Political Junkie

Political Junkie

Get breaking news stories and important updates around the 2016 Presidential Election race

 

Joe Biden: I Worked As A Lifeguard To Learn About Black People

On Monday (June 26), Joe Biden attended a renaming ceremony at a public pool in Brown-Burton-Winchester Park in Wilmington, Delaware. 

Previously called Prince Run Pool, the pool has officially been declared Joseph R. Biden Sr. Aquatic Center in honor of him, News Journal reports. Back in the summer of 1962, Biden worked at the facility as a lifeguard. This is the place that he credits for teaching him about race relations. 

"I owe you all," said Biden at the press conference for the event. "I owe this neighborhood. I learned so, so much." The surrounding neighborhood by the pool was predominately black at the time of Biden's employment. The former vice president said that he purposely wanted to work there because he wanted to learn about black people.

"I wanted to get more involved," he said. "I'd turn on the television and I'd see and listen to Dr. (Martin Luther) King and others, but I didn't know any black people. So, I wanted to work here." Biden also said that the other lifeguards who he worked with "treated me as an equal." 

He continued: "They'd ask me questions — because I really was the only white guy they really knew — about things that just startled me. I remember one lifeguard asked if I had a five-gallon can for gasoline. I said 'No I don't. But what do you need it for?' He said, 'I'm going down to see my grandmom in North Carolina. We can't stop at most gas stations. They won't let us stop at most gas stations.' I learned a lot." 

Reminiscing on the useful life lessons that he gained during his time as a lifeguard, Biden closed: "The neighborhood's always had my back, and God-willing, I've always had your back, and I'll always have it as long as I'm around."

Photo: Getty Images


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content