Former President Joe Biden Sparks Debate With Segregation Anecdote in First Post-Presidency Speech

CHICAGO — In his first public address since leaving the White House, former President Joe Biden ignited a wave of discussion and criticism after recounting a childhood memory involving racial segregation and using language now widely considered offensive. Speaking Tuesday evening at a conference hosted by Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD), Biden, 82, reflected on formative experiences that shaped his political outlook, but his choice of words quickly became the focal point of national attention.

A Childhood Memory Revisited

Biden began his remarks by recalling his family's move from Scranton, Pennsylvania, to Wilmington, Delaware, when he was in fourth grade. He described how, as a young boy, he "hardly encountered... any Black individuals in Scranton back then," and recounted a moment when he saw a bus full of African American children—whom he referred to as "colored kids"—passing by on their way to a different school. "They never turned right to go to Claymont High School," Biden said, explaining that he asked his mother why those children weren't allowed to attend the same public schools as white children. "That sparked my sense of outrage as a kid," he added, linking the experience to his later involvement in civil rights and public service.

A Controversial Choice of Words

While Biden’s story was intended to highlight his early awareness of racial injustice, his use of the term "colored kids"—a phrase rooted in the era of segregation—drew immediate backlash. The term, once commonplace, is now widely recognized as outdated and offensive, evoking memories of a time when public facilities and schools were marked "colored only" and African Americans were systematically excluded from many aspects of public life.

Social media platforms quickly lit up with reactions. Critics accused Biden of insensitivity and questioned his grasp of contemporary racial discourse, while some supporters argued that he was quoting the language of his youth to illustrate how far the country has come. The incident also revived scrutiny of Biden’s long and sometimes fraught record on issues of race and school desegregation, including his past opposition to certain busing policies and his complex history with civil rights legislation.

Political and Historical Context

Biden’s remarks came as part of a broader speech focused on the importance of Social Security and the need to protect benefits for retirees. He did not mention his successor, President Trump, by name, but took aim at recent Republican proposals to cut social programs, warning of the "immense harm and destruction" he believes the new administration has caused in its first 100 days.

The former president’s anecdote, intended as a reflection on the injustices that motivated his public service, instead served as a reminder of the generational and linguistic divides that continue to shape American conversations about race. For many Democrats, the episode underscored the challenges Biden faced during his presidency in navigating the evolving language and expectations around racial justice.

A Divided Response

As the story spread, some commentators called for understanding, noting that Biden was referencing the terminology of his childhood to make a point about progress and injustice. Others, however, saw the moment as emblematic of a broader disconnect between older political leaders and the current cultural climate.

The incident has reignited debate over Biden’s legacy on race, with critics and supporters alike reflecting on the complexities of his decades-long career. As the nation continues to grapple with its history of segregation and the ongoing struggle for racial equality, Biden’s words—intended as a call to remember and learn from the past—have instead become a flashpoint in the present.