices heard, we must continue to talk about the racial tensions that plague our nation. In no way am I saying that America will heal overnight, but talking about racism is the first step in combatting it. While mourning the lives of those lost is extremely vital, I also find it important to keep the conversation of racial inequalities going and to educate those around you about racism in America today.

To hear the full podcast with President Obama see below.